The Sign of the Cross, Icons, and Tradition in the Orthodox Church

[@ViceAdmiralHoratioNeIson]

I am a Protestant but these videos are leading me to consider Orthodoxy. I want to seek Christ's true church whether it's Protestant, Catholic or Orthodox. Please pray for me.

[@orthoglobus]

May the Lord guide your steps towards the truth.

[@marshamagic8551]

Love watching.

[@cuthbertsboots5733]

It's a year later, where are you now?

[@marshamagic8551]

I’m still watching these videos. My husband was a Greek Catholic...

[@DysmasTheGoodThief]

@Cerij Andabad wrong tho

[@jamesarmstrong6008]

I have very recently become Orthodox. These traditions have been very easy for me to adopt.

[@h.santiago4339]

Why some people come just to do bad comment, leave this space for people that want to learn about orthodoxy not to criticize!

[@D-A-K]

Maybe they think they're saving someone?

[@SteveAubrey1762]

Well said!

[@violetbutler2781]

I am a Protestant but like the Orthodox faith. May Christ bless you

[@theresurrectionandthelifem4971]

Ian Butler thanks brother because not all protestants are like you

[@Ash_Queen16]

I also appreciate the beauty of Orthodox Christianity and I'm Protestant as well

[@OWOT-re5jf]

ELCA Lutheran here who finds your worship style and setting reverent and beautiful. God deserves such glory.

[@clxt6413]

Ian Butler May God bless you too, brother!

[@alvsasan978]

Yeah!!! If were another historic circumstances, Luther could be acepted inside of the Orthodox Church un that time... But, Germany was under the romanist church, so Luther was against all the romanist superstition, not against the Holy Fathers Faith... But Constantinopla was lost un such moment... So... We going to left to the God of the History to move all things to be together

[@matthilsdon9710]

I’ve watched many of these short videos and the more I read and watch the closer I get to believing that the Orthodox Church is the path for me/truth. Sadly as a Christian in rural England I am struggling to find an Orthodox Church, but I won’t let this deter me from studying. God bless

[@Theoria]

Keep your head up! And let us know if we can do anything to help

[@maylii3452]

May God be with you brother, and may He always lead you ☦️🤲🏾💓

[@southernslav1967]

my family is from Ukraine and where we live now there are no orthodoxy churchs.thank you for your videos

[@tommymatt3629]

southern sl

[@temujin0911]

may God bless you all my orthodox brothers... from a catholic...

[@anonumuss4574]

God bless u and ur family my brother... Thank you ☦️✝️

[@AdventurerPHL]

Catholic the true church of God not orthodox church..

[@temujin0911]

@@AdventurerPHL the difference between the Catholic and Orthodox churches are superficial... deep down, we're the same...

[@guspapadopoulos945]

I just want to say thank you Federica for explaining the Orthodox faith in such a beautiful, historical and comprehensible way. Things that were for me hard to grasp were described with great examples and explained in away that made sense to me. To see a person like Federica embrace her faith in such an unpretentious manner with such passion and enthusiasm is simple inspiring to me. God love you.

[@mtllhetfield1138]

Greetings from Romania to all my brothers and sisters!God bless you!

[@souhachalhoub1622]

I appreciate the orthodox commitment and I wish all the Christians do the same, especially my Catholic church. May the Lord bless our churches

[@jeremytan5297]

Great explanation ! I learned much from this channel before I actually visited the Orthodox Church here and I am still continuing to learn about the Church as a Protestant . Thanks for that !

[@Super-chad]

This is a clear explanation of the concept of _veneration_ that I've always had a problem in comprehending, prior to listening to this video

[@remkojerphanion4686]

What a wonderful woman. She speaks from the heart.

[@TomHamilton54]

You think she's great in these you should read her books.

[@remkojerphanion4686]

@@TomHamilton54 Thank you for the tip!

