On 7 March 2018, Vassula presented her book „HEAVEN IS REAL BUT SO IS HELL“ at Ianos Bookstore in Athens. The book was translated into Greek from the original English „HEAVEN IS REAL BUT SO IS HELL“. Vassula was scheduled to come to Athens on March 6th, but due to technical problems she arrived on the morning of March 7th.

With the announcement of the presentation of the book, there was no lack of strong reactions in the media. In the morning show of Kambouris „All in front“,  father Tsakalos was a guest who spoke against Vassula with false accusations and slander calling her a false prophet saying also that she is paid and that in her speeches there is a ticket.

The newspaper ESPRESSO was published with the cover „The new ATHANASIA of Aegaleo“. On Facebook there was a page warning Orthodox believers not to go to her speech calling her a „deceiver“.

For these reasons, therefore, three Security people had been put in place to prevent any trouble. The main speakers were 4: Georgia Papadopoulou, Father Theodoros Kontidis, a Catholic priest, theologian and director of the magazine „OPEN HORIZONS“, the Athonite monk Vasilios and Vassula Ryden, the author of the book.

invitation for HIR Book presentation in Greek

Georgia Papadopoulou began by saying that Vassula has no financial benefit from her book and that all proceeds will be donated to Beth Myriam, The House of Mary, and to the republication of the book. She then briefly presented Vassula’s story from the beginning. She said that she was born in Heliopolis, Egypt to Greek parents and that she had no catechism and that she was first approached by her Angel and then by Christ.

Father Theodoros Kontidis then began to speak and gave his personal testimony. When the book of True Life in God came into his hands, the first thing that struck him was the spirituality of the Messages and the manner and sweetness of Jesus. How intimate he was and how much he cared about people and their problems. He was also very impressed by how willing God is to forgive us for our sins and lift us up to Him. What he most wanted to investigate was whether these Messages were theologically correct. So in reading them, as he said, he did not find a single theological stumbling block; on the contrary, they were all in accordance with the teaching of the Church. Christ as Saviour, the Virgin Mary, the Saints, the sacraments of the Church, the spiritual life, the temptations, the spiritual struggle of man. He concluded by saying that if he wrote such a book, at most he would write 5 or 10 pages and perhaps there would be some mistakes there too. In this book of messages where it is hundreds of pages, he did not find the slightest theological error. It is, as he said, theologically flawless! This woman didn’t know how to make her Cross and suddenly she started writing tons of books, theologically sound. This can only be accomplished by divine intervention. He also mentioned the issue of the Unity of the Churches and the Lord’s desire and said that who better than him can understand the importance of this issue since he grew up with an Orthodox father and a Catholic mother.

The panel of  HIR Book Presentation

Fr. Theodoros talking about the Book

Then the Athonite monk Vasilios took the floor and referred to the Book of Messages as a warm message aimed at the heart of man, coming from the Love of God. He thanked the Holy Monastery of Patmos and the abbot he had at that time. He supported him when he got hold of the book of True Life in God. He said he gave him permission to teach the children in Sunday school. All of his talks at that time were inspired by the TLIG‘ Messages. In this book, he continued, all the Bible is condensed and to find all this on Mount Athos takes many years of research and daily study. He is deeply moved, he said, by the way God approaches man. It may, he continued, appear unorthodox to some, but the Spirit and Love of God are one and the same for those who know Him and possess Him.

Finally, Vassula spoke, saying that her Greek is not good and that she went to an English school, so Jesus speaks to her in the language she understands best. After thanking the previous speakers she said that the book she is presenting today is her autobiography. In it she writes her story. The Book of Messages has been written for 33 years. So it is important for someone to know the person who wrote it and how God reached out to him.

Vassula referred to the way in which she hears the Voice of God inwardly and clearly. Before she began, as she says, this gift, she lived a worldly life, never going to church, never seeking God. All she remembered was the Lord’s Prayer and that was because she had learned it in school. Even that she never said. It all started in 1985 in Bangladesh, she recounts, where she lived with her husband who, because he was in the diplomatic service, at the United Nations, moved from country to country. Her life was all worldly with fashion shows and tennis tournaments, where she had won the championship. The last thing on her mind was God.

Vassula speaking about her autobiography

Some of the audience

Then the Angel approached her and asked her to find a Bible. At first she refused and then he told her that if she would go to her son’s school she would find one. So she did. He told her to open it and when she did, she came across the Psalms. When she read it she didn’t understand anything. Then God enlightened her to understand that she is blind and that she is in darkness. She then spoke of the cleansing she had gone through and the intense sorrow she felt when the Angel showed her her sins. She wept for 3 whole weeks because every sin she saw with God’s eyes burned her like fire. Then she confessed, as she says, that she was the most sinful person in the world.

