Okay to purchase from Orthodox stores?

[Mosestheblack]

Hello. While browsing some religious items online I came across quite a few icons and other religious items that I was hoping to purchase. The problem is, the majority of the items come from Orthodox stores. Being a Roman Catholic, would it still be acceptable to purchase devotional items from them? Also if a specific icon has orthodox roots is it acceptable to use for devotion? I know this might sound a bit trivial but I just wanted to know your opinions on this matter.

 

[Constantin]

Zero concerns. I have also several icons of Orthodox origin at home and pray in front of them.
Why would you care whether they are from an Orthodox/RC/Buddhist/JW or whatever shop?
The saints depicted certainly do not care.
Quite to the contrary, there’s more to an icon than immediately meets the eye and the Orthodox have a very long tradition with iconography and know what they are doing.
Others may not.

 

[WingsOfEagles]

I don’t think we’re really “supposed” to have devotions to Orthodox Saints as the Orthodox on not in Communion with Rome.

 

[Constantin]

I don’t think we’re really “supposed” to have devotions to Orthodox Saints as the Orthodox on not in Communion with Rome.

This is understood. But the thread is really about something else - see the title.

 

[Wendy1989]

Hello. While browsing some religious items online I came across quite a few icons and other religious items that I was hoping to purchase. The problem is, the majority of the items come from Orthodox stores. Being a Roman Catholic, would it still be acceptable to purchase devotional items from them? Also if a specific icon has orthodox roots is it acceptable to use for devotion? I know this might sound a bit trivial but I just wanted to know your opinions on this matter.

There is iconography in the Eastern Catholic rites and those rites are in communion with the Roman (Latin Rite) Church. Many of our most beautiful and ancient renderings of Christ and the BVM are from icons found in the early church. My parish is named for St. Ignatius of Antioch and all of the renderings of him are found in iconography. Also, there are icons of all of the Apostles. This is a good thing.

I would say as long as the icon is referencing something that can be found in the Roman Church, I see no problem. Iconography is a very rich and ancient form of inspired art.

 

[WingsOfEagles]

Zero concerns. I have also several icons of Orthodox origin at home and pray in front of them.
Why would you care whether they are from an Orthodox/RC/Buddhist/JW or whatever shop?
The saints depicted certainly do not care.
Quite to the contrary, there’s more to an icon than immediately meets the eye and the Orthodox have a very long tradition with iconography and know what they are doing.
Others may not.

Read your own comments. Not all of the saints you will find in an Orthodox shop will be recognized by the Roman Catholic Church and certainly not in a Buddhist or JW shop.

 

[Constantin]

Read your own comments. Not all of the saints you will find in an Orthodox shop will be recognized by the Roman Catholic Church and certainly not in a Buddhist or JW shop.

When I wrote “saints”, I assumed that it was understood that the particular saint in question was recognized by the Catholic church. Otherwise he/she could still be a saint, but we do not know it, so we should not publicly venerate him/her or even buy an icon.
This has nothing at all to do with the religious affiliation of the shop owner which was what the thread opener was asking for.

 

[WingsOfEagles]

When I wrote “saints”, I assumed that it was understood that the particular saint in question was recognized by the Catholic church. Otherwise he/she could still be a saint, but we do not know it, so we should not publicly venerate him/her or even buy an icon.
This has nothing at all to do with the religious affiliation of the shop owner which was what the thread opener was asking for.

Then we’re actually in agreement. OP also asked within initial post “Also if a specific icon has orthodox roots is it acceptable to use for devotion?” To that, I would say “no”. Orthodox specific icons should be avoided as they are not officially accepted by the RC.

 

[adamhovey1988]

I don’t think we’re really “supposed” to have devotions to Orthodox Saints as the Orthodox on not in Communion with Rome.

Many Orthodox Saints are also Catholic saints, I have an icon of St. Basil of Caesarea, which I bought from Eastern Catholics which they got from Eastern Orthodox. I think it depends, some Orthodox are openly hostile toward Catholics however, where they get their icons from sometimes are not only not hostile towards Catholics but even sell things that are specifically Catholic. I do admit, too sometimes being annoyed when people call prayer ropes Orthodox prayer rope since they’re not the only ones that use them

 

[Constantin]

Then we’re actually in agreement. OP also asked within initial post “Also if a specific icon has orthodox roots is it acceptable to use for devotion?” To that, I would say “no”. Orthodox specific icons should be avoided as they are not officially accepted by the RC.

The question is what the word “roots” is supposed to mean in this context.
If it means “post-schism saint not canonized in the Catholic church”, I am with you. I simply thought it meant “made by an orthodox” or even just “made in imitation of orthodox iconographic tradition”.

 

[Mosestheblack]

Then we’re actually in agreement. OP also asked within initial post “Also if a specific icon has orthodox roots is it acceptable to use for devotion?” To that, I would say “no”. Orthodox specific icons should be avoided as they are not officially accepted by the RC.