[@adadzie]

This is beautiful. I love your explanation Frederica Mathewes-Green and great to learn that you are a convert.

[@tbilod]

I get the impression that an icon is, essentially, giving a physical form to a spiritual concept.

[@huascar66]

I love these videos which give good explanations and teaching about the Orthodox Church. I am very interested in becoming Orthodox. I walked away from Christian religion some time ago because it became too political and too much an extension of one political party. I don't want politics. I want spirituality. I want to feel the Presence of Christ each time I walk into a Church. From all I am learning through these videos, I may have found a spiritual home. Thank you.

[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

Thank you to all who made this video possible. I am on the way to conversion partly because of how this channel presented these basic practices and beliefs.

[@Theoria]

Gunguy many years and God bless

[@cadeblush1085]

Wonderful video! Thank you for this, and for your visit to John Brown University, F.M.Green. Xristos anesti!

[@Viricanus]

Ναι ανέστη

[@oluwafemijoseph2830]

I am a Protestant Christian and And I have come to appreciate the outward expression of my faith in the Holy Trinity through the sign of the cross. I have become tired of the loud singing and shouting and show off in some churches with hyper charismatic tendencies. I have come to appreciate solemn songs of worship. May our blessed Lord keep all true christians. Amen

[@dawnd5761]

Thank you so much for this. I lost my grandparents 10 years ago. And it seems with them I also my connection to my Heritage and the religion with which I was first christened as a newborn. I went to services for many years with my grandmother oh, we were Russian Orthodox so I didn't understand much as I'm guessing most of the service was done in Slavic. But when I lost them I feel as though I lost part of myself and I'm still searching...

[@maylii3452]

May the Lord guide you love, and may our good Shepherd Christ comfort you. There is no place like the Church ♥️☦️

[@jamesmikkelson7636]

thank you dear sister, your videos are so helpful, clear, and compassionate for those of us searching the riches in our Orthodox faith.

[@TheBluestar2009]

Catholics or protestant or Orthodox Church first we all need to reach the lost souls and take the message of suffering and Love of Jesus Christ and Baptised in name of Father,Son ,Holy Spirit and reach the world , My dear Brothers and sisters from Beliver who believes Jesus Christ who is attending Protestant church💓🙏👍

[@greenhaven-podcast]

Your videos have been such a help for me and my family on our journey. Sometimes I just like to listen again because you do better at explaining in 3 minutes the Traditions of the Church than I've seen opposing Protestant views who try to cram reason and logic and Bible all together to make their arguments of 20 minutes or more. Glory to God! May the Spirit of Truth who is everywhere present and filling all things come and abide in us and cleanse us from every stain and save our souls. Amen.

[@Eritreanmac323]

God bless you.

[@tyxikosgatpopoulos4004]

To those of you who recognize the beauty of Orthodox spirituality I say this: Do not hesitate! Become Orthodox. Other churches( and I deliberately used a small c) might possess small parts of the Truth mixed with erroneous additions and subtractions but Orthodoxy is unique in that it contains the entire Truth. That is why we speak of the fullness of Orthodoxy.The Orthodox Church is the One True Body Of Christ on Earth.

[@aidanmcwhirter2612]

Eastern or Oriental?

[@Caelumbus]

God bless you all.. From Roman Catholic of 🇵🇭 😇

[@Awakeningspirit20]

The idea of icons and Saints reminds me of the feel you get in the US Capitol with all the statues and portraits, the sense of reverence. "They are our heroes." We don't worship them, we honor and venerate them because they represent a greater idea. I'm Catholic, not Orthodox, but I think my experience working in the Capitol may have helped me understand better, even if that is a secular or a-religious temple to freedom, and thus, to God in some ways.

[@SteveAubrey1762]

An EXCELLENT video. Very informational!

[@synthesaurus]

I remember a taxi driver who cut his seat belts out and put a bunch of ikons on his dashboard. He said it was a better protection.

