Stigmata: Orthodox Faith And Beliefs Explored

are ghere stigmata in the orthodox faith

Stigmata are bodily wounds, scars, and pain that appear in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ. They are primarily a Roman Catholic phenomenon, with St. Francis of Assisi being widely considered the first recorded stigmatic. The Eastern Orthodox Church has no official view on stigmata, and there do not appear to be any recorded instances of stigmata within the Orthodox faith. However, there have been other phenomena within the Orthodox world, such as weeping icons, which the Church approaches with caution and investigates for legitimacy before proclaiming them as miracles.

Characteristics Values
Stigmata in the Orthodox faith Rare
Stigmata in the Catholic faith Common
Focus of Orthodox faith Resurrection
Focus of Catholic faith Passion of Christ
St. Francis of Assisi First recorded stigmatic
St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina Studied by physicians
Percentage of female stigmatics Over 80%
Stigmatics declared saints by the Catholic Church 7

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Stigmata is a Roman Catholic phenomenon, and the Eastern Orthodox Church has no official view on it

Stigmata are bodily wounds, scars, and pain that appear in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ. They are primarily a Roman Catholic phenomenon, and there is no record of any Eastern Orthodox saints bearing stigmata. The Eastern Orthodox Church has no official view on stigmata.

St. Francis of Assisi is widely considered the first recorded stigmatic. Other famous stigmatics include St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina and St. Ansbert of Rouen. A high percentage (probably over 80%) of all stigmatics are women.

Stigmata are understood to be a consequence of the intense personal mystical ministries practiced by those excluded from the priesthood. The focus on the Passion of Christ in Western Christianity is thought to contribute to the development of stigmata. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the focus is on the Resurrection, and the Church tends to be cautious in proclaiming miracles.

While stigmata are not part of the Eastern Orthodox tradition, there have been other phenomena within the Orthodox world, such as weeping icons. The Church typically investigates such occurrences to ascertain their legitimacy and does not immediately proclaim them miracles.

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The Orthodox Church focuses more on the Resurrection of Christ, rather than his suffering

Stigmata are bodily wounds, scars, and pain that appear in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ. They are primarily a Roman Catholic phenomenon, and the Eastern Orthodox Church has no official view on them. However, some Orthodox Christians believe that Catholics emphasize the passion of Christ more than the Orthodox Church, which focuses more on the Resurrection.

The Orthodox Church believes in Christ's real death and His resurrection. According to Orthodox doctrine, Christ's resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, affirming victory over sin, death, and evil. It inaugurates the new creation and guarantees the future resurrection of all humanity. The resurrection of Christ is seen as the first fruits of the resurrection of all humanity, and it is through his resurrection that believers can participate in the divine life.

The Orthodox Church emphasizes the continuity and transformation of human existence, with believers awaiting the general resurrection and the restoration of all things in Christ. This belief in the bodily resurrection is underscored by the sacraments, or mysteries, of the Orthodox Church, which are sacred rites instituted by Christ to convey God's grace and presence to believers. These sacraments include baptism, chrismation, Eucharist, confession, marriage, holy orders, and anointing of the sick. Through these sacraments, believers participate in the paschal mystery of Christ's death and resurrection, receive forgiveness of sins, and are empowered for Christian witness and service in the world.

The Orthodox Church's focus on the Resurrection, rather than Christ's suffering, is evident in its theology, worship, and spiritual life. It is not Christ's suffering that is important, but his conquering of death and breaking of the gates of Hell through his resurrection. This belief in the resurrection is central to the Orthodox faith and shapes its understanding of salvation, eternal life, and the fulfillment of God's promises.

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Stigmata is believed to be caused by an intense focus on the Passion of Christ

Stigmata is a phenomenon primarily associated with the Roman Catholic Church, with very few instances in other Christian denominations. It is characterised by the appearance of bodily wounds, scars, and pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ. While the Eastern Orthodox Church does not profess an official view on stigmata, it is considered rare or non-existent in the Orthodox experience.

The cause of stigmata has been a subject of debate, with various explanations proposed. One theory suggests that stigmata is caused by an intense focus on the Passion of Christ, resulting in a deep piety and desire to associate oneself with Christ's suffering. This theory, known as "compassion with Christ," posits that the intense religious faith and empathy lead to the physical manifestation of wounds.

