Orthodox Icons Are Not Idols

While Orthodox icons are exceptionally beautiful works of art, they are, first and foremost, religious items used as a means of worshipping God and venerating saints. People pray with icons both in churches and at home, and they turn to them in hard times. However, for many non-Orthodox, praying with icons is a strange thing similar to idol worshipping. Let us assure you that this is not so for three simple reasons:

1. Icons of Christ depict God who became flesh and blood and thus visible to all mankind, which allowed people to create His images.

2. Orthodox icons depict real events and real people, not fantastical creatures replacing God and His saints.

3. Veneration and worship are not the same. The Orthodox worship God, and they venerate icons and saints, which is an act of love and respect to the Creator.

Thus, praying with icons is not idolatry. The Orthodox do it to focus on prayer, be closer to God, and unite with the holy saints.