Icons On Top Of A T.V. Set?

[Orthodox Andrew]

I was thinking about a few people that have Icons on top of their T.V. sets, and I was starting to wonder if that's right or not? I figured that it's not a good to keep a Holy Image on something like a T.V., where even without somebody's own will may show T.V. shows that involve sexual things, swearing etc... So does anybody here agree with me that an Icon on a T.V. set is not a good idea?

 

[Photini]

Andreas,

It's funny that you bring this up, because I had the same thought when I started bringing Icons into my home. My TV is not big enough to really set anything on top of, but I had one sitting beside it....and it severly bugged me. So after a bit, I moved it to a more approriate location (the TV I mean...) outside of my living room altogether!
Icons are not ornaments for decoration.
God bless you.

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

Andreas,

It's funny that you bring this up, because I had the same thought when I started bringing Icons into my home. My TV is not big enough to really set anything on top of, but I had one sitting beside it....and it severly bugged me. So after a bit, I moved it to a more approriate location (the TV I mean...) outside of my living room altogether!
Icons are not ornaments for decoration.
God bless you.

I'm glad I'm not the first to go through that.


God bless.

 

[MariaRegina]

When our priest was blessing rooms in a home, he said that he is happy to see Holy Icons in every room, including the bathroom. We need the Holy Icons to remind us to be good.

I agree with you that Icons should be displayed in a corner of the room where we can focus our undivided attention while praying. Having them on a TV would be very distracting.

I have some of my icons on the ledge where my clock is, which is just above my computer desk, so that everytime I look at the passing of time, I encounter the Holy Icons which appear to ask me if I am passing my time correctly.

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

I have some of my icons on the ledge where my clock is, which is just above my computer desk, so that everytime I look at the passing of time, I encounter the Holy Icons which appear to ask me if I am passing my time correctly.

I never thought of that! Awesome thought.

 

[MariaRegina]

Where do you have your Holy Icons?

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

Where do you have your Holy Icons?

Well, I have some of them on top of my book shelf to the right of my computer desk. I have some more on top of the cabinet on the left side of my desk, and I have the rest of them on a shelf that is just behind me.


I think I have a lot of Icons.

 

[Photini]

Where do you have your Holy Icons?

Most of my Icons are in the very center of my apartment, which just happens also to be an eastern wall. In my profile picture, you can see a few of them on the shelf behind me...below that shelf is a little stand with more Icons, my oil lamp, and Bibles, etc. I have little laminated ones all over the place....on my desk, in the car, in the kitchen, etc.

 

[pax]

I was thinking about a few people that have Icons on top of their T.V. sets, and I was starting to wonder if that's right or not? I figured that it's not a good to keep a Holy Image on something like a T.V., where even without somebody's own will may show T.V. shows that involve sexual things, swearing etc... So does anybody here agree with me that an Icon on a T.V. set is not a good idea?

I realize Icons are Holy, but wouldn't having them near a TV be a powerful reminder to be cautious about what you may expose yourself to? I think a lot of the stuff on TV could do a lot more damage to one's soul than to an Icon, or maybe my idea of what Icons are is a little off.....

Pax

(PS I hope you don't mind a Catholic posting his $.02)

 

[Matrona]

I realize Icons are Holy, but wouldn't having them near a TV be a powerful reminder to be cautious about what you may expose yourself to? I think a lot of the stuff on TV could do a lot more damage to one's soul than to an Icon, or maybe my idea of what Icons are is a little off.....

This past semester, I lived in a college dorm that was pretty small, where I was sharing a room with another girl, and of course when you live in a space that small, most of the things you have must serve a double purpose. In my case, we had our TV on top of the microwave which was on top of the refrigerator. As the refrigerator was next to my bed, that meant the TV was my nighttable. I had a mini lamp so I could say prayers before going to bed, the little prayer book my nouna gave me, and of course a few tiny icons. (The only normal-sized icons that I have are my patron saint and one of the beheading of John the Baptist, and I had those on the opposite wall. I didn't have the luxury of picking which side of the room I had so I didn't really have a way of figuring out which wall was the Eastern wall I should put my icons on.)

I found something strange going on. The icons reminded me of all the holy ones in heaven were well aware of what I was doing all the time. And I found I could stop myself doing something sinful (I have a swearing problem) or watching something on TV that was somehow less than edifying, because I felt like their eyes were practically looking through me from the icons if I did. It was just like when I got my first icon; the eyes of the Mother of God and her Child would just look right through me. So I guess you could say having icons around my TV reminded me not to look at or do anything that would give me that awful feeling. And if something bad came on TV, that would compel me to turn the channel to something better.