The idea of "compassion with Christ" as a cause of stigmata is supported by several theologians and scholars. Christian theologian Ivan Illich, for example, states that "compassion with Christ ... is faith so strong and so deeply incarnate that it leads to the individual embodiment of the contemplated pain." Similarly, early neurologist Désiré-Magloire Bourneville suggested that stigmata could be the result of epilepsy or hysteria in individuals claiming to have religious experiences.

The link between an intense focus on the Passion and the appearance of stigmata is further strengthened by the timing of the wounds. In many cases, stigmata bleeds profusely on days that hold significance in the Christian faith, such as Fridays and Good Friday, when Christ's passion and crucifixion are remembered. This timing suggests a connection between the emotional and spiritual state of the individual and the physical manifestation of wounds.

Additionally, the majority of stigmatics exhibit a strong desire to receive Holy Communion frequently. This further emphasises the role of religious devotion and focus on Christ's sacrifice in the occurrence of stigmata. The intense spiritual connection and desire to unite with Christ's suffering may contribute to the appearance of wounds.

While the cause of stigmata remains a subject of debate, the intense focus on the Passion of Christ is believed to play a significant role for many stigmatics. The combination of profound religious faith, empathy for Christ's suffering, and the desire to unite with that suffering through physical wounds creates a unique spiritual and psychological state that may manifest as stigmata.

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The Orthodox Church investigates phenomena like weeping icons to ascertain their legitimacy before proclaiming them miracles

Stigmata are bodily wounds, scars and pain that appear in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ. While stigmata are primarily a Roman Catholic phenomenon, with the likes of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina being famous examples, there is no official view on them from the Orthodox Church. In fact, according to some, stigmata are foreign to the Orthodox experience.

However, the Orthodox Church does investigate other phenomena, such as weeping icons, to ascertain their legitimacy before proclaiming them miracles. Weeping icons are icons of Jesus Christ or the Mother of God, Mary, that exude a fragrant oil, known as myrrh. These icons are not rare and can be found all over the world. In one instance, a priest, Fr. Bill, witnessed a weeping icon at an Orthodox church in Chicago in the spring of 1987. He writes about his experience:

> "I had never seen anything like it. This was something beyond my previous imaginings. It didn’t fit into any of my categories. I even peeked behind the iconostasis to see if… but no, there were no hoses attached."

In another instance, a layman brought a large jar to collect the myrrh flowing from a weeping icon of Mary at Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Cicero, Illinois. The priest, Father Nicholas Dahtal, and a bishop, Bishop Basil, wiped off the myrrh and exorcised the icon to ensure it was not a demonic manifestation. Bishop Basil then left the room to get a cup of coffee, and when he returned, the icon was still weeping.

While the Orthodox Church does not have an official stance on stigmata, it does investigate other phenomena, such as weeping icons, before proclaiming them miracles. The investigation typically involves examining the legitimacy of the phenomenon and ascertaining that it is not a deception or distraction from the devil.

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There are some instances of stigmata in the Byzantine Catholic Church

Stigmata are bodily wounds, scars, and pain that appear in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ. They are primarily a Roman Catholic phenomenon, and the Eastern Orthodox Church has no official view on them. However, there are some instances of stigmata-like phenomena in the Byzantine Catholic Church, such as weeping icons.

While stigmata are not commonly reported in the Orthodox Church, there have been some instances of weeping icons and other similar phenomena. In such cases, the Church typically undertakes an investigation to ascertain the legitimacy of these occurrences and remains cautious about proclaiming them as miracles. The focus of the Orthodox Church is on the Resurrection, rather than the suffering of Christ, which may explain the rarity of stigmata reports within this tradition.

The first recorded stigmatic is widely considered to be St. Francis of Assisi, a Catholic saint. Stigmata usually appear on the hands, wrists, feet, near the heart, the head, and back, mirroring the wounds of Jesus Christ's crucifixion. While the majority of stigmatics are women, the most famous stigmatics tend to be men, such as St. Francis of Assisi and Padre Pio.

In conclusion, while stigmata are not commonly associated with the Orthodox faith, there have been some reports of stigmata-like phenomena within the Byzantine Catholic Church, such as weeping icons. The Church approaches these occurrences with caution and focuses primarily on the Resurrection rather than the suffering of Christ.

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