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" Why do you ask? What difference does it make to you, what I believe?"

I don't know why Council of Trent would ask the question. As to what difference it makes what you believe, well to me its interesting to hear what other people believe and if they are in error about what the Orthodox or in most cases the Romans believe it is appropriate to point that out and try to correct the misapprehension.

I'm interested in what you believe because I come at the Faith from such a different place than protestants do. I believe what the Church everywhere believed for at least 1500 years. Things have changed rather dramatically in the West since the Protestant Revolution in the 1500s. Things didn't change, or at least didn't change much, in the East. Coming out of that religious heritage, I am oftentimes bewildered by what various protestant groups profess to believe and proclaim as the original Christian Faith. In the meantime, you should know that so far as the Orthodox are concerned, you are quite free to believe whatever you want and we won't call you names for that.

Well, it appears to be more than curiosity.

I sense a liberal dose of judgment that is intermixed.

Protestants should not be proclaiming that their religion is somehow original. I do not think that, but I am not representative of all protestants nor even some of them. I am a individual who has developed beliefs over a period of years and I don't necessarily follow any particular dogma or religion in it's entirety.

It is rare indeed that I even discuss it. The topic is too volatile, because of identity or a sense of group think that I find uncomfortable and therefore avoid like the plague.

So please don't assume that I am representative of the Protestant sect. The UMC has been responsible for my training, but that's about where it ends.

However, I was and remain concerned that this particular church has allowed this icon into the sanctuary. It is very unusual and not a good idea.

This is the only reason I posted on this thread, but I have been defending my beliefs ever since.

What is wrong with that picture?

you should know that so far as the Orthodox are concerned, you are quite free to believe whatever you want and we won't call you names for that.

Now that you mention it, I have noted this in my conversations on FR.

Maybe it is because my Grandparents immigrated from Eastern Europe, or perhaps it is because I took Latin in HS. :-)