Why little or no stigmata in Orthodoxy?

[Basil the Great]

It seems like Protestantism is totally devoid of the stigmata and I am not sure if any evidences of it can be found in Orthodoxy. If cases of such exist among the Orthodox, they would seem to be most rare. I wonder why the stigmata seems to be solely an RCC phenomenon? Perhaps Catholics emphasize the passion of Christ more than Orthodox and Protestants?

 

[Andrew21091]

Perhaps Catholics emphasize the passion of Christ more than Orthodox and Protestants?

I have never heard of any instances of stigmata in Orthodoxy. I would say that you may be right that many Catholics emphasize the Passion more. I would say that is where the focus may have been in the Roman Catholic tradition since the Dark Ages. The Orthodox focus more on the Resurrection. Not to say that Roman Catholic de-emphasize the Resurrection or that the Orthodox de-emphasize the Passion but I think they may emphasize them more than the other without taking away from either.

 

[Ortho_Cat]

It seems like Protestantism is totally devoid of the stigmata and I am not sure if any evidences of it can be found in Orthodoxy. If cases of such exist among the Orthodox, they would seem to be most rare. I wonder why the stigmata seems to be solely an RCC phenomenon? Perhaps Catholics emphasize the passion of Christ more than Orthodox and Protestants?

Maybe they're valid, maybe they're not. Unless we encounter a similar miracle in the Orthodox Church, i'm agnostic with regards to the legitimacy of such a phenomenon.

 

[icxn]

It seems like Protestantism is totally devoid of the stigmata and I am not sure if any evidences of it can be found in Orthodoxy. If cases of such exist among the Orthodox, they would seem to be most rare. I wonder why the stigmata seems to be solely an RCC phenomenon? Perhaps Catholics emphasize the passion of Christ more than Orthodox and Protestants?

Rare? All the stigmata that Pagan Emperors, Muslims and Communists inflicted upon the Orthodox Saints throughout the ages don't count? What need is there for self-appearing wounds when those persecutors that inflect them abound? On the other hand, I can see how God may have granted a few pious souls to suffer for Him that way, fulfilling perhaps their desire for martyrdom in the absence of persecution such as in the west.

 

[Typikon]

It's worth mentioning that the phenomena was not known to the West of the pre-schism catholic Church either.

 

[Etsi]

To be honest (and this may be from my Protestant background), I've always believed such to be demonic. I'll err on the side that I have no reason to believe such would be of God.

 

[Michael G]

Orthodoxy focuses on the Resurrection. Good Friday only has meaning in that it directly leads us to Pascha. It is not Christ's suffering that is important to us, it is his conquering death by death and breaking the gates of Hell through his resurrection that is important to us.

 

[ArmyMatt]

personally I am pro choice on them. could they be from God? I guess so. could they be demonic? sure. could they be a fraud? yep. do I really care? meh, not really.

I'd say talk to a Roman Catholic.

 

[buzuxi02]

Certain phenomenon do seem to be limited on cultural basis. RC emphasizes the passion more so that would make sense. Also the RC have eucharistic adoration so theres those purported miracles of the host turning into actual flesh.

Even in Orthodoxy it seems that in the russian tradition myhrr streaming icons are just that where the icon exudes fragrant oil while in the greek tradition i notice more 'weeping' icons. And again theres more chance a roman catholic statue will purport to exude blood while in Orthodoxy it tends to be a fragrant oil.

As for stigmata the closest case i know is of a uniate woman whose married to an Orthodox in Syria.

 

[Dylan Michael]

Certain phenomenon do seem to be limited on cultural basis. RC emphasizes the passion more so that would make sense. Also the RC have eucharistic adoration so theres those purported miracles of the host turning into actual flesh.

Even in Orthodoxy it seems that in the russian tradition myhrr streaming icons are just that where the icon exudes fragrant oil while in the greek tradition i notice more 'weeping' icons. And again theres more chance a roman catholic statue will purport to exude blood while in Orthodoxy it tends to be a fragrant oil.

As for stigmata the closest case i know is of a uniate woman whose married to an Orthodox in Syria.

I guess that makes sense. I'm all the time hearing of Catholic Statues that Cry tears or blood, and Orthodox Icons that weep oils.

 

[MKJ]

I've done a bit of study on stigmata. It's a very interesting thing. I don't tend to think it is demonic, but I think some are essentially hysterical.

There are Protestants who have had them though. Some Anglicans, and a few others. One unusual stigmatic was a black Baptist school-girl from the US. I guess it really suprised her family.

 

[1yy1]

There's no vicarious suffering in Orthodoxy.

 

[Dewi Sant]

Orthodoxy focuses on the Resurrection. Good Friday only has meaning in that it directly leads us to Pascha. It is not Christ's suffering that is important to us, it is his conquering death by death and breaking the gates of Hell through his resurrection that is important to us.

An Anglican priest and I were discussing theology and to close the matter he said to me: "I preach Christ crucified".
I could tell that he was pleased with his statement.
I replied: "I preach Christ resurrected".
A strange silence fell.


No, I do not want image after image of half naked anorexic criminals undergoing execution being posted to my facebook wall.
Rather, celebrate the new life of the resurrection!

(something of a Schmemannite in terms of theology. )



As for 'Stigmata'. I heard it explained by R.C. and Anglo-Catholic friends as the physical manifestation of an inward piety...namely that the bearer will meditate so fiercely upon the wounds of Christ that, out of [subconscious?] observance, they imitate those same wounds on themselves...it is remarkable the marks we can make upon ourselves in sleep.




Stigmata is not necessarily false. Nor is it the sign of sanctity or insanity. Rather, it is a complex thing of soul speaking unto soul.
God makes use of language, in words, objects, music etc, in order to speak unto individual persons in individual circumstances.

Yes, it sounds wishy-washy. But that is a disappointing feature of explaining the spiritual.

 

[Wesley1982]

I don't know

 

[Crandaddy]

An Anglican priest and I were discussing theology and to close the matter he said to me: "I preach Christ crucified".
I could tell that he was pleased with his statement.
I replied: "I preach Christ resurrected".
A strange silence fell.

Here's a thought: Why not preach BOTH?

 

[Kristos]

Here's a thought: Why not preach BOTH?

I think it's more about emphasis than ignoring one in favor of the other...

I have never really looked into stigmata claims/phenomena. Just never interested me...

 

[Dorothea]

It's not Orthodox tradition - Stigmata - as far as I know. It's of RCC tradition, no?

 

[Protoevangel]

Wow, there's been some thread necromancy going on lately.

 

[RobNJ]

Wow, there's been some thread necromancy going on lately.

I just used that phrase, replying to your pic in the OTHER moldy oldie!!

 

[Memento Mori]

An Anglican priest and I were discussing theology and to close the matter he said to me: "I preach Christ crucified".
I could tell that he was pleased with his statement.
I replied: "I preach Christ resurrected".
A strange silence fell.

Well, remember who he was quoting there. If he was pleased with the statement, he is recommended in doing so by the fact that it came from the lips of the great St. Paul.