And of course we don't mind you putting your $0.02 in; respectful people are always welcome here.

 

[MariaRegina]

This past semester, I lived in a college dorm that was pretty small, where I was sharing a room with another girl, and of course when you live in a space that small, most of the things you have must serve a double purpose. In my case, we had our TV on top of the microwave which was on top of the refrigerator. As the refrigerator was next to my bed, that meant the TV was my nighttable. I had a mini lamp so I could say prayers before going to bed, the little prayer book my nouna gave me, and of course a few tiny icons. (The only normal-sized icons that I have are my patron saint and one of the beheading of John the Baptist, and I had those on the opposite wall. I didn't have the luxury of picking which side of the room I had so I didn't really have a way of figuring out which wall was the Eastern wall I should put my icons on.)

I found something strange going on. The icons reminded me of all the holy ones in heaven were well aware of what I was doing all the time. And I found I could stop myself doing something sinful (I have a swearing problem) or watching something on TV that was somehow less than edifying, because I felt like their eyes were practically looking through me from the icons if I did. It was just like when I got my first icon; the eyes of the Mother of God and her Child would just look right through me. So I guess you could say having icons around my TV reminded me not to look at or do anything that would give me that awful feeling. And if something bad came on TV, that would compel me to turn the channel to something better.

And of course we don't mind you putting your $0.02 in; respectful people are always welcome here.

My godmother has icons on top of her TV which she rarely watches. Many of these icons are actually funeral cards with an icon on it to remind her to pray for the dead. Usually she uses the TV to watch religious DVD's, and VHS's which people give her. In fact, she doesn't use it unless someone else turns it on, as gadgets like that confuse her. She's in her 70's.

She doesn't really have an East-facing corner. All her walls are covered with icon calendars and icons. In fact, all her dressers and counters have an icon or two. She's a real collector and a very devout woman.

BTW: I went to several homes where the family had a bulletin board near the prayer corner with funeral cards placed there and a prayer list.

 

[Photini]

I realize Icons are Holy, but wouldn't having them near a TV be a powerful reminder to be cautious about what you may expose yourself to? I think a lot of the stuff on TV could do a lot more damage to one's soul than to an Icon, or maybe my idea of what Icons are is a little off.....

Pax

(PS I hope you don't mind a Catholic posting his $.02)

That's a good point. If that's the reason why they're put there, then that seems okay to me anyway.
I guess alot of whether what we do is proper or not, depends on the reasons why we're doing it.

(I always feel welcome in your forum, and I hope you will always feel welcome here too.)

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

I realize Icons are Holy, but wouldn't having them near a TV be a powerful reminder to be cautious about what you may expose yourself to? I think a lot of the stuff on TV could do a lot more damage to one's soul than to an Icon, or maybe my idea of what Icons are is a little off.....

Pax

(PS I hope you don't mind a Catholic posting his $.02)

You raise a valid point. It really is something I'll think about further.

 

[MariaRegina]

Dear Pax,

Our priest said it was proper to bless all the rooms in a house, even a bathroom. Therefore, it's probably all right to place an icon in every room, including the TV room.

Usually, though, even in devout Catholic homes, there is family altar with an Icon of the Theotokos and Christ Child. Here the family gathers to pray morning prayers, evening prayers and special family celebrations of patronal saints and special anniversaries. It definitely wouldn't be good to have the TV in the prayer corner.

Just as I have an icon over my computer to remind me to watch what I post, having an icon near or on the TV can be a powerful reminder to limit one's viewing as you said.

I think you already understand that we agree with you here. You're welcome any time to come here. Make yourself at home in our Taverna.

Yours in Christ our God,
Elizabeth

 

[Matthias]

Yikes! $0.02? That can't even buy one single little milk bottle candy!

 

[nicodemus]

When our priest was blessing rooms in a home, he said that he is happy to see Holy Icons in every room, including the bathroom. We need the Holy Icons to remind us to be good.

I was suprised to see that. Our priest issued us specific instructions NOT to put icons in the bathroom. When we get house blessings, and he's going around with holy water and incense, he goes into every room but the bathrooms. Could just be one of those "variations in local practice" kind of things.