“An Orthodox joke is like a guinea pig. Has nothing to do with Orthodoxy or jokes.”
This is how Archpriest Georgy Gulyaev answered PravLife’s question about Orthodox humor, humorously and witty.
And for a serious answer, the press secretary of the Donetsk diocese referred to his long interview about the Orthodox and humor in the “Road to the Temple” program.
Good humor connects people
“We are all different, and everyone has their own way to salvation. And if someone has a sense of humor, it will be preserved - to support the faint-hearted and the one who is in despondency. And those who do not have a sense of humor cannot be forced to smile - they have other talents, a different path.
Humor and laughter are manifestations of man as such. Animals don't know how to laugh. Only a person has such a feeling in which he shows such an emotion as laughter. And, as in any activity, a person can ruin everything. God gave us laughter, and this is God’s gift, but there are people who destroy themselves and others with this feeling. Because there is humor, satire, irony, ridicule, sarcasm, etc..
Good humor not only improves mood - it connects people. He can be the word that heals. And since humor is a word or an action, it can also cripple. When such humor leaves a person in a state of emptiness, despondency, and anger. Therefore, if a person has natural humor and leads a spiritual life, he will control this feeling.”
“To help a person fight his sins”
“Some of Christ’s phrases are full of imagery and irony; they can be called aphorisms. Christ departs from the direct meaning. This is that subtle humor, that special approach to a person that the Savior uses in order to heal him. Somewhere Christ acts witty. For example, he is asked to say whether taxes need to be paid, so he answers, “To Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Or the ability to put a person in a place where there is subtle Gospel humor, a subtle approach to a person. Christ is generally difficult to understand. It’s difficult to understand without love.”
“Reverend John of Damascus once said: “If fasting consisted of not eating meat, then cows would be saints.” I think this is funny. This is humor - subtle, good, apt. And this is an example of Christian humor, Lent humor, which is aimed at helping a person fight his sins.”
“During baptism, I joke: “Are we going to pay extra for the animator?”
“In general, children need to be baptized as early as possible, but when a child is baptized at one or two years old, he already has character, and the priest already baptizes, and he also entertains. Because I want the baptism to go smoothly and for the child to experience positive emotions.
So we try some water with him, and we walk by the hand, and some other things. And someone who is apart from this situation would look and say: “Well, father, you’re doing something completely wrong.”
Leads Fr. George and an example of unsuccessful humor on a religious topic:
“The priest asks the woman:
– After death, where would you like to be – in heaven or hell?
- Well, in heaven the climate is good, but in hell the company is interesting.
I dare to disappoint her: company in hell is not interesting. It’s better to look for the company that is in heaven.”
Five million
Photo cafecredit
The oligarch died. I found myself at the gates of Heaven. Knocking. He hears in response: “We were wrong!” To hell, my dear! - How - to hell? Yes, I... Yes, I... Yes, I just spent five million on the cathedral in the regional center! Through my foundation, I carried out a whole church program - there are accounts with seven zeros! Are you kidding me?! There is a pause outside the gate. Then the same embarrassed voice: “Okay.” We will return your money now.
“Laughing at yourself is a good way to avoid pride.”
Archpriest Alexander Ponomarenko, rector of the Holy Trinity Church in Zhelti Vody, artist and cartoonist:
“What does “Orthodox humor” mean?! Then it is necessary to divide into Catholic, Lutheran, Muslim, etc.
There are simply moral qualities of a person. If humor is vulgar, it can be neither Orthodox, nor Catholic, nor any other. Good humor should be kind, subtle, with a special subtext.
Humor is determined by the place, the environment where we live. We are from the post-Soviet space - we are all former Soviets. That’s why our topics for humor are household, communal, food, etc. If we lived in Germany, we would have a completely different humor. Because they have a different standard of living, different problems and a different mentality. And there are completely different concepts of humor.
So I joke - I make caricatures - just to lighten the mood. I don’t think I want to express some kind of Orthodox thought with this. I just want to please my parishioners, relatives, friends, including my mother.
Caricatures by Father Alexander Ponomarenko
And humor should not be vulgar, below the belt. My humor may be somewhat hooligan, one might say, but it is kind. And if you remove this element of hooliganism, the humor will stop. It will be so “Petrosyan” sweet and cloying. I don’t watch it, and neither do Comedy Club, because it has vulgar humor.
In my cartoons I avoid church topics, but now one has appeared - on the topic of people talking in a church. The story with our parishioner inspired me. Maybe I’ll give her this cartoon as a gift.
But I don’t like jokes on religious topics. Especially where the Church is insulted. I don’t like blasphemous jokes and all kinds of vulgarity.
Orthodox Christians, of course, joke – and that’s good. Because a sense of humor allows you to laugh at yourself, and this is a good way to avoid pride.”
Caricatures by Father Alexander Ponomarenko
A person outside the Church will not understand what we are talking about
“Here, there is an anecdote that I often tell about how one priest walked through a cemetery at night. He walked and suddenly became scared. And then he hears some steps behind him. He quickens his step - and the steps too, he is even faster - and the steps follow him. The priest could not stand it - he ran, and the steps behind him were getting closer and closer, such a stomp. Suddenly someone grabs him by the cassock. He turns around - neither alive nor dead from horror. And then a woman’s voice came to him from the darkness: “Father, bless!”
