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.

DMITRI OF ROSTOV on the Atonement

A very dread substitution, an unexpected substitution, ah! terrible to speech, to sight, and to hearing. The King of heaven and all the earth, the Creator of the whole world, by a most violent beast is betrayed to the violent, by thrice-cursed Judas to the regiments of the Jews, the most unmalicious lamb to wolves thirsty for blood. He is exceedingly sorrowful in soul, seeing the cup of death, He weeps bloody sweat, ah, because of our malice.

DMITRI OF ROSTOV

St. Dmitri of Rostov (+1709), Verses on the Lord's Passion (translated and published by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press)

Eighteenth Century