Then God the Father approached her and said to her: „I am your Father.“ The soul as if awakened from a great lethargy and recognized Him as her true Father. When He asked her to say the Lord’s Prayer to Him, she felt such joy – since it was the only prayer she knew – that she answered Him, „Yes, Papa.“ Immediately she felt, as she says, ashamed of her spontaneity, but God the Father told her that He received this word as a jewel, He likes to be called „Abba“, that is, Papa. She went on to say that Jesus asks in the Messages that we take out Vassula’s name and replace it with our own. In this way we all feel that He is addressing us personally. He urged people to speak to God with their hearts because God is love, he is our Father.

She herself, she continued, never imagined that this work would go to 85 countries and she works non-stop and travels giving testimony. She has given over 1000 talks so far. She then spoke about the disasters, diseases, wars and misery in the world saying that all these are because of our sins. Many people wonder why if there is a God he allows so much evil in the world. When the tower fell in the New Testament and killed both the wicked and the good, God said it was because of a lack of repentance. She then talked about today’s apostasy and that some churches are closing because of the apostasy that exists nowadays.

God showed her prophetic visions without revealing when and where they would take place. And while she thought they were symbolic, they were literally being fulfilled. One such example is the Tsunami that caused massive destruction. Vassula saw it three times. She was even told that the Earth would move off its axis where this also happened. But God has also given her beautiful prophecies. Like the prophecy about Russia, which is also Orthodox, that she will glorify Him. She said that when God scolds us, when He remarks to us, He does it in love unlike people who when they get angry become mean. No matter what God tells us, in the end He will always give us Hope, while the devil does everything to make us feel hopeless.

She went on to say that God showed her Hell and told her that people no longer believe that there is a Heaven and Hell and that everything is here on Earth. In fact there is both Heaven and Hell. God said that the devil’s greatest trick is to convince man that he himself does not exist.
He then referred to the healings that have been done when people pray over patients and there are medical examinations with the doctor’s signature proving that it is a miracle.

Vassula said that Our Lady asked her to open „Our Lady’s House“ to feed the poor. This was done in Greece and in many other countries. 32 houses have been opened all over the world.

Presentation of the HIR Book at Ianos Bookstore

Finally, Vassula gave 10 minutes for questions. Some of them were: „Does God really exist? Although I am ashamed to ask you.“ Vassula smilingly replied that there is God and that our soul feels a warmth when we pray sincerely, whether to Christ, the Virgin Mary or the Saints. Besides, as she says, Christ does not lie. He said so Himself in His Word: „I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.“ God exists, the Holy Trinity exists, and let us not forget, He Himself left us His Church and urges us to confess our sins to the Priest and to receive Communion as often as possible, because His Body and Blood are an antidote against Satan.

The book in the displays of the bookstore Janos

Another question was: „If we have the Gospel, why do we need the TLIG Messages?“ Vassula replied that the Messages are a reminder of His Word and in addition there are Prophecies that are relevant to our time. But they do not say anything different from the Gospel. Once Jesus Himself said to her, „Do you read the Gospel?“ Another asked why in Greece it is so much fought over and why abroad people are more receptive to this Message of the Lord. Vassula replied that it is true that in Greece she is attacked the most and that it is true that in other countries people are more open to hear her testimony.

Someone asked her how she sees God when the Bible says that no one can see God. Then she replied that she sees Him in a vision as others see Him in their sleep. He asked Vassula if she sees the Holy Spirit and if she sees it as a dove. Vassula replied that she does not see it as a dove, but that the Spirit speaks to her and that it is the third person of the Holy Trinity. When she sees it, she sees His face full of Light.
Asked if she has seen Saints, she said that she has seen St. George and some others. The last person to stand up to speak did not ask a question, but told the fact that he visited Elder Paisios many years ago, along with others, and told him that he had a Message to give him. The Elder asked him, „What message have you to give me, my son?“ Then he gave him Vassula’s manuscripts, knowing of the Elder’s Gift. He took them in his arms with great reverence and went to his hut. When he returned, he embraced him and said to him: „My child, know that you are a servant of Christ and I thank you. What you have given me I will keep until the end of my life.“ He concluded by saying that the reason he believes that Vassula is not easily accepted in Greece and is under so many attacks is because „no prophet is accepted in his own country“ just as Christ was not accepted in His own country.

Thus beautifully ended the presentation of Vassula’s book „Heaven is Real, but so is Hell“. Then people bought the book and went down to the first floor where Vassula was signing it. They were all talking to each other and asking to know more about the Message of the TLIG.
Despite many adversities the event was a success. About 100 people were present at the IANOS bookstore. Among the crowd there were also some deaf people with their translator. The event was also broadcasted live giving the opportunity to people who could not attend to watch it from their homes. 
In the following days, two TV channels attacked Vassula with slander and insults. On one of them Teresa Perri came out to answer the accusations against Vassula.

Testimony of Mrs Ersi Pitta who saw Jesus in the face of Vassula
I attended the presentation of Vassula Ryden’s book „Heaven is Real but so is Hell“ at Ianos Bookstore, where I had an experience that I want to share with you: When Vassula began to speak, at some point her face changed and took on a form that had the characteristics of Jesus Christ. I had the feeling when I was looking at her that the figure of Christ was coming as a projection to be printed on her face. I felt a deep emotion and could hardly hold back my tears.