This Sunday do not forget to bring your favorite Icon to Church it is Sunday of Orthodoxy. At the End of the service we shall be walking around the Church “Outside” holding our Icons as is the tradition, Reading the decree of the seventh Ecumenical Council.
Sunday of Orthodoxy celebrates the restoration of the icons to the church and the affirmed dogma of Christ’s humanity as shown in the icons of Christ, the man.
WHAT IS A ICON.
Icons are sacred images of extraordinary human beings who have become godlike and achieved divinity through grace. An icon is a window to the spiritual world, revealing the heavenly possibilities for each viewer on earth and providing models to imitate. The unearthly appearance of the icon subjects is intentional, pushing the viewer beyond the real world.
VENERATION OF AN ICON
The Orthodox draw a clear line between venerating and worshiping icons. Worshiping would constitute idolatry, whereas veneration is respect and reverence for the subject of the icon, such as the person of Christ or St. John. Icons help the petitioner visualize the living saint in heaven. It is that represented person toward whom appeals and thanksgiving are directed, not the icon itself. e.g when taking a journey, people will light a candle make the sign of the cross and kiss an icon and ask the saint assistance in safe travel.
DON’T FORGET TO BRING YOUR ICON