22.

 Write out the three hymns given on page 232 of the textbook, and explain the point that the textbook is trying to make with each of them.

            He Who clothes Himself with light as with a garment,

            Stood naked at the judgment.

On His cheek He received the blows

            From the hands which He had formed.

The lawless multitude nailed to the Cross

            The Lord of Glory.

            Today is hanged upon the tree

            He Who hanged the earth in the midst of the waters.

A crown of thorns crowns Him

            Who is the King of the angels.

He is wrapped about with the purple of mockery

            Who wraps the heavens in the clouds.

            We worship Thy Passion, O Christ:

Show us also Thy glorious Resurrection!

            I magnify Thy sufferings,

            I praise Thy burial and Thy Resurrection,

Shouting, Lord, glory to Thee!

It is readily apparent to any outside observer that the joyful spirit of the Resurrection pervades the entire life of the Orthodox Church. Because of Orthodoxy's devotion to the divine glory of the Lord, however, it cannot be assumed that the Church overlooks Christ's humanity or minimizes the importance of the Cross. A common and incorrect assertion is that the East concentrates on the Risen Christ, while the West concentrates on Christ Crucified. The textbook explains that through these three Great Friday hymns, the East and West simply look at the Crucifixion in different ways.

            The first hymn shows that Orthodoxy does not think of the Lord's human agony and distress simply by itself, but rather in terms of the contrast between Christ's outward humiliation and His hidden, inward majesty. The second hymn sees in the Innocent Sufferer not only the suffering humanity of Christ, but a suffering God on the Cross. In the third hymn, the textbook is showing that behind Christ's bleeding and broken flesh, Orthodoxy still discerns the Triune God.

            Orthodoxy sees that the Crucifixion and Resurrection are but a single action, and they are never separated. Even in the sadness of Great Friday, the Church contemplates the Resurrection of Christ. Golgotha is a Theophany (a divine manifestation). Calvary points to the empty tomb, and the Cross of Christ is a sign of Christ's complete victory.