Seriousness in Eastern Christianity

[DL82]

Are Eastern Christians more ‘serious’ than Western Christians?

I mean, many of the Eastern spiritual works advocate a kind of emotionless detachment, apathia towards the world. It’s that same serious but somewhat expressionless face that seems to appear on nearly all ikons. Eastern Christianity seems to advocate a constant concentration, brought about through such disciplines as the Jesus Prayer, and many of the Eastern mystics seem to have practiced an asceticism that is far more austere than in the West. Even the Carthusians, the most austere monks of Western Catholicism, have their weekly walks and relaxation time. The desert fathers and the stylites don’t even seem to have had that, they stayed in their cells or towers 24/7.

Besides the spiritual aspect, it does seem that Eastern European and Middle Eastern people in general take life and God much more seriously than us Westerners. You just need to look at the many sad conflicts in those parts of the world today to see that.

I realise this probably sounds like a very judgmental attitude. I’m not trying to judge anybody else’s culture, only to understand it better. Why is it that all these Eastern saints are pictured with such serious looks on their faces? Am I mis-reading their words and their expressions?

 

[Trishie]

They may be right. However if their saints look very serious, consider how many of our Catholic holy pictures of saints have been overly sentimental…so perhaps there can be some confusion in representations.

Actually I do feel more drawn by Jesus into a balance of earnestness and lightness, a balance of the human and the divine. Jesus had some of this utter earnestness, but He didn’t have “a kind of emotionless detachment, apathia towards the world.” He was very human, at times emotional and even enthusiastic in some of His responses and stories.
Below, some thoughts

Regarding holiness
Dear Jesus, please reveal brilliantly to all, that You do not require that individuals need to be regarded as Saints, in order to be Your saints.
Assure them that holiness is Your action, not ours!
Let them read the gospels and reflect on what they read, discovering that You were truly human, that you wept, felt pain, joy, and exasperation, “How long do I have to put up with this faithless generation!”) [Mark 9:19]

You became angry [in the Temple]. You were sometimes disappointed, sometimes weary. You felt the need to be alone, and the desire to escape a dreadful ordeal (“let this cup pass from me”). [Luke 22:42] Then in the depths of suffering, You found faith difficult, (“My God, why have You abandoned me?”) [Psalm 22:1]

Why did not the evangelists record Your laughter! How sober of them! However, they do record as Your lyrical delight over little children, (“Blessed are You, Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth! You have revealed to little ones, the mysteries of Your Kingdom!” [Matthew 11:25]

Jesus, ask Your people to observe that You lived the ordinary life for about thirty years. If You had not wanted to make such an issue about being vulnerably human, You could have come as a glorious, fully developed human Personage. Jesus, truly human, truly God, help us to become fully human, fully whole.

 

[Ahimsa]

Are Eastern Christians more ‘serious’ than Western Christians?

I mean, many of the Eastern spiritual works advocate a kind of emotionless detachment, apathia towards the world. It’s that same serious but somewhat expressionless face that seems to appear on nearly all ikons. Eastern Christianity seems to advocate a constant concentration, brought about through such disciplines as the Jesus Prayer, and many of the Eastern mystics seem to have practiced an asceticism that is far more austere than in the West. Even the Carthusians, the most austere monks of Western Catholicism, have their weekly walks and relaxation time. The desert fathers and the stylites don’t even seem to have had that, they stayed in their cells or towers 24/7.

Besides the spiritual aspect, it does seem that Eastern European and Middle Eastern people in general take life and God much more seriously than us Westerners. You just need to look at the many sad conflicts in those parts of the world today to see that.

I realise this probably sounds like a very judgmental attitude. I’m not trying to judge anybody else’s culture, only to understand it better. Why is it that all these Eastern saints are pictured with such serious looks on their faces? Am I mis-reading their words and their expressions?

Enjoy.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Why is it that all these Eastern saints are pictured with such serious looks on their faces? Am I mis-reading their words and their expressions?

After 30+ years of Eastern Christianity, I can assure you that the saints in the icons are smiling.

 

[wynd]

A possibly related thread: Scary looking icons

 

[Aramis]

Icons are not just pretty pictures nor meditation and prayer aids.

They are also, fundamentally, tools for teaching the faith to the people.

They show people. Some smile a little, some a lot. A few frown.

The Pantocratnor is Christ in both teacher and judge; half and half. As God and judge, he should show disdain and sorrow for our sins; As teacher he should be kind, merciful, but not of need celebratory, for we have much to learn.