Some people may denounce Orthodox Christians in icon veneration, referring to one of the ten commandments about the non-creation of an idol. In fact, reverence for holy images is not a violation of this commandment, which the Church proclaims in the dogma of icon veneration.
In the Christian Orthodox tradition, holy images (icons) are due to reverent treatment and veneration. The question of the representability of God was raised in antiquity, and in the 7th-9th centuries in Byzantium even persecution of those worshiping holy icons began. There was a heresy of iconoclasm, announcing that you can not worship the holy images.
However, the Christian Church gave its answer to this. Indeed, full service and reverential veneration befits only God. Icons should be treated with reverence and reverence to the extent that they are a "window" into the spiritual world. On the icons it is quite possible to depict God, because Christ was visible on earth, the Holy Spirit manifested himself in the form of a dove, and the Father is described in the Old Testament as an old man. Thus, it turns out that the veneration of the icons by the Orthodox is not ascended to wood and paints, not to blackboard and mural, but to the Personality himself, which is depicted on the icon. In Orthodox theology there is a statement that the honor of an icon dates back to the primitive. And it is precisely to the extent of reverence for the Person that we can reverently treat the icon itself, on which a specific Person is depicted.
In addition, holy icons are effective "helpers" to a person in prayer. Holy images seem to open the veil of the mysterious heavenly world and help a person to mentally ascend to it. When a prayer presents a Face, it is much easier to pray. It is able to collect thoughts.
It is also necessary to realize that the possible graceful help that comes from some miraculous image is not provided from the subject, but from the Personality depicted on it. For example, the Mother of God herself through her certain icons can help a person.
Thus, it turns out that the veneration of icons, according to the teachings of the Orthodox faith, is fully justified and explainable, and therefore the attitude to the shrine should be appropriate.
