Orthodox Icons

I think that looking at how christian "saints" are portrayed on orthodox icons, someone can understand the "values" of orthodox christianity. You see weak, ill, miserable, ugly, almost crazy looking humans.

They are obviously trying to show that these were people who went into extreme fasting and who no longer cared about their physical body. And that this is the ultimate good. And that suffering is the way a person can reach god. We have to suffer in order to come closer to the "creator". Pleasure, joy, health, living a good life, eating the things you want to, being near friends, all these are sins.

And the only way to be saved from eternal torture is looking and feeling miserable, like them: