Iconography is not idol worship. The Icons simply represent significant members of the faith such as the saints and it is common practice to pray THROUGH the saints (not to) for their intercession on our behalf to God. They become advocates of a sorts.
It is the same as Protestants asking their minister or a particularly devoted and blessed friend to pray for them since they are “closer to God”.
There are those that are a bit zealous about it and similar to what we see at times with some Catholics and Mary it creates the appearance of worshiping the intercessor not the intended target and that has led to great protestant misunderdlstanding, but the reality is all three traditions Catholic Orthodox and Protestant all worship the same Truine God and only him.
worship and
"praying through" graduated Believers
is far less substantial than an extremely thin strand of spider web.
What is
DIFFERENT
that anyone could detect or observe? . . .
or that the search light of Holy Spirit could point out?
Or is the only difference how one characterizes it to naysaying onlookers?
OK, I admit . . . there may have been times in my life when . . . no, that's not true, I've never worshipped Hagen Daz.
FOCUS . . . WHAT DO WE FOCUS ON?
WEREVER THE FOCUS IS, THERE IS THE HEART ALSO.
WHEREVER THE TREASURE IS, THERE IS THE HEART ALSO.
WHEREVER THE TIME EXPENDITURE IS, THERE IS THE HEART ALSO.
The Proddys on here are very flawed humans. We miss a lot of things all the time . . . over THERE and within HERE.
The search-light of Holy Spirit is NEVER WRONG. We ALL will pay attention to Him . . . OR THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO HIM . . .
Sooner . . . or later.
Excellent comments, thank you.