Eastern Orthodox praying for the intercession of saints

[LivingWordUnity]

Why do some Fundamentalists believe that Catholics are the only ones who