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.