24.

 Outline your understanding of the difference between the Orthodox and non-Orthodox understandings of Christ's Crucifixion.

            Those brought up in the tradition of the medieval and post-medieval West view Christ's Crucifixion in isolation from the Resurrection and so come to stress Christ's suffering humanity at the expense of the image of Christ as a suffering God. The West dwells on the Man of Sorrows and sees Christ as the Victim, whereas the East sees Him as the Victor.

            Moreover, Western Christians have been inclined to view the Crucifixion as an act of satisfaction or substitution meant to appease the wrath of the Father, thus making it take on penal or juridical aspects. Orthodoxy, on the other hand, sees the Crucifixion as Christ's triumphant victory over the powers of evil, and it sees the Cross as an emblem of that victory. St. John Chrysostom said: “I call Him King, because I see Him crucified.” That is to say, Orthodoxy sees Christ as the victorious King not in spite of the Crucifixion, but because of it.