I invite you to visit my author's page at https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00GUGOVJE?_encoding=UTF8&node=283155&offset=0&pageSize=12&sort=author-pages-popularity-rank&page=1#formatSelectorHeader Or my Facebook page at:https://www.facebook.com/Father-Spyridon-Bailey-Books-180541086602/
I invite you to visit my author’s page at https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00GUGOVJE?_encoding=UTF8&node=283155&offset=0&pageSize=12&sort=author-pages-popularity-rank&page=1#formatSelectorHeader
Or my Facebook page at:https://www.facebook.com/Father-Spyridon-Bailey-Books-180541086602/
Respectfully, our purpose is not to know God. Our purpose is to love God (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37, Luke 10:27), because He first loved us. (John 4:19). Our purpose is to worship God alone (Matthew 4:10) in spirit and in truth (John 4:23).
2 Corinthians 13:5 teaches us that we should examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith. That is, whether Christ Jesus is in us. Are we so in love with, and committed to, our precious Savior that the thought of doing anything that might dishonor or displease Him is unbearable?
Veneration of icons is nowhere in the scriptures. Anything close to it is always condemned. That said, ultimately the question we must ask, and every believer must ask is, does what I’m doing honor and please God? Am I doing this because I love God more than anything else and want to put Him first in my heart and life practically?
As Christians we should, in questions of living in God-honoring ways, always use the Bible as the highest authority for what God wants from His children. He made it abundantly clear how to serve Him and love Him appropriately.
Conspicuously missing from the lesson in this video is any reference to Christ’s death. His whole mission was to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) and to die on our behalf (Mark 10:45) so that we could be forgiven of sin and reconciled to God (Romans 6:23). Jesus did this because He loves us, and our response should be to repent and love Him back with everything we have. It’s not enough to know Him, even the demons know Him (James 2:19), we have to love Him more than anything else or He is not our Lord and we are not worthy of Him (Matthew 10:37-38).
Love. God’s love for His rebellious, sinful creation and Christ’s perfect act of selfless love on the cross. That is the gospel.
Much respect for these Orthodox men who spend their lives in pursuit of the knowledge of God. I am saddened to think, though, that all their study of church history and adherence to tradition may be burned up like chaff at the bema seat. But nevertheless, they are brothers and I pray for the Orthodox Church.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Father.. Im Lutheran, but my heart and love belongs to Orthodox Church.
I commited numerous of sins and now i got into despair.
God bless you Father, your teachings are so beautiful. Pray for me Father
God bless you, Father Spyridon.
I love this teaching. Thank you Father Spyridon. As a former protestant who discovered Orthodoxy online, I struggled with the concept of venerating icons. As a protestant, I was taught that was "idol worship". Then one day I realized that I kiss my deceased mother' and father's photos and sometimes will talk to them while looking at their photos. I know very well that is NOT "idol worship", but rather a respectful and loving remembrance of who my parents were while on earth, and thankfulness for their love, …and that they continue to live on with God.
Fr Bless +
Thank you – God bless
It truly is a reminder – heavenly images +
Glory be to God+
Well said my brother
Father Spyridon pray to God for us!!!!
God instructed Moses to make two golden cherubim and to place these above the cover of the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:17-22). God also instructed Moses to work the image of the cherubim into the outer curtains of the Tabernacle structure and into the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:1, 31-33). Thus, the priests that served in the Tabernacle saw images of the cherubim all around them — on the outer curtains surrounding the Tabernacle as well as on the inner curtain that shielded the Most Holy Place. There you go. From the Bible. Greetings from Reader Alexander of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Milwaukie, Oregon.
Was not Jesus a worker in wood? His Father a worker in clay… And the Holy Spirit of God a worker in flesh? Every man touched by the Holy Spirit is holy, and the work of his hands is sacred.
I look at this as much the same as having pictures of family members or rather of events of the past. Your photos are reminders of things that truly happened in the past,,; you may kiss and respect them as sentimental and sacred but you don't worship them. Great description of veneration as to worshiping. God love you Father Spyridon as always thank you for your videos.
Just like the video itself is a transformational iconic rendering like all of Father Spyridon's work. The advantage of the icon lays in its permanent reference. Having objects of remembrance, to aid in focus is a great idea. However, I have noticed the plethora of non-iconic images and toys. The Icon focuses on Christ, the other mages focus on non-Christ. The image, therefore, is vital.
A few comments:
– some modern terms for the rolls of icons: "training aid," "focusing tool," "reminder"
– kissing icons?! well, when done in a true sense of devotions.
– it must be noted: we humans, in our way of compartmentalizing our knowledge, can compartmentalize our thoughts & behavior surrounding an icon so deeply that the icon can become a "Good Luck charm." (A great example of this is the practice of burying a St Joseph statue in the yard to help a piece of real estate get sold.) Two reasons come to mind that permit this scenario to occur.
