@orthodoxcopticmoments: St. Athanasius of Alexandria explains why Christ chose crucifixion as the manner of His death in his book On the Incarnation of the Word (De Incarnatione Verbi Dei), particularly chapters 24–25. In Chapter 25, titled in some translations “Why the Cross, of All Deaths?”, St. Athanasius gives several theological reasons: 1. Christ died with His arms outstretched to gather Jews and Gentiles into one body and reconcile humanity to God. 2. Christ died lifted up in the air to defeat the devil, whom Scripture describes as the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). 3. Christ accepted a publicly inflicted death rather than choosing His own manner of dying, demonstrating His victory over death itself. 4. The cross fulfilled Scripture, particularly the prophecy concerning Christ being lifted up (John 12:32–33). 5. Christ’s death on the cross opened the way to heaven, overcoming the spiritual powers that opposed humanity. A particularly important passage is Chapter 25, section 3, where Athanasius explains the significance of Christ’s outstretched hands, drawing together the two peoples into one. #bishopraphael #copticfaith

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Friday 23 October 2026 15:28:51 GMT