Shrines

I like the way the statues look in alcoves. Though from an Orthodox point of view, statues in an actual worship context would be a problem. My husband would violently object as well, as looking "Catholic". The really ironic thing to me is that within a 5 foot space on the wall beside me, I have a small statue of Christ as the Good Shepherd, a large figurine of the Flight into Egypt, a resin statue of a lion lying with a lamb, and an angel. It's not as though we don't have such things, it is how they are displayed and treated.

Agreed 100%. It was refreshing though to see people openly proclaim their faith. In the old villages, practically every village had a shrine for their patron saint of the local church or cathedral. Almost every home in the old villages had either an icon or a 3D relief of the Theotokos and Jesus or a saint. Others had a Christian symbol above the door. I enjoyed seeing people proclaiming faith publically rather than hiding it.

All4Christ said:

Agreed 100%. It was refreshing though to see people openly proclaim their faith. In the old villages, practically every village had a shrine for their patron saint of the local church or cathedral. Almost every home in the old villages had either an icon or a 3D relief of the Theotokos and Jesus or a saint. Others had a Christian symbol above the door. I enjoyed seeing people proclaiming faith publically rather than hiding it.

Click to expand...

I can see how that would be refreshing!

Cappadocious said:

While our tradition doesn't have lots of statues for historical reasons, the notion that it is because statues are unworthy of veneration doesn't seem theologically justifiable.

7th ecumenical council says nothing about:

No graven images means no statues, but paintings are ok!

Statues are all realistic, realism distracts/ makes you imagine in a bad way!

These are really modern ad hoc complaints.

Click to expand...

That's worth thinking about. Maybe when I have more experience with icons, I will be able to evaluate it more from my own point of view. (And a better grasp on how the topic was historically addressed - or not.)

If I am perfectly honest - my objection against statues in the context of worship is prejudice. The same reason my husband doesn't want to learn anything about Orthodoxy or come to Church with me - it "feels Catholic" to me. And while my prejudice is not so deep as my husband's and is fairly reasoned, I simply have not had to evaluate the matter of statues in worship too deeply because we don't have them, so it hasn't been something I have had to address for myself.

But I've read those arguments. And I've read fairly good refutations by Orthodox as well. I lean a little this way and that on various arguments. But as I said, more experience may help.

I can say one thing. I do like to look at icons with a certain amount of realism to them rather than the more highly stylized ones. BUT .... there is a definite limit. I attended services in a parish that had been damaged and had apparently hired someone to replace the damaged mosaic icons with painted ones. And it looks like a Renaissance-style painting - very realistic and fleshly and ..... I can just say that I did NOT like worshiping in Church with that in view. It was far too distracting and set a wrong tone for me. If the statues were of that sort, I would actually not like them (as part of worship) for exactly that reason. Though seeing them as a reminder or just to set a general atmosphere, I can appreciate them.

It's just me though.

Thanks for pointing that out though.

Cappadocious said:

Shrine to St. George in Greece:

Click to expand...

You know, things like this always make me wonder - who built it, and why? When? Who visits it, and what do they do, what do they pray for? I'm also curious about the way it is built, all the parts and and their purpose, and the reason it was constructed this way and not that, and the particulars (who owns the land - do they need permission to build such a thing?) and so on. It would make an interesting book, to discuss such things about a number of Orthodox shrines in Greece.

Cappadocious said:

You know Anastasia, I had the same questions when I started researching all this, but there doesn't seem to be a book, or at least I can't find it. There really should be.

Click to expand...

I wish there were. Though I realize some of the questions I'm asking would probably be unanswerable. But a few answers, some about this shrine and some about that one, would still be interesting to read.

I have seen one book about Orthodoxy AND Greece that spent maybe a chapter on the shrines and I think a few other topics interwoven, but other than to say what the shrines were, show a few pictures, and the mention of tamata (sp?) it didn't say much. Most of what they showed were tiny ones, that looked like really tiny Churches (only a foot or two tall) and sitting on street corners, so I got the impression that was all there was.

I really would enjoy such a book that really got into it. I wonder if any of the publishers would accept suggestions.

In the last couple days I have posted twice here; neither post took.

This is a test....

This was from my picture last trip to St. Augustine - beautiful grounds there - I'm not sure which parts are considered "shrines" officially - here's my CF album with some pictures http://www.christianforums.com/media/albums/religious-pics-vacation-travels.6331/

And here is St. Anne's Shrine that I was fortunate to visit in Lake Wales on a small trip from my house. Also has a long history and very peaceful place - https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attract...eviews-St_Anne_Shrine-Lake_Wales_Florida.html