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The Crucifixion of Christ in its milieu and its spiritual significance today Angelique C. Nicolaides (Presbytera) & Katya Willimus Saint Andrew the First-Called Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Johannesburg and Pretoria Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa

Abstract A large preponderance of scholars agree on the historicity of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The earliest accounts of the death of Jesus are contained in the four canonical gospels. There are also other references in the New Testament epistles. In the synoptic gospels, Jesus predicts His death in three separate places. Each of the four Gospels end with an protracted narrative of Jesus' arrest, preliminary trial at the Sanhedrin and concluding trial in Pontius Pilate's court, where Jesus was lashed, convicted to death, and then led to the place of crucifixion initially carrying His cross before Roman soldiers induce Simon of Cyrene to carry it for Him. Jesus was thus crucified, entombed, and Resurrected from death. This article based on a literature review of relevant articles in academic journals and other works interrogates what early Christians believed concerning death, the Roman modus operandi of Crucifying one, the Crucifixion of Jesus as reconstructed from historical sources and the two tombs of Jesus identified in Jerusalem. It additionally expands on the critical spiritual significance of the Crucifixion for Orthodox believers. Keywords: Crucifixion, redemption, Grace, fallen humanity. Introduction “Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Lossky (1997) states that Subsequently the “triumph of Christ over death” is so integral to the very existence of the Church—and since it is the ultimate paschal proclamation, as in “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death!”—then the Orthodox Church will never concentrate on a “theology of the Cross” at the expense of the Resurrection. Rather, the one paschal mystery will always embrace both Cross and Resurrection in a balanced manner”. Early Christian views on the meaning of death For Christians the earliest evidence on how Christians thought about death in Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians (15:21). Death was a once off event and it was not a natural state but was brought about by original sin (Clark-Soloes, 2006:60). Paul asserts in his letter to the Romans (3:23) that all people sin and fall short of the Glory of God. Death was given human characteristics and was an enemy, namely the devil (Acts phil, 110. 4,7). Jesus however, would take his power away(Hebrews 2:15). The death and resurrection of Jesus would bring this about. Death was viewed as a seed that is planted but can rise again from the earth (Ferguson, 1993). Tertullian in his A Treatise on the Soul, states that death is a separation of the soul from the human body and Lactantius advises us to achieve what we can that is good because we only have one opportunity. Just as in the case of Jesus in the tomb for three days 1