[@windstorm1000]

I like when Fredeica says. They are heroes-the saints are heroes for me.

[@chicotata]

As a life long Catholic, I’ve come to see who does the sign of the similar to us…. Peace be with you my Orthodox brethren

[@pookydoo8696]

Wow that's awesome it makes much more sense to me now

[@thygreek8076]

We worship God through the icons, and we pray to the saints because they're much closer to God than we are ,and can deliver our prayers to God with more 'power' if you will.

[@chip_stack]

When you are baptized with the holy spirit christ is in you . How much closer than a dead saint is to christ when you are alive in christ .

[@generalmichaelconstantine4598]

@@chip_stack right next to him

[@Dekaendoles]

This is the first and second Commandment . All Commandments are in Exodus 20:3-17 Exodus 20:4-6 3 Thou shall have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. May this open your eyes and understand what our LORD God is telling you and all. God Bless

[@anonumuss4574]

@@chip_stack first there is no dead Saint, there is an Alive Saint, and we pray to Saints cause they are closer to God they are in heaven, yes we have Christ inside us through Baptism, but with our sins we aren't closer to Christ as the Saints are.... God bless you

[@chip_stack]

@@anonumuss4574 christ forgives sins not pope or preist or anyone else even a saint . We should pray to christ not saints . Plus no one is in heaven now the dead are waiting to be resurrected as was christ resurrected only god and christ and angels in heaven . So no dead saint can hear us but christ and god alone .

[@englishorientalorthodoxhym2235]

there is one faith .that is Orthodox .Eph 4:5. God bless you.keep it up

[@adarshkunnel8532]

Awesome video. In Oriental Orthodoxy, the sign of the cross is done from the left to the right with the three fingers representing the Holy Trinity. It's a very interesting difference. Thanks!

[@DysmasTheGoodThief]

Same way the Romans do it. 😊

[@adarshkunnel8532]

@@DysmasTheGoodThief Yes. I think Roman Catholics as well do not use three fingers specifically, but Oriental Orthodox do.

[@fritula6200]

l'm a Roman Catholic and we have icons... and statues and pictures etc... They are symbols as reminders of the people they represent only. The reality of those symbols we carry them in our hearts, they are our faith, our virtue, our chastity , giving our will to God...the symbols become the reality of how to live a holy life. I have seen little children in our churches captivated by all these symbols. In every RCC there are the 14 stations of of the Cross Jesus ' lead up to his crucifixion.... these symbols really captivate their attention.

[@FolkBoyify]

Fritula 6 The Father said to not create anything that resides in the Heaven

[@theresurrectionandthelifem4971]

drpoetry1 It says not to bow down to worship it

[@richardsoka2400]

Fritula 6 I am also a Catholic I like how the Orthodox venerate Saints, Angels, and other icons. I once visited the Synagogue Church of All Nations(SCOAN) Lagos, they also have the 14 Stations of the Cross inside the Church. One thing I admired and proved that Jesus can be called on the scene is during prayer time when the sick with their medical reports from approved government hospital or University Teaching hospitals are being instantly healed for instance Sleep apnea, diabetes, kidney failure, cancer stage four and the like free of charge, not even one dollar is paid. Why are our Priests/Bishops not able to invite Jesus Christ on the scene as a tangible thing? so as to know what I am talking of watch testimonies/or visit the Church; kzbin.info.

[@rogerwatch6720]

@@FolkBoyify .......and then he told Moses to make images of angels to go on the Ark of the Covenant! You should try understanding the text......it works so much better!

[@nikolastanic2999]

God bess you!

[@michelvanderschaaf6914]

I am a Catholic Cristian, and learning a lot from these video's. I want to convert to Orthodoxy

[@orthoglobus]

Glory to God! May the Lord guide you towards Orthodoxy. Kindly check also this book that contains very important evidence for you to know: www.23rdstreet.com/pdf/my_exodus_paul_de_ballestery.pdf

[@lukethomas7327]

Could you tell me who sings Psalm 34 in this video and where can I find a recording?

