Having my icon blessed

[InnerPhyre]

I started a thread in TAW a while back asking if it was alright for an Orthodox priest to bless an icon for someone who is not Orthodox. I was given an icon for Christmas that is a reproduction of one that hangs in an Orthodox monastery. When I got a Benedictine medal, I got it blessed by a Benedictine priest. So I was thinking about getting my Orthodox icon blessed by an Orthodox priest. I personally don't see anything wrong with this, but I was just wondering if this would be acceptable in the Church's eyes?

 

[Rising_Suns]

I started a thread in TAW a while back asking if it was alright for an Orthodox priest to bless an icon for someone who is not Orthodox. I was given an icon for Christmas that is a reproduction of one that hangs in an Orthodox monastery. When I got a Benedictine medal, I got it blessed by a Benedictine priest. So I was thinking about getting my Orthodox icon blessed by an Orthodox priest. I personally don't see anything wrong with this, but I was just wondering if this would be acceptable in the Church's eyes?

Peace be with you IP,
Great question. I would assume, since the Rome recognizes the Orthodox Church as Apostolic with valid sacraments, she also recognizes Orthodox priests as valid priests; therefore a blessing would also be valid.

That being said, I don't personally see why you shouldn't be able to do this, but I would personally have a Catholic priest bless anything I got, just to be safe. The Orthodox Church is not very far from the fullness of truth at all, but I wouldn't go much further.

Anyway, I like your Ecumenical perspective, IP.

May the Lord give you His peace!

-Davide

 

[InnerPhyre]

I've thought to have it blessed by my parish priest as well, but I've heard that Orthodox priests will sometimes keep icons on their altars for 40 days and I must say I find that very appealing

 

[Rising_Suns]

I've thought to have it blessed by my parish priest as well, but I've heard that Orthodox priests will sometimes keep icons on their altars for 40 days and I must say I find that very appealing

Yes, the Orthodox are very much into Icons. I remember going to a Russian Orthodox Liturgy once and the entire walls were covered with icons, as well more icons on the altar on stands. I enjoy iconagraphy very much, but there's nothing like a beautiful statue of Our Lady chizzled out of a nice peice of marble.

 

[Michael G]

I've thought to have it blessed by my parish priest as well, but I've heard that Orthodox priests will sometimes keep icons on their altars for 40 days and I must say I find that very appealing

I will tell you what my spiritual director told me when I was in Seminary and had begun going to Latin Rite Mass on Saturday night and Byzantine Rite Divine Liturgy on Sunday Morning. One blessing is enough. In the eyes of the Catholic Church both blessings are completely valid, although the Catholic Church sees Orthodoxy as being in schism. If you want a Roman Catholic priest to bless your icon, have him bless it. If you want to have an Orthodox priest bless your icon, have him bless it. If you are going to go the route of the Orthodox priest blessing your icon, I highly recommend you call him in advance to discuss with him what you are doing and your intentions. Most Orthodox priests should be open to this, but they still like to be kept informed about what is going on. For that matter I have done the same thing, I emailed the ROCOR priest in Columbia, SC to let him know I would be attending Old Calendar Nativity Divine Liturgy on Friday and that I needed to have an icon of the Nativity blessed by him. He emailed me back and said it would be an honor. Ok, back to my original point which is, if you feel the need to have the icon blessed by both the Catholic and Orthodox priests then basically that is saying to me you don't fully trust either blessing. One blessing is enough, and perfectly valid, so make a choice. Ok, now it is time to go finish that icon of the Nativity.

 

[geocajun]

Why not go to an eastern catholic priest such as Byzantine to have it blessed? they will keep it on the altar for at least 1 week in most cases, and you dont' have to worry about any moral issues with going to the EO.

 

[Michael G]

Why not go to an eastern catholic priest such as Byzantine to have it blessed? they will keep it on the altar for at least 1 week in most cases, and you dont' have to worry about any moral issues with going to the EO.

How are there moral issues with having an Orthodox priest bless an icon for a Roman Catholic? If the Roman Catholic Church accepts Orthodox priests as being apostolic, validly ordained, as having valid sacraments, permits Roman Catholics to partake of Orthodox Eucharist (although we won't commune Roman Catholics), etc. then I can't see why the Roman Catholic Church would have any problems with having an icon blessed by an Orthodox priest. Moral issues involve sin, and where is the sin in this?

