Orthodox Churches and Crucifixes ?

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From my own experience within Orthodoxy, I would say that we focus on ALL aspects of Christ's life and works in their own due seasons. We absolutely do have images of the Crucifixion, just as we have images of the Resurrection, the Second Coming and Judgment, His baptism, circumcision, etc. While it is probably true that the Resurrection receives the most attention, we are not going to go out of our way to downplay other things just to emphasize the Resurrection. We emphasize the Resurrection by talking/singing about it every Liturgy and having the 40-day Pascha season devoted to it. But we focus specifically on the Cross three distinct times, and the Crucifixion as God's revelation of Himself cannot be underemphasized.
 
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All4Christ

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It happens - and gives us all a bit of amusement :D
It happens especially when I am half asleep just waking up in the daze of early morning exhaustion lol
 
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Not David

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I will never forget the crucified Baby Jesus
f5716ac.jpg
 
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TheLostCoin

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Can I be honest and ask a few questions, and may God forgive me, but these are my honest thoughts - but I am honestly kind of sick of the Ortho-pop apologetic of "We aren't like those icky Westerners who put emphasis on Christ as a suffering servant; He is actually God, and He GAVE Himself VOLUNTARILY, something something "Crypto-Nestorianism" something something." It borderlines on the ridiculousness of "Triclavianism" accusations or downplaying the Literalness of the Eucharist whenever the words "Transubstantiation" makes its face apparent, or downplaying God's Wrath to such an extent that it borders on Gnosticism in regards to the Old Testament.

What about Isaiah 53:7? Mark 10:45? Luke 22:27? John 13?

Like, yeah, the extreme emphasis of Christ's suffering which started in the Renaissance and only snowballed into PTSD-inducing scenes and statues is incredibly problematic, and those should be rightly criticized, but why is it so incompatible that Christ is simultaneously both God and man? Incompatible that Christ is simultaneously the King of Kings who gave Himself voluntarily, but an innocent lamb led to the slaughter by those corrupt authorities above Him? Incompatible that Christ was the King of the Universe, but was mocked for possessing no earthly kingdom with a crown of thorns? Incompatible with the fact that Christ went under a very gruelling and horrible Crucifixion where he was whipped, stripped of his garments, had a crown of thorns pressed down on His head, had to carry a tree, and had His hands and feet nailed, given vinegar when He was thirsty, yet still conquered death and is Resurrected, where there is no pain and suffering?
 
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All4Christ

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Can I be honest and ask a few questions, and may God forgive me, but these are my honest thoughts - but I am honestly kind of sick of the Ortho-pop apologetic of "We aren't like those icky Westerners who put emphasis on Christ as a suffering servant; He is actually God, and He GAVE Himself VOLUNTARILY, something something "Crypto-Nestorianism" something something." It borderlines on the ridiculousness of "Triclavianism" accusations or downplaying the Literalness of the Eucharist whenever the words "Transubstantiation" makes its face apparent, or downplaying God's Wrath to such an extent that it borders on Gnosticism in regards to the Old Testament.

What about Isaiah 53:7? Mark 10:45? Luke 22:27? John 13?

Like, yeah, the extreme emphasis of Christ's suffering which started in the Renaissance and only snowballed into PTSD-inducing scenes and statues is incredibly problematic, and those should be rightly criticized, but why is it so incompatible that Christ is simultaneously both God and man? Incompatible that Christ is simultaneously the King of Kings who gave Himself voluntarily, but an innocent lamb led to the slaughter by those corrupt authorities above Him? Incompatible that Christ was the King of the Universe, but was mocked for possessing no earthly kingdom with a crown of thorns? Incompatible with the fact that Christ went under a very gruelling and horrible Crucifixion where he was whipped, stripped of his garments, had a crown of thorns pressed down on His head, had to carry a tree, and had His hands and feet nailed, given vinegar when He was thirsty, yet still conquered death and is Resurrected, where there is no pain and suffering?
When have we said that Jesus didn’t suffer?
 
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ArmyMatt

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Can I be honest and ask a few questions, and may God forgive me, but these are my honest thoughts - but I am honestly kind of sick of the Ortho-pop apologetic of "We aren't like those icky Westerners who put emphasis on Christ as a suffering servant; He is actually God, and He GAVE Himself VOLUNTARILY, something something "Crypto-Nestorianism" something something." It borderlines on the ridiculousness of "Triclavianism" accusations or downplaying the Literalness of the Eucharist whenever the words "Transubstantiation" makes its face apparent, or downplaying God's Wrath to such an extent that it borders on Gnosticism in regards to the Old Testament.

What about Isaiah 53:7? Mark 10:45? Luke 22:27? John 13?

Like, yeah, the extreme emphasis of Christ's suffering which started in the Renaissance and only snowballed into PTSD-inducing scenes and statues is incredibly problematic, and those should be rightly criticized, but why is it so incompatible that Christ is simultaneously both God and man? Incompatible that Christ is simultaneously the King of Kings who gave Himself voluntarily, but an innocent lamb led to the slaughter by those corrupt authorities above Him? Incompatible that Christ was the King of the Universe, but was mocked for possessing no earthly kingdom with a crown of thorns? Incompatible with the fact that Christ went under a very gruelling and horrible Crucifixion where he was whipped, stripped of his garments, had a crown of thorns pressed down on His head, had to carry a tree, and had His hands and feet nailed, given vinegar when He was thirsty, yet still conquered death and is Resurrected, where there is no pain and suffering?

if you have ever been to Holy Week, you would know we are very clear about how much He suffered. forgive me, but I don't see your point.
 