[@Theoria]

This recording is from Frederica's home Church, Holy Cross in Baltimore, MD

[@lukethomas7327]

So I suppose there is no way of finding a recording?

[@Theoria]

You could try contacting them directly: www.holycrossonline.org/our-parish/

[@michaelbaughman8910]

For all the haters out there I say STOP. who's servant are they yours or the LORD!? DID you die for them on the cross!? Did you feed them when they are hungery!? Did you give them comfort when perplexed? If you did then you can tell them How to worship you. Are you under law or under GRACE!? You can not puck and choose what you want to follow. You can not wear wool and linen together. You can not plant corn and beans in the same garden. It must be a seperate plot. You can not sleep with you wife when she has her period. You become UNCLEAN. That is the LAW. Shall I go on !? If you have done ANY of these things my friend you HAVE sinned. We are called to LOVE one an other. Even in our own familes we may not like what they do...but we must love them! But who believes our report and to whom as the are if the LORD been revealed!?

[@marshamagic8551]

I’m enjoying the videos.

[@JoshAlicea1229]

I am from a Protestant/non-denominational church. I have personally studied reformed theology, but I am drawn to Orthodoxy. I understand the history of the church and see that reformed theology is faulty. There are some questions I still have though. I understand that salvation is a lifelong thing, that we ought to not be prideful in our approach to salvation but to be like the publican or the blind man Bartimaeus and humbly pray for mercy. Can someone please give me a full description of it? Is salvation based on the finished work of Christ in Orthodoxy?

[@orthoglobus]

Salvation of all humanity is finished as regard to Christ's work [John 17:4]. Christ in His love has gifted salvation to anyone who believes in Him and therefore fulfills His commandments. It is up to us now whether we will accept this gift and respond to Christ's love or not [John 14:21].

[@idesofmarchUNIAEA]

Also, icons were used to give a representation to the illiterate, a millennia ago. The encapsulated people and events of the Bible.

[@rozsa7828]

I cried out to Jesus for help and saw a cross coming towards me it got brighter n brighter till all I could see was light I felt Jesus heart break under the weight of the sin and then his heart broke he died the forces of evil ran in terror defeated I heard God sing over me like I a vibrating Brooke and angels voice and as he did love poured out over me the heavens split open I saw a Lamb with a anointing of light on his back and ad I perceived the Lamb my soul changed into a Lamb later I found out this I'd called being born again

[@sandragillmore2927]

Interesting no holy water as Catholics do. I love the hand shape..like Byzantine tradition. The symbols are a constant reminders of the faith.

[@josephconder9074]

We do have holy water, she just doesn't mention it.

[@DysmasTheGoodThief]

Yup I keep a bottle with me when I can but I ran out because of the corona lol

[@evans3922]

@@DysmasTheGoodThief you can add plain water to the holy water you already have.. This way you will not run out of it... Until you get new holy water

[@LadyMaria]

@@evans3922 Unless it's water from Theophany.

[@billyharan3277]

God bless u

[@datchet11]

“At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭19:10‬ ‭NIV‬

[@josephconder9074]

Not worship.

[@omegathefirst4022]

Learn the distinction between worship and veneration.

[@datchet11]

@@omegathefirst4022 same thing different words.

[@omegathefirst4022]

@@datchet11 So any honor and reverence is worship in your eyes?

[@usfenderfsdlx]

What parish is this? How beautiful!

[@Theoria]

usfenderfsdlx - Holy Cross in Linthicum Height, MD.

[@katelyncameron5828]

I have observed while visiting an Orthodox liturgy that people made the sign of the cross many many many times.. My question is when do you actually make the sign of the cross? is it done when the name of Jesus is called?

[@Theoria]

Typically when the Holy Trinity is invoked. For more details about when to cross / when not to cross, see this page (near the bottom): www.antiochian.org/christianeducation/etiquette

[@katelyncameron5828]

Thanks! this is very helpful!!!

