But what of the icons of the saints and of Mary who are prayed to? Icons are not just representations of people. They are idols who are prayed to. Jesus was asked how we should pray. What did he say? He started off with: “our Father who art in Heaven...”... So we are only to pray to God, no one else.
Exactly. Even if the statues or other icons are not being prayed to we are not to use them in worship,lest it lead to idolatry.
You will not see ANY graven images in a synagogue for this very reason.
Do you know what makes for idols: power, money, possesions, control of others make for idol-worship.
These Eastern Christian icons DO NOT.