Would it be rude for a RC to venerate Icons?

[ronyodish]

Would it be rude for a RC to venerate Icons?

It would be quite the opposite, actually. I would say that if you enter an Eastern church and find that people are venerating the icons there, then it would be rude not to join them in veneration. When in the East, do as the Easterns…

God bless,

Rony

 

[eamonnroma]

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.

Your post seems to suggest that Protestants are not Christians.

 

[Gidge]

I see no problem with this as icons are just the same as a statue or any other sacramental.

 

[theistgal]

Your post seems to suggest that Protestants are not Christians.

I didn’t see anything at all about Protestants in the post you referred to.

You do understand that here in the Eastern Catholic subforum, most of us are either Eastern Catholic or Eastern Orthodox, thus the discussion is about icons in those churches.

If you know any Protestant churches with icons that they expect visitors to venerate, by all means please let us know, I for one would be fascinated!

 

[Denho]

I see no problem with this as icons are just the same as a statue or any other sacramental.

I wouldn’t say this. In the east, especially the Byzantine East, a theology of icons has developed that far surpasses what Roman Catholics consider a “sacramental.”

Perhaps a Byzantine poster here who is better versed in that tradition can explain it but the use of icons has more to it than kissing a statue’s foot.

 

[hazcompat]

Peace

 

[Christ_is_Risen]

I didn’t see anything at all about Protestants in the post you referred to.

You do understand that here in the Eastern Catholic subforum, most of us are either Eastern Catholic or Eastern Orthodox, thus the discussion is about icons in those churches.

If you know any Protestant churches with icons that they expect visitors to venerate, by all means please let us know, I for one would be fascinated!

I took my elderly grandfather to his Episcopalian Church this Sunday and noticed both an old altar with IHS carved in the front, and icons to Our Lady of Kazan, and St. Phillip, the namesake of the parish beside it.

Sadly, they have no full-time priest, but I did speak with the deacon, and he said they use the small altar and icons for prayer services. I also told him I noticed the Latin and the Icon, he smiled and said yes. I am not sure what they would have done if I had kissed the icons but at the very least some of what we would call Protestant groups (they call themselves Anglo-Catholics) do display icons.

 

[Gidge]

I wouldn’t say this. In the east, especially the Byzantine East, a theology of icons has developed that far surpasses what Roman Catholics consider a “sacramental.”

Perhaps a Byzantine poster here who is better versed in that tradition can explain it but the use of icons has more to it than kissing a statue’s foot.

I maintain that icons are sacramentals.

 

[rciadan]

Your post seems to suggest that Protestants are not Christians.

I had no intention of giving that impression. It is just that I have never been in a Protestant church with icons in it nor have i ever met a Protestant who did not accuse me of “false idol worship” upon hearing that I venerate the Icons.

 

[MorEphrem]

I had no intention of giving that impression. It is just that I have never been in a Protestant church with icons in it nor have i ever met a Protestant who did not accuse me of “false idol worship” upon hearing that I venerate the Icons.

Very true. I had a Protestant friend of mine literally sprint out of church when the priest blessed us with an icon.

 

[LegoGE1947]

Very true. I had a Protestant friend of mine literally sprint out of church when the priest blessed us with an icon.

Also there are Protestants that are liturgical similar to Catholicism and then there are Evangelicals who have no icons except perhaps the cross, which is empty.