There are many similar jokes, but I would not say that this is Orthodox humor - it is internal to the church. Because a person outside the Church will not understand what we are talking about. This is our inner world. And the parishioners in Zheltye Vody are very cheerful. I don’t know why this happened.”
Conversation between two embryos
Photo by Ivan Borovikov
Twin embryos talk in the womb: - Listen, do you believe in all these stories about life after childbirth? - Tales about mom? About the fact that there we will be able to walk ourselves and eat with our mouths? - Yes. And that there will be a lot of light there, and mom will take care of us... - Complete nonsense! Life is pure suffering in darkness and cramped conditions. Besides, no one has ever returned from “there”!
“Orthodox humor is precisely a parable”
Rostislav Motspan, icon painter and Orthodox historian:
“Our era provokes Orthodox humor. People want to relax - there is a lot of emotional tension, nervousness - they want to somehow get rid of it.
And Orthodox humor is a very interesting direction.
I remember the parable of Anthony the Great, how he sat in the forest with the monks and told them some funny stories. The hunter saw this and said: “How so?! You are Anthony the Great and you are having fun, and together with the monks!?!” And the saint answers him: “Take your bow and try to stretch it as much as possible. And again, and again...” “So he’ll break!” - the hunter cried. “So is monastic life,” Saint Anthony tells him. - “If you are always in severe tension of the soul, vigil and prayer, then a person may simply not be able to stand it, and, like this bow, break.”
And now times are so stressful that good, funny stories are simply necessary.
Orthodox humor, of course, exists - and it existed before the revolution. And I think Anthony the Great also told Christian stories. For example, parables about monks were humorous and at the same time served as instructions.
This is not about a secular joke, but about parables. But many people think that if there is humor, then it must be “below the belt.”
And Orthodox humor is precisely a parable. There were Belarusian programs that were called “Parables”. This is humor, but at the same time it instructs, teaches, and gives some kind of moral support.
The Lord also spoke in parables, but humor, of course, was not their idea.
And parables will not always be clear to everyone. People of the Orthodox environment have their own specifics.
Here's an anecdote: Two new Russians enter the church, and a priest walks by with a censer. And one says to the other: “Look, look—grandfather’s purse is starting to smoke.”
This is humor generated by the situation - on the edge, one might say. And for people outside the Orthodox community, the censer may well be a “smoking purse.”
Fantastic!
Photo by auimeesri
A virtuous man has died. As expected, I found myself at the Gates of Heaven. The gates are closed and guarded by an angel. The man was confused: “How to get inside?” - As easy as pie! — The angel takes out a notebook. - Tell me all your good deeds, and I will give you points. If you score a hundred points, you pass! - Just? - the man was happy. - Now... Here! I lived with my wife for half a century and never cheated on her! Even in your heart! - Oh, this is wonderful! - exclaimed the angel. - For this you get three whole points! - Three points?! - The man shrugged. - Well, okay, I went to church regularly, gave tithes and participated in ministries... The angel fluttered his wings: - Great! Worthy of admiration and... two points! - Two? Just two?! Okay, listen up then! I started a soup kitchen and worked in a nursing home! - Fantastic! Four more points! — the angel carefully wrote down the next number in the notebook. - What is this?! I told you my whole life and only earned nine points?! - the man was in despair. “In that case, you can only get to Heaven by the grace of God!” The angel tears up the notebook: “Come in!”
Wow!
Photo by GraceOda
There is a flood in the city. Panic, people grab things, run wherever they look, leave the city, whoever can do whatever they can... Only one very pious person sits calmly on the second floor balcony, reading pious literature. The water is coming. A truck approaches the house - already with difficulty. From there they shout: - Hey! Get in the back! Save yourself! - For what? — the man answers calmly. - Go yourself, and the Lord will save me! Water floods the first floor of the house. The man continues to sit as if nothing had happened. A motor boat with rescuers moored to the balcony: “Jump to us!” The water is rising! The man turns the page without emotion: “Nothing, nothing, thank you!” The Lord will save me! The water is getting higher. The man’s slippers are wet, but he continues to sit as he was. Above is the whirring of a helicopter. The pilot leans out of the cockpit and throws a rope ladder onto the balcony: “Grab it!” Get to the top! This is the last helicopter! - Do not worry! - the man waves his hand. - The Lord will take care of me! The city has already sunk under water. The book of the pious man has sunk, and he himself is floundering in the waves. A log floats next to him. He would grab hold of him, but the man forcefully pushes him away: “God will help me out!” And - he drowns. Here he is before the Lord, completely at a loss: “God, I trusted in you so much!” Why didn’t You want to save me?! - You didn’t want to?! Wow! Who do you think sent you a truck, a boat, a helicopter and a log?!
Death of an Atheist
Photo by Justin Jensen
An atheist died. Suddenly he realizes that he is standing at the gates of heaven. He hesitated, trampled, there was nothing to do - he knocked. No reaction. He knocks again. Silence again. The third time he kicks with all his might. The Apostle Peter comes out: “What do you want, brother?” - Did you all fall asleep here?! I demand to be allowed to see God! - Wait here... Peter hurries to God: - Lord, an atheist has come to You. What should I tell him? - Tell him that I am not here!
