Orthodoxy and statues

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I really wanted a statue of Mary that I saw once, but my churchs’ shop is never open. 😦
 
I will try, it’s really bugging me! I’ve wanted it for months now! 😦
 
I think prodromos explanation tends to sum up the reason most OCs do not use statues, and the reasons for the style of icons too. That is, they reflect different theological emphasis.

I have, however, heard very heated opinions by Orthodox about statues being immoral. I am not surprised that some priests would also suggest that. Personally, I don’t think it is a convincing argument, though it always is a good idea to consider how and why images are being used, and if they are saying what we want them to say.

Western Orthodox parishes use statues in western styles.
 
Bluegoat said:
I think prodromos explanation tends to sum up the reason most OCs do not use statues, and the reasons for the style of icons too. That is, they reflect different theological emphasis.

I have, however, heard very heated opinions by Orthodox about statues being immoral. I am not surprised that some priests would also suggest that. Personally, I don’t think it is a convincing argument, though it always is a good idea to consider how and why images are being used, and if they are saying what we want them to say.

Western Orthodox parishes use statues in western styles.
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My methodist ministers would cringe at the thought of statues in their church!
 
Zundrah said:
My methodist ministers would cringe at the thought of statues in their church!
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But they have no problem with text, even though, like images, words simply are a human convention for pointing to a greater reality which they cannot encompass. Some members of churches that use images have got caught up in them and used them inappropriately. But members of churches that allow only the Bible and other religious writings have been known at times to fall into the idolatry of words.
 
Zundrah said:
But I’lll probably get banned soon! Look at my profile, I already have infractions for having contempt for catholicism! 😦

…I need to be careful these days! 😉
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Ditto. I got mine for a pro-pagan, anti-catholic agenda. I.E. I showed beyond a resonable doubt that the potrayls of pagans by Catholic apologist where false.

Let me guess you got yours for being too good at showing the Methodist point of view right?
 
Important to remember is the Latin theory of grace: It is created by God for man. Orthodoxy teaches, as we recall, that grace is uncreated, and impacts all creation. It is a mysterious extension of the Divine Nature. Orthodox iconography reflects this truth, even as Roman Catholic statues reflect its idea of grace.
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Off-topic, but this needs to be addressed.

This is a false representation of the Roman doctrine on Grace. Grace is the Divine Life of God, not some created thing. Any Latin theological text will tell you this. The website you cited is completely erroneous in this regard, and doesn’t even supply a source for its claim.

There are several other errors on that page, even regarding the practice of venerating statues, but they weren’t mentioned in the post so I won’t bring them up here. 🙂

Peace and God bless!
 
cyberwolf001 said:
Ditto. I got mine for a pro-pagan, anti-catholic agenda. I.E. I showed beyond a resonable doubt that the potrayls of pagans by Catholic apologist where false.

Let me guess you got yours for being too good at showing the Methodist point of view right?
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Yeah, I wouldn’t mind but I wasn’t even being aggressive, not like thay were to me anyway! 😦
I got the infractions only because no one could prove my claims wrong. In short, they got angry because they had no back up for their defence. Now my faith in Catholicism is a bit of a “blind faith” now, where in which case I believe in catholicism even though I have scriptures that oppose those beliefs! I have all the arsenels I could possibly need to attack Catholic doctrine, and yet I still go to my Roman Catholic Church… becuase deep down I know that we all need to be Catholic. Even if I don’t understand the truth I will still remain in good faith untill I do understand…
 
cyberwolf001 said:
I showed beyond a resonable doubt that the potrayls of pagans by Catholic apologist where false.
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If a faith is true and correct, it’s apologists have no good reason to spread falsehoods. None of us are justified in spreading lies.

I once got an infraction for implying that a now deceased Pope had lied. I couldn’t think of any other explanation for something he had publicly stated, I still can’t.

Perhaps he (and his extensive staff of assistants) was confused? 🤷
 
I think the reason we use statues in churches is to remind us that Our Lord, Our Lady, the Saints, are always with us 🙂
 
VARC said:
Do orthodox christians believe that the use of statues is wrong? I found an article by a WRV priest who denied that was true.
Here is the article…westernorthodox.blogspot.com/2006/06/eastern-orthodox-statues.html

Thank you for your comments
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My two cents:

I personally find nothing wrong with statues, I think they often make fine tools of worship. My family recently went to a beach house run by religious owners, and there was a giant bust of a Passion-stage Christ in my room. I put my icons around Him and used it in my prayers.

On the other hand, when I told my Orthodox godparents about the possibility of my buying a statue of the Virgin Mary, they immediately told me, “Buy an icon instead.” So some have the more extreme point of view.
 
Hesychios said:
If a faith is true and correct, it’s apologists have no good reason to spread falsehoods. None of us are justified in spreading lies.

I once got an infraction for implying that a now deceased Pope had lied. I couldn’t think of any other explanation for something he had publicly stated, I still can’t.

Perhaps he (and his extensive staff of assistants) was confused? 🤷
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What did the Pope say? 🤷
 
There will be no removal of the Statues of the fathers (Apostles) of the Church above the Church in Rome. what a beauty. like no other. keep the statues and Icons coming. they bring beauty into the House of God.

i know EO people who told me he would not kiss the hands of the priests because it would be idolatry.
 
wisdomseeker said:
There will be no removal of the Statues of the fathers (Apostles) of the Church above the Church in Rome. what a beauty. like no other. keep the statues and Icons coming. they bring beauty into the House of God.

i know EO people who told me he would not kiss the hands of the priests because it would be idolatry.
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Really? That’s silly. At every Orthodox church I’ve been to (Bulgarian, Russian, Greek and Antiochian) the faithful kissed the priest’s hand at the end of the liturgy or whenever he blesses you.

In Christ,
Andrew
 
Harpazo said:
Really? That’s silly. At every Orthodox church I’ve been to (Bulgarian, Russian, Greek and Antiochian) the faithful kissed the priest’s hand at the end of the liturgy or whenever he blesses you.

In Christ,
Andrew
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i also kiss the hand of the priest whenever i have the chance.

my point is that some people will abandon the Traditions handed on to us because of the modern mindset of today. they let themselves be intimidade by the secularists of this age and become embarassed and arrogant.
 
So two wrongs make a right now? It just seems to suprise me how many on this board use the excuse of “But [group X] does this wrong thing too!”
 
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