Western Depiction of the Resurrection
Easter Greetings to our Western Christian friends!
The OrthodoxBridge is taking a brief break to give both sides the opportunity to focus our attention on our God and Savior Jesus Christ, to remember his dying on the Cross and his glorious third day Resurrection.
This year Western and Eastern churches are celebrating Easter on different Sundays. If you are wondering about the reasons for this, I found the following sites below helpful.
Timeanddate.com (a secular site)
Zenit (a Roman Catholic site)
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Eastern Orthodox Resurrection Icon
There is also a subtle difference in the way the West and the East depict Christ’s resurrection. By comparing the two religious images (icons) we can learn much about the two traditions. I will explain the differences next weekend.
I plan to resume regular blogging shortly afterwards.
Robert Arakaki
Dear Robert Arakaki: Doesn’t the Western icon of Christ’s resurrection emphasize Christ’s humanity, whereas an Eastern Orthodox icon of Christ’s resurrection emphasizes Christ’s Divinity? Just wondering. Scott Erie PA
Dear Scott,
Why don’t you study the two images of the resurrection I posted and tell me what you think?
Robert
Dear Robert: I think the Western icon tries to be “realistic” and emphasize Christ The Man, The Son of Man, a Man. A glorified man more than also “God manifest in the flesh”. The Orthodox icon emphasizes the Deity of Christ, that Christ is not merely the Son of God, but God the Son, the Second Person of the All-Holy Blessed Trinity. In Erie Scott
Dear Robert Arakaki: Have you considered the controversy between Eastern Orthodox Christians who hold to “expiation”, and Roman Catholic (and some Protestant) Christians, who hold to “propitiation”? Does Christ’s death of the Cross appease (propitiate) God’s wrath, God’s wrath is poured out upon Christ on the Cross and the Cross saves from God the Father’s wrath? Do we need to be saved “from” God the Father (that is, the Father’s wrath), by God the Son, Jesus Christ? Is that what the atonement of the Cross is about? A propitiation (appeasement) of the Father’s wrath against sin/against sinners? Or is it a removal of sin, an expiation, so the wrath (of God) no longer remains? see: orthodox-apologetics.blogspot.com/2010/08/expiation-vs-propitiation.html Wed. Aug. 4, 2010
This article asks, “What does the word “hilasterion” mean in Romans 3:25?”
God bless us. Amen. Bless the Lord, O my soul; let all that is within me, bless His Holy Name. Amen. In Erie PA USA April 2012 AD (new calendar) Scott R. Harrington
Scott,
Good questions! And difficult ones too! Others have asked me about this and my response is that I’m in the process of framing my answer. I want to give an answer that is fair and balanced. I hope to do a blog posting on this topic in the future.
But since you are attending an Orthodox church my quick answer is: Attend the services and listen for how the Orthodox Church describes our salvation in Christ. How often do you hear about Jesus’ dying on the cross as an expiation to appease the Father’s wrath against sinners? Christ’s defeating death? Our being rescued from Satan? The divine image within us being restored?
Robert