[@LastEarBender]

@Theoria - would you be so kind as to enunciate what the Greek Orthodox say out loud, when making the sign of the cross? I was baptized Greek Orthodox and had strayed at a young age and have been adrift for decades. I'm trying to come home & I feel a need to hear those words

[@sacrecur7352]

🙏

[@مارڤنماهر]

ياألله يايسوع يامريم

[@houndlover870]

Can a married women join the Orthodox Church if her husband is of a different religion or has no interested in conversion to orthodoxy?

[@mattcanread2847]

Does anyone know where I can find the hymn at the beginning? It's absolutely lovely.

[@Theoria]

MattCanRead - it's a communion hymn. The particular version should be available via Holy Cross Church in Linthicum Heights, Baltimore

[@mattcanread2847]

Thank you so much

[@cue_khb]

As a Reformed Christian, I appreciate the order, beauty and solemnity of Orthodox and Catholic liturgical worship and the iconography of Orthodoxy. I appreciate the values that these icons imbibe. But as a Reformed Christian, I do not see that this sense of order, solemnity and values need to or should come from icons and liturgies but from understanding that we have been given all these things by Christ’s sacrificial death. Our sins for his righteousness.

[@mathewtthomas3877]

While making cross sign which shoulder should we touch first.. left or right

[@Theoria]

The Orthodox Church touches the right shoulder after the forehead and above the navel. The Roman Catholic Church touches the left

[@clc-gl4jn]

Are the icons in Orthodoxy used in the Catholic church?

[@tryingnottobeasmartass757]

Eastern rite Catholic Churches use 2D icons as the Eastern Orthodox Church does. Occasionally, one sees 3D icons (that ia, statues) used in these Eastern Churches, but 2D icons are the norm. The Latin rite of the CC has a strong devotion to certain 2D icons, but primarily uses 3D icons.

[@nariko47]

♡

[@thebluedan]

Who invented the sign of the cross? And what’s the point of it? Thanks

[@Theoria]

Dan Waters - it is referenced in Christian literature as early as the Second Century A.D. (100’s A.D.). It is protection and help. For Christians, the cross represents the victory of Christ. It is a physical prayer.

[@gouhaokip1]

I really want to know...since orthodox church has direct lineage from Christ and his disciples. Pls, allow me ask this question - Did the Apostles also do Sign of the Cross, venerate the icons by kissing it? Or were all these developed and instituted by the church later when the Apostles left the earth.

[@chip_stack]

Man made tradition .Early Christians didn't need icons and rituals to make their belief stronger. They came together as the body of christ in worship which is listening and learning what christ commanded and do it . But sadly now it's just Sunday church worship and rituals and traditions but no real daily repentance from sins .

[@dimitargalchev7012]

Galngam Inc...What do you think about the question, did the Apostles also had a holy scriptures? No... The church grew up in the times. And God didn't stop speaking and working with the people after the Apostles. Sorry for my bad English.

[@gouhaokip1]

@Dimitar, So what you're saying is that the Apostles haven't heard of the Torah (Which is the Old Testament) and early churches haven't had apart of manuscript. Basically, all those letters wrote by Paul does not exist during the early church fathers? Uhmmm........

[@gouhaokip1]

It's obvious the Apostles did not have the Scripture. But they're the ones who received the teachings of Jesus Christ directly from him and thats how we got our scripture the new testament as we know today. If sign of cross and veneration of icon or Mary is so important surely it will be mentioned by atleast one of the disciples in the scripture or in the letter to the early church by Paul and latter Timothy to whom we got so many of our basic foundation beliefs as a Christian.

[@Tsalagi978]

@@gouhaokip1 it is. Paul tells us to "hold fast to the traditions you have received from us". This is part of that tradition as is the Liturgy, 3 fold ministry of Bishop, Priest, and Deacon, and most of all the Eucharist where Christ himself is present and we eat his body and drink his blood (Gospel of John).

