Orthodox Christians often stand, kneel, or prostrate themselves before Icons of Christ, His Blessed Mother, and many other Biblical and Church Saints. We even go as far as to venerate them with a kiss. Yet it must be remembered that we are in no way worshipping these physical objects, but rather the image that lies beyond it - as if looking through a window which opens us the spiritual realms. As the Church Fathers attested to: “The honor rendered to the image passes over to the prototype.” Therefore, Icons are a physical means by which we can spiritually touch God.
It is the Tradition of the Church the St. Luke painted a portrait of Mary, the Mother of God.
Fr. John
