What is the Orthodox Christian view on the atonement and is Penal Substitutionary Atonement Orthodox?

The patristic and biblical quotes in this collection reveal what Orthodox Christians actually teach about the atonement, debunking prevailing myths. The quotes show multiple biblical and patristic perspectives: Christ as 'ransom for all' (1 Tim 2:6), 'triumphing over' principalities and powers (Col 2:15), and the 'sweet exchange' where 'the iniquity of many should be concealed in One Righteous Man, and the righteousness of One should justify many that are iniquitous' (St. Athanasius). Rather than modern theories, the Church Fathers emphasize Christ taking 'upon Himself our sins' as 'a ransom for us, holy for lawless, guileless for evil, just for the unjust' (St. Athanasius). These truthful quotes help debunk misconceptions about what the Orthodox Church has historically taught about the atonement.

The quotes in this collection help debunk myths by showing the actual range of patristic and biblical teaching on atonement. Some emphasize Christ bearing our sins ('he made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin' - 2 Cor 5:21), others focus on propitiation ('he is propitiation for our sins' - 1 John 2:2), while others highlight Christ as a ransom or victory over death. By presenting both substitutionary language and themes of divine wrath directly from the sources, this collection helps readers distinguish between prevailing myths and what the Church Fathers actually teach.

FATHER DANIEL SYSOEV on the Atonement

In the middle of the 2nd century, the heresy of Marcion arose in the Church, who rejected the Old Testament and the righteousness of God. Saint Polycarp of Smyrna called Marcion the firstborn of Satan and excommunicated all the followers of this heresy from the Church. Since then, in every list of condemned heresies, this doctrine has occupied one of the places of honor. But the most surprising thing is that now this heresy is considered almost an expression of authentic Orthodoxy. 'God is love and only love', its supporters say, and argue that it is necessary to discard any mention that God is angry, judges, and acts in justice, as 'Catholic influence', 'unsurmounted paganism', etc. Before us is unfolding a terrible picture of the destruction of historical Christianity and the substitution of the living God with that fantastic image of Santa Claus, who does not punish anyone. The very idea of the knowledge of God among such heretics is completely wild. They think they can construct their ideas about God, and what they don't like in Scripture or the Fathers they call pedagogical devices. The most amazing thing is that the supporters of this heresy call themselves active missionaries and claim that if we do not accept their point of view, we will alienate people from the Church. But at the same time, for some reason, no one asks them - does the Church need their missionary activity if they preach a different God, preach a different Jesus, and give a different Spirit? Why do we need to be in the bosom of the Church? Why not let there be crowds of non-believers? I'm not even talking about the fact that people who actually hear their sermon will calm themselves down, thinking that everything is already possible for them and that their salvation is guaranteed. According to my observations, we have before us a whole new ideology of 'neo-Christianity', which creates a whole alternative dogma and ethics. Let's look at the points of faith that we have left of patristic Orthodoxy…. 6. Without exception, all the neo-Christians reject the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, which He offered as a propitiation for our sins. For them, the notion that the truth of God demanded the punishment of sinners, which the Innocent Christ voluntarily took upon Himself, is a sign of 'paganism.'

FATHER DANIEL SYSOEV

id., "Thoughts on the New Marcionism"

Twentieth Century