[aMorePerfectUnion]

Also, in the case of kissing the holy icons, the believers who have a strong and living faith are not afraid that they will become ill, but they enjoy the prayer and the blessing of the saints depicted in the icons.

.......................... "My children, keep yourselves from the worship of idols."

- Apostle John

[lightman]

Veneration ≠ worship This Saturday evening and Sunday the Orthodox Church celebrates Orthodoxy Sunday, recalling the restoration of Icons in the eighth century. Thy pure image do we venerate, O good One, asking forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God; for by Thine own will Thou didst ascend the Cross in Thy body, to save Thy creatures from the bondage of the enemy. Thou hast verily filled all with joy, since Thou didst come, O our Savior, to save the world. https://ccel.org/ccel/damascus/icons/icons?queryID=1584755&resultID=970

[JoanSmith]

It is no more worship of idols than kissing your mother or grandpa.