— when this the icon has become so habituated that we stop thinking about it when we pass or respond to it.
— when a person has not been well taught.
That is an error, and it is particularly the error that iconoclasts focus on. Unfortunately, they "toss out the baby with the bathwater" and forsake the great devotional utility of icons.
Ironically, Islam replaces picture icons with word icons (example: http://sites.middlebury.edu/hagiaophia/ottoman-calligraphy-in-hagia-sophia/) which are subject to the same human fault of compartmentalization.
p.s. the worst_, _most painful example of iconographic distortion I have found is a grocery store shelf presenting a variety of votive candles in decorated glass containers. Among various candles with images of Jesus, Mary, the cross, Holy Family, saints, etc., was one for "Good Luck," adorned with horseshoes, shamrocks and $ signs on it.
For anyone who has trouble understanding or has completely misunderstood the purpose of icons, may the Lord Christ Jesus be with you and forgive you for any shortcomings [& forgive me also, a sinner]
Dear friend,
remember Isaiah's vision? Isaiah, being too impure to be in God's holy presence
, had the right to feel terrified..
Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
Isaiah 6:6-7
If you opened the previous link from Bible study channel, you'll notice that the enigmatic coal carried holiness in it (resembles Christ), it did carry the Holiness of God (without mixing or mingling, that's why its matter wasn't annihilated and such holiness didn't annihilate Isaiah either, rather sanctified him)
That also reminds us of the time God wanted to reveal Himself to Moses then told him "no one sees me and lives"
Knowing that God put him in a cleft in the rock and covered him with His hand until He has passed by Exodus 33:21-23
(God's face symbolized His full physical presence
But God's back resembles a small glimpse of His physical full presence—the Uncreated Light)
Notice that God All-powerful is able to control and subdue His very own mighty power in order not to physically eradicate (or affect) the flesh of His creature, since he can do anything!
That's how the icons carry His very own holiness without being destroyed
And as soon as a bride's bridegroom returns from his journey, she abruptly tosses away his picture which she has been kissing, runs to him as he, whom she loves, has finally come back (knowing that the early church didn't have printers to print out the Bible so they drew pictures in order to remind them of various biblical scenes, just like when you view a picture of Christ with a little girl on your phone, are you worshipping the electromagnetic waves/particles or Christ?)
This is a difficult teaching. I’ve visited an Orthodox Church twice, and the icons seem to be front a center of worship. They say venerating, but is it really? Let’s be honest…Are we confusing things, or just causing unnecessary distractions? This teaching is no where in the Bible. Icons or “Idols” have always been part of pagan religions. Please remember, we worship the true God. He is a holy God that doesn’t require or ask us to bring icons before Him.
Father, I prayed for you today because you are a pearl of wisdom for our hearts and I ask the Lord to bless and protect you and your ministry. Thank you!
Anything can be overdone. How is that danger avoided?
Lord Jesus Christ , Son of God , have mercy on me , a sinner
Thank you Father for your words.
Thank you brother
Very informative and interesting. I may have to open my mind here.
A young man called me recently to discuss his family's movement toward the Orthodox Church. He told me a priceless story about how his seven-year old daughter helped him and his wife understand an Orthodox practice that is often a hindrance to inquirers. Although the family had icons in their home they could not grasp the reason for the practice of venerating (kissing) them. One evening after prayers with his daughter she looked at the icon in her room and asked, "Who is on those pictures, Daddy?"
.
He replied, "The Virgin Mary and Jesus."
.
She picked up the icon, kissed it and hugged it to her chest exclaiming, "Oh, daddy, they love you so much!"
.
"Then," he told me, "We understood. It's all about affection."
.
Source: http://www.stmaryorthodoxchurch.org
GOD HATES COWARDS; GODS LOVE INCLUDES VENGEANCE; THE LORD DESTROYS THE GUILTY IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT.
Hmmm orthodoxy is like eating fish. Need to spit out the bones before they prick your throat
Yes, icons and holy, divine paintings are Holy Bible to contemplate by eyes and soul
Can someone direct me to a biblical source that mentions or eludes to icons? I have been considering orthodoxy for a while but I am confused about the origins of icons. I want to make an informed decision
Maybe God will come and receive us to Himself soon. Maybe today! Lord willing…maybe today. It's only a lifetime
Until man crucifies his intellect it will be difficult to see ones self. Without knowing oneself one can never become close to God and see the Truth of His church. Orthodoxy is the way the ethos that Christ established on earth not man made but a gift from God for our salvation. Heterodoxy is rationalistic, scholastic and materialistic humanism at its best. Lord have mercy God help us☦️☦️☦️
May we please send you a monetary gift. I'm in South Africa, so some type of PayPal account or similar will be convenient please…
Thank you Father
Hello. What a Lesson?… Thank you. father. Icons must draw us nearer to GOD.