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TheLostCoin

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if you have ever been to Holy Week, you would know we are very clear about how much He suffered. forgive me, but I don't see your point.

I feel like on the Internet, there's kind of like an opposite and equal reaction to Roman Catholics, where the suffering is heavily downplayed and people get offended at the mere idea that Christ suffered intensely, saying things like "Don't you know He gave Himself voluntarily?" or "The Cruficifixion is far less important than the Resurrection!"

It's articles like these:
Suffering is not a good thing for the Orthodox

I'm not saying the Orthodox Church teaches that officially, but I find that with these pop-apologetics that come up, one is left under the impression that Suffering should be almost completely ignored, except when it inconveniences us.

...

But like, how the heck can one be a good Christian without the importance of suffering? I realize that there is such a de-emphasis is in response to Catholicism's integration of suffering in the Economy of Salvation (Suffering lets your sins get absolved, etc.), but like, isn't suffering a necessary means for Salvation, and shouldn't Christ be the perfect Martyr for us to follow? Yeah, Christ was the King on the Cross, but He was a martyr too! Aren't we supposed to be dead to ourselves?
 
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Not David

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Can I be honest and ask a few questions, and may God forgive me, but these are my honest thoughts - but I am honestly kind of sick of the Ortho-pop apologetic of "We aren't like those icky Westerners who put emphasis on Christ as a suffering servant; He is actually God, and He GAVE Himself VOLUNTARILY, something something "Crypto-Nestorianism" something something." It borderlines on the ridiculousness of "Triclavianism" accusations or downplaying the Literalness of the Eucharist whenever the words "Transubstantiation" makes its face apparent, or downplaying God's Wrath to such an extent that it borders on Gnosticism in regards to the Old Testament.

What about Isaiah 53:7? Mark 10:45? Luke 22:27? John 13?

Like, yeah, the extreme emphasis of Christ's suffering which started in the Renaissance and only snowballed into PTSD-inducing scenes and statues is incredibly problematic, and those should be rightly criticized, but why is it so incompatible that Christ is simultaneously both God and man? Incompatible that Christ is simultaneously the King of Kings who gave Himself voluntarily, but an innocent lamb led to the slaughter by those corrupt authorities above Him? Incompatible that Christ was the King of the Universe, but was mocked for possessing no earthly kingdom with a crown of thorns? Incompatible with the fact that Christ went under a very gruelling and horrible Crucifixion where he was whipped, stripped of his garments, had a crown of thorns pressed down on His head, had to carry a tree, and had His hands and feet nailed, given vinegar when He was thirsty, yet still conquered death and is Resurrected, where there is no pain and suffering?
For someone who usually criticizes Catholicism is kind of ironic that you come to accuse Orthodoxy of "Crypto-Nestorianism" because Orthodox deny Roman Catholic concepts.

Christ gave Himself voluntarily to His death, that does not mean He didn't suffer but He is the King who gave His life for His people to bring them salvation not like a Western kind of "martyr" who talked about injustice and was executed.
 
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I feel like on the Internet, there's kind of like an opposite and equal reaction to Roman Catholics, where the suffering is heavily downplayed and people get offended at the mere idea that Christ suffered intensely, saying things like "Don't you know He gave Himself voluntarily?" or "The Cruficifixion is far less important than the Resurrection!"

It's articles like these:
Suffering is not a good thing for the Orthodox

I'm not saying the Orthodox Church teaches that officially, but I find that with these pop-apologetics that come up, one is left under the impression that Suffering should be almost completely ignored, except when it inconveniences us.

...

But like, how the heck can one be a good Christian without the importance of suffering? I realize that there is such a de-emphasis is in response to Catholicism's integration of suffering in the Economy of Salvation (Suffering lets your sins get absolved, etc.), but like, isn't suffering a necessary means for Salvation, and shouldn't Christ be the perfect Martyr for us to follow? Yeah, Christ was the King on the Cross, but He was a martyr too! Aren't we supposed to be dead to ourselves?
From the article:
Our faith is the faith of joy. This is our faith! This is why the Christian rejoices in his suffering and sorrow, not because he suffers and is saddened, but because he knows what the end of all of these will be.
 
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ArmyMatt

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I feel like on the Internet, there's kind of like an opposite and equal reaction to Roman Catholics, where the suffering is heavily downplayed and people get offended at the mere idea that Christ suffered intensely, saying things like "Don't you know He gave Himself voluntarily?" or "The Cruficifixion is far less important than the Resurrection!"

It's articles like these:
Suffering is not a good thing for the Orthodox

I'm not saying the Orthodox Church teaches that officially, but I find that with these pop-apologetics that come up, one is left under the impression that Suffering should be almost completely ignored, except when it inconveniences us.

...

But like, how the heck can one be a good Christian without the importance of suffering? I realize that there is such a de-emphasis is in response to Catholicism's integration of suffering in the Economy of Salvation (Suffering lets your sins get absolved, etc.), but like, isn't suffering a necessary means for Salvation, and shouldn't Christ be the perfect Martyr for us to follow? Yeah, Christ was the King on the Cross, but He was a martyr too! Aren't we supposed to be dead to ourselves?

that's not pop-apologetics and saying that suffering isn't good is not the same as saying it should be ignored.
 
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Markie Boy

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I think Guatemala but I got it from r/Catholicism

That's what I was wondering - what Christian group. Ugh - that's just a bit far, but I'm not surprised. It's just not historically accurate.
 
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