OP here. Sorry, I’m not exactly the best with wording things. I wasn’t referring to orthodox saints or things like that. Here’s an example of what I meant.

Many icons purchasable now are recreations or reprints of famous icons. For example holytrinitystore.com/christ-of-senai-serigraph-icon-te310h.html

The icon I linked is a recreation of the famous icon of christ from sinai. If there is an image revered by both Catholics and Orthodox (Example and icon of madonna and child jesus) but is a recreation of a post-schism orthodox depiction then would it be acceptable?

The icon I was hoping to get was one of John the Baptist (Revered by both) but the specific one was a recreation of a 19th century orthodox icon. Since he is revered by both would it be acceptable?

 

[Hospodi_pomilui]

Zero concerns. I have also several icons of Orthodox origin at home and pray in front of them.
Why would you care whether they are from an Orthodox/RC/Buddhist/JW or whatever shop?
The saints depicted certainly do not care.
Quite to the contrary, there’s more to an icon than immediately meets the eye and the Orthodox have a very long tradition with iconography and know what they are doing.
Others may not.

Orthodox icons are fine. I strongly recommend not purchasing from Monastery Icons (www.monasteryicons.com). They make their “icons” and they are not Christian group, but something combining Christianity with various non-Christian Eastern religions. If you want to know more, search the Byzcath forums for some discussion.

 

[WingsOfEagles]

OP here. Sorry, I’m not exactly the best with wording things. I wasn’t referring to orthodox saints or things like that. Here’s an example of what I meant.

Many icons purchasable now are recreations or reprints of famous icons. For example holytrinitystore.com/christ-of-senai-serigraph-icon-te310h.html

The icon I linked is a recreation of the famous icon of christ from sinai. If there is an image revered by both Catholics and Orthodox (Example and icon of madonna and child jesus) but is a recreation of a post-schism orthodox depiction then would it be acceptable?

The icon I was hoping to get was one of John the Baptist (Revered by both) but the specific one was a recreation of a 19th century orthodox icon. Since he is revered by both would it be acceptable?

Anyone who is revered by both is good to go IMO.

 

[porthos11]

Hello. While browsing some religious items online I came across quite a few icons and other religious items that I was hoping to purchase. The problem is, the majority of the items come from Orthodox stores. Being a Roman Catholic, would it still be acceptable to purchase devotional items from them? Also if a specific icon has orthodox roots is it acceptable to use for devotion? I know this might sound a bit trivial but I just wanted to know your opinions on this matter.

I’d say it’s fine to purchase from Orthodox stores icons that portray what we hold in common. So purchasing icons of the Pantrocrator, Theotokos, the holy Apostles and the Fathers are all fine.

Where I would draw the line would be at devotions we do not hold in common. So for example, I would not set up a devotion to the Romanov saints. Sure, they are probably indeed saints but the Catholic churches do not have a cultus for them (correct me if I’m wrong), so we should not be fostering devotions to them.

 

[porthos11]

OP here. Sorry, I’m not exactly the best with wording things. I wasn’t referring to orthodox saints or things like that. Here’s an example of what I meant.

Many icons purchasable now are recreations or reprints of famous icons. For example holytrinitystore.com/christ-of-senai-serigraph-icon-te310h.html

The icon I linked is a recreation of the famous icon of christ from sinai. If there is an image revered by both Catholics and Orthodox (Example and icon of madonna and child jesus) but is a recreation of a post-schism orthodox depiction then would it be acceptable?

The icon I was hoping to get was one of John the Baptist (Revered by both) but the specific one was a recreation of a 19th century orthodox icon. Since he is revered by both would it be acceptable?

I would say, yes, absolutely. Just because it was written by an Orthodox writer post-schism does not make it unsuitable for Catholic use. It’s John the Baptist and even if it was written by a Catholic writer, it would probably look identical.

 

[GEddie]

I don’t think we’re really “supposed” to have devotions to Orthodox Saints as the Orthodox on not in Communion with Rome.

Depends upon the Saint, if they lived before 1054, we have them in common.

ICXC NIKA

 

[WingsOfEagles]

Depends upon the Saint, if they lived before 1054, we have them in common.

ICXC NIKA

I understand this. I’m using the adjective “Orthodox” in this case to deliniate a saint that only the Orthodox recognize vs a Saint that we have in common.

 

[GEddie]

I understand this. I’m using the adjective “Orthodox” in this case to deliniate a saint that only the Orthodox recognize vs a Saint that we have in common.

Good point.

However, there are Saints before 1054 who are far less known in the West than the East, yet we have those in common, as well.

ICXC NIKA

 

[FollowChrist34]

I wondered about that. I purchased a prayer rope online from sisters (? I didn’t know they had sisters) in California who were Orthodox. Little over a year ago. I love it and pray on it frequently. But when I use it I do think it is ‘orthodox’ in kind of a weird way. But not to the point of being wrong or bad. Think ‘inclusive.’

 

[FollowChrist34]

Yes, I think that is it. And I saw them on a Catholic store website (after buying them), so, yes, I believe it is ok.