 

[geocajun]

How are there moral issues with having an Orthodox priest bless an icon for a Roman Catholic? If the Roman Catholic Church accepts Orthodox priests as being apostolic, validly ordained, as having valid sacraments, permits Roman Catholics to partake of Orthodox Eucharist (although we won't commune Roman Catholics), etc. then I can't see why the Roman Catholic Church would have any problems with having an icon blessed by an Orthodox priest. Moral issues involve sin, and where is the sin in this?

I didn't say there was one, but rather that he did not have to worry about there being any - his worry is the whole object of this thread after all.
Though, I do think his concern is legit, as there is something to be said about taking an object to a schismatic priest rather than ones own spiritual father for a blessing.

 

[Lifesaver]

How are there moral issues with having an Orthodox priest bless an icon for a Roman Catholic? If the Roman Catholic Church accepts Orthodox priests as being apostolic, validly ordained, as having valid sacraments, permits Roman Catholics to partake of Orthodox Eucharist (although we won't commune Roman Catholics), etc. then I can't see why the Roman Catholic Church would have any problems with having an icon blessed by an Orthodox priest. Moral issues involve sin, and where is the sin in this?

The Sacraments of the Eastern Orthodox churches are valid, but they are illicit. Unless in a state of great emergency, such as imminent death, a Catholic ought not to partake of them.
Likewise, I see no reason for an Orthodox priest to bless this icon. There are Eastern rites in the Catholic Church, and the blessing is the same.

 

[Michael G]

I didn't say there was one, but rather that he did not have to worry about there being any - his worry is the whole object of this thread after all.
Though, I do think his concern is legit, as there is something to be said about taking an object to a schismatic priest rather than ones own spiritual father for a blessing.

My concern is more that he wants both an Orthodox and Catholic priest to bless the icon. Like I said, when I was in Seminary I started attending both Latin Rite Mass on Sat night and then Byzantine Rite Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning until my spiritual advisor put an end to that and told me to choose one or the other. If he wants the icon blessed in an Eastern Rite or in Orthodoxy, then so be it, but if he wants a Roman Catholic priest to bless the icon that is fine too. But don't have both bless it because to do so suggests that neither blessing is complete.

 

[geocajun]

The more I think about this, the more strongly I feel it would be wrong to take something to an EO priest for a blessing when you have Catholic priests available.

 

[InnerPhyre]

When I said that I thought to have it blessed by my parish priest as well, I meant that I have also thought that I might just have it blessed by my parish priest, not that I have thought to have it first blessed by an Orthodox priest and THEN my parish priest, just to clear up confusion. I suppose I didn't word it very well.

 

[Michael G]

The more I think about this, the more strongly I feel it would be wrong to take something to an EO priest for a blessing when you have Catholic priests available.

I would like to know why he would prefer to have the icon blessed during an Orthodox or Byzantine (for that matter) Divine Liturty over a Mass?

 

[InnerPhyre]

As I said, the reason I wanted it blessed by an Orthodox priest is because it is an Orthodox icon.

 

[geocajun]

As I said, the reason I wanted it blessed by an Orthodox priest is because it is an Orthodox icon.

Orthodox icon, or Eastern icon? Is this something a Byzantine catholic church would not have?

 

[InnerPhyre]

Well the Original is currently in an Orthodox monastery. Look, I didn't realize this was going to cause a fuss, so if a mod reads this, please close this thread.

 

[geocajun]

IP, I don't understand. I am certaintly not "fussing", I am just giving advice. Is that not what you asked for?
I would never give someone advice to take an object to a priest who is in schism for a blessing if they had a catholic priest available to them.

 

[InnerPhyre]

I appreciate your advice. Yes that is what I asked for. This thread has the potential to go downhill fast though, so for the sake of peace, we should end the discussion here, as I've been given a range of opinions and must now pray about it. Thank you to everyone who responded.

 

[Michael G]

You are welcome Innerphyre. I hope this discussion helped you in deciding how to have your icon blessed. Rmember, once the icon is blessed you should pray in front of it and venerate it. You may also light votive candles infront of it or burn incense before it.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

what does having something blessed do? Does it become something more than a painting?