[@cherokeejack3502]

How are icons of Jesus not a violation of the second commandment?

[@johnnyd2383]

Because 2nd commandment was done because Lord was not incarnate and dead people were in a "soul sleep" state locked and dormant in Hades. With the Lord's incarnation, He became visible, He became visible image (icon) of the invisible God (Col 1, 15), and He trampled down death by death went down into Hades and liberated souls from the bondage (1 Peter 3, 19) so that ever since it can not keep souls locked down. Change in both realities made images (icons) possible and even desired as they are visual reminders of spiritual reality of our Church Triumphant.

[@apollon6870]

old believers do it with two fingers

[@huascar66]

A major cause of schism in the ROC during the time of the Tsars. It continues, sadly.

[@molinaafo]

“For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭10:3-6‬ ‭

[@josephconder9074]

"Hold fast to the tradition you received"

[@tryingnottobeasmartass757]

Amen. We completely agree that passage of Sacred Scripture and with all of Sacred Scripture interpreted correctly.

[@fritula6200]

cat-zulu... .in the reply.... no they would not hang your picture and kiss it....l would kiss it if you were a martyr ....because martyrs die for the love of Christ.... he had his own blood spilt for Christ, because he wanted to die that way.. the martyr chose to die that way. He died the same way as Jesus did, giving up his life for many . This is the ultimate witness to Christ. His picture should be venerate as an example to you and me. This is called red martyrdom. White martyrdom is bloodless, when we die everyday to our sins.

[@merytek698]

Why don't women and girl s weare a Vail clearly it's stated in the bible 1Co 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth

[@huascar66]

It doesn't say that, actually, but... whatever.

[@merytek698]

@@huascar66 ok show me what it states then

[@merytek698]

@@huascar66 I'm Oriental Orthodox tewahdo Christian from Ethiopia and we have a tradition where we wear"netela" kind of Vail and a dress when we go to church

[@mememe1468]

I don't think comparing it to a soldier makes sense. He's not hanging it up in the house of God and kissing it . I would be ashamed if anyone took my picture, hung it on the wall of a church, and kissed it . Especially if i died a martyr

[@miloradvlaovic]

It's not mandatory to kiss an icon in the Orthodox churches though, it's simply customary. As explained, it's a sign of affection. There's usually the icon placed in the center of the Church which depicts the image of the Saint or event being commemorated at that time, and it's really the one that most of the pious will gently kiss. Usually by actually kissing the margins or the frame of the icon. Alternatively it's perfectly fine to simply make a sign or the Cross in front of it, and bow your head. Or even simply bow your head, or direct a kind glance towards an icon, while in your mind expressing love and or gratitude.

[@LadyMaria]

@@miloradvlaovic Actually it is required by the Canons of the 7th Ecumenical Council against Iconoclasm to kiss icons.

[@Zania16ify]

PRAY TO JESUS CHRIST, He is the only mediator. Not Mary, not John not Peter, etc. The orthodox tradtitions are nice, but be careful christians, especially new christians and born again christians (like myself) that we are going directly to JESUS CHRIST Himself with all our prayers and concerns, & especially when we repent. when we repent, who do we repent to? Jesus Christ. That's who. So we should be praying to Him as well. Do not be distracted by the relics or icons, they are nice to look at and should be greatly appreciated. But make no mistake. The purpose of going to church is glorifying God and if you have accepted Christ into your heart, in turn the spirit of truth will reside in you. Donnot be distracted. :) God bless us all.

[@Episcogaylian]

With all due respect, you've totally misunderstood the reasons behind the use of icons in the Orthodox Church. As a Protestant currently becoming a member of the Orthodox Church, I had many of the same concerns you have when I was inquiring. You mentioned prayer to Jesus and not to Mary or the other saints. That was a big issue for me coming from the Lutheran tradition. What helped me was actually reading Christ's words about Himself as the Resurrection and the Life in St. John's Gospel. If what Christ says is true, and He really is the Resurrection and the Life, then that means that everyone who has lived and died in Christ are technically not dead. While their physical bodies may be no longer present, they are still with us, worshiping God alongside us whenever we gather for worship. When a person "prays" to a saint, we simply are asking them to pray for us and with us. If I were to ask St. John the Apostle to pray for me, I'm simply asking him to pray for me to the Lord. I'm not elevating him to or putting him in competition with the Lord. As Frederica mentions in this video, icons can be similar to photos of relatives we love or people who we aspire to be like. Since the Church is God's family, and when we are Christians we're adopted into God's family, we have images of our brothers and sisters in the faith (chief of all, our Elder Brother Christ), or our spiritual Mother, the Virgin Mary, and of others who serve as inspirations for us as we live in Christ. I hope this helps, and if you have any other questions, I'd be happy to help as much as I am able. Grace, mercy, and peace.

[@Zania16ify]

Manny Tovar I am glad you shared this with me, I am Protestant also and was considering becoming Greek Orthodox. But this is something that almost stands as a barrier and I understand that we are all in Christ ( including dead and undead Saints). But it can be very misleading to those who aren't as strong in Faith in Christ alone like maybe you and I are. My comment above was going out to new believers and followers in Christ who's faith is still getting growing. I am a born again Christian and would consider my faith, relationship with Christ to be strong and is a growing and progressing journey. I highly respect Greek Orthodoxy as they do preach the Gospel and teachings of Christ in the traditional way. The praying to Mary and Saints as a way to get to get or be with Christ instead of mainly praying to Christ (directly) is just something that would be uncomfortable for me to commit myself to do mainly because I believe in going to Jesus as my mediator. He is not a Saint, He is Christ our Lord and only Him. God bless.

[@Episcogaylian]

Grace Morgan, I can totally understand that. I hope you didn't read my previous comment as antagonistic. I simply wanted to point out that prayer to the saints does not replace prayer to Christ. Of course we still should come to the Lord with all of our prayer requests. But prayer to our brothers and sisters in Christ who are in His presence, once correctly understood, is not competition with Christ. That's all I wanted to say. :)

[@Nehaiojvgj]

We pray so that the saints will intercede for us and take our prayers to God. There is in the Bible saying that the angels carry our prayers to the Lord. So do the saints who are our spiritual friends and models. We all together are the Body of Christ and are connected. This is what certain protestant versions of christianity do not understand theologically.

[@Nehaiojvgj]

It is the the admiration (not worship) of what God's light can do when poured in us, poor vessels of his grace. Spiritual discernment....protestant focus too much in the Old Testament. Christ came to proclaim a Higher Law.

[@datchet11]

The apostles were sinners like you and I they were not special people, with Hay Lows and glowing in appearance they should not be worshiped only God alone should be worshipped, “When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭14:11-15‬

[@datchet11]

+Deadpyro1130 when I went to a Greek otherdox church in Corfu it looked like they worship the saints to me! Bowing to them and kissing pictures of them.

[@marklim6452]

karate martial artist bow to each other before the match. I don't think they are worshiping each other. I think they even want to kill each other.

[@Episcogaylian]

Bowing to someone is simply an act of respect. Would you conclude then, based on that logic, that all English worship the Queen simply because they bow to her?

[@marklim6452]

I just saw Manny Pacquiao bow Vargas. Is he worshiping him?

[@rogerwatch6720]

I suppose the first thing you should learn is a little humility, perhaps grasp the fact that you don't know everything... The next thing you should learn is that, contrary to the bizarre groups that pass for churches in the West, Christianity is an Eastern religion. As such, we have many customs that you might not be familiar with. Intelligent people generally try to understand a subject before launching into a tirade and exposing the depth of their ignorance.