Would it be rude for a RC to venerate Icons?

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MassEffectDude

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Hello,

So a couple weeks ago I attended a divine liturgy at a local UGCC, and though I actively participated in the liturgy I did not fully observe all Byzantine practices such as venerating (kissing) the icons on the stands in the front of the temple. I plan on visiting this church again tomorrow. Would it be considered rude if I went up to the icons made reverences and then kissed the icons since I am a RC and not a UGCC? I personally just want the experience, but at the same time I don’t want to offend anyone.

Also I noticed many in the congregation only made one reverence (the sign of the cross, and a bow) where as some others seemed to do at least 2 or 3 reverences. Which is the more standard practice in a UGCC?

-Thank You for taking the time to help me
 
It is by no means rude to venerate icons in a Byzantine church - the veneration of icons is giving reverence to the Body of Christ (or Christ Himself in some cases) and they are a window to heaven. Nothing rude about that.

As to the specifics of icon veneration it’s really personal preference: I was personally taught to make the sign of the cross, kiss the icon and then touch my forehead to the icon (although that might pertain to the specific non-Byzantine church I’m part of).

But by all means, don’t be shy to venerate icons at all! 😃
 
Venerating the icons is quite the opposite of rude. Although not required, absolutely no one will hold it against you.
 
Catholic is Catholic. By all means, the icons are to be venerated.
 
As long as you are visiting a Church in full communion with the Church of Rome I don’t see any danger.
 
MorEphrem said:
It is by no means rude to venerate icons in a Byzantine church - the veneration of icons is giving reverence to the Body of Christ (or Christ Himself in some cases) and they are a window to heaven. Nothing rude about that.

As to the specifics of icon veneration it’s really personal preference: I was personally taught to make the sign of the cross, kiss the icon and then touch my forehead to the icon (although that might pertain to the specific non-Byzantine church I’m part of).

But by all means, don’t be shy to venerate icons at all! 😃
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I am not sure that I have understood you correctly. Are you saying that the ‘Body of Christ’, and ‘Christ Himself’ , are two different things?
 
eamonnroma said:
I am not sure that I have understood you correctly. Are you saying that the ‘Body of Christ’, and ‘Christ Himself’ , are two different things?
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It can be understood as the communion of saints, and choirs of angels.

Or even the whole of the church.
 
Denho said:
There is nothing wrong with venerating Orthodox icons.
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No, you may be venerating schismatic figures who are venerated among orthodox for keeping not communion with the church of Rome, that way you would be venerating performers of división, performers of sin.
 
eamonnroma said:
I am not sure that I have understood you correctly. Are you saying that the ‘Body of Christ’, and ‘Christ Himself’ , are two different things?
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There is something distinct between the veneration of a member of the Body of Christ and the totality of Christ in the “Not Made by Hand” icon.

There is an obvious qualitative difference in the way one prays to a saint or God.
jorge_carrillo said:
No, you may be venerating schismatic figures who are venerated among orthodox for keeping not communion with the church of Rome, that way you would be venerating performers of división, performers of sin.
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I’ve seen you post a few times. All I’m going to say is you should learn some charity because your obsession with causing distance between us and the Orthodox is clouting your understanding of theology. If there was a Greek icon of St. Maron, the patron of the Maronites, in an orthodox church who would I be insulting if I decided not to venerate it because of its location? Veneration of an icon is venerating the saints and God, not the people who possess the icon.
 
Denho said:
There is nothing wrong with venerating Orthodox icons.
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Look how ordinary citizens venerate historic figures such as Lincoln, Grant, FDR, Washington, etc with huge statues, such as Mt Rushmore or the Statue of Liberty, etc. And then they think Catholics are goofy for venerating statues of saints?🤷
 
jorge_carrillo said:
No, you may be venerating schismatic figures who are venerated among orthodox for keeping not communion with the church of Rome, that way you would be venerating performers of división, performers of sin.
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your posts are quite rude and incorrect…
 
MonkMoses said:
So in your opinion venerating an icon in an Orthodox Church is dangerous?

Now that is RUDE.
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As I feel Jorge attempted to say, it would depend on the icon that was exposed for veneration.

It would be very appropriate for a Catholic of any sui juris Church to venerate an Icon of Christ, of the Theotokos, or of any commonly recognized Saint.

But I personally would feel very hesitant in venerating an Icon of Photios, for example, due to his condemnation of Catholic teachings.
 
jorge_carrillo said:
No, you may be venerating schismatic figures who are venerated among orthodox for keeping not communion with the church of Rome, that way you would be venerating performers of división, performers of sin.
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He wouldn’t be venerating “schismatic figures” if he was in a Ukrainian Catholic Church. If the Ukrainian Church doesn’t want someone venerated, they wouldn’t put an icon of that person in the church.
 
Brendan said:
As I feel Jorge attempted to say, it would depend on the icon that was exposed for veneration.

It would be very appropriate for a Catholic of any sui juris Church to venerate an Icon of Christ, of the Theotokos, or of any commonly recognized Saint.

But I personally would feel very hesitant in venerating an Icon of Photios, for example, due to his condemnation of Catholic teachings.
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SAINT Photios died in full communion with Rome. He is commemorated on Byzantine Catholic Calendars.
 
MonkMoses said:
SAINT Photios died in full communion with Rome. He is commemorated on Byzantine Catholic Calendars.
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That’s quite correct, Hierodeacon Moses.

And in fact, as EWTN’s own Anthony Dragani wrote in 2002, while there is some controvery about his status in the Universal church,
St. Photios is venerated by the Byzantine Catholic Church, and perhaps other Eastern Catholic Churches as well. He is on our calendar of saints, and we venerate him on Feb. 6. I have a personal devotion to St. Photios, as his missionary vision was largely responsible for the conversion of the Slavic peoples.
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eamonnroma said:
I am not sure that I have understood you correctly. Are you saying that the ‘Body of Christ’, and ‘Christ Himself’ , are two different things?
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So for a reason I don’t not understand someone deleted my post so I’ll respond again. I said something to the affect yes, they’re different insofar as a member of the Body (i.e. a saint) and Christ in His totality are not numerically or qualitatively the same and the latter is obviously infinitely superior to the former. That’s simply what I meant.
 
Rude? No. It would be a very appreciated sign of respect and humility. I venerate the icons of all Christians, Catholic or Orthodox. One of my personal favorites is Holy Father Herman of Kodiak, Alaska. I carry a commemorative gold coin of his Cannonization at all times. Go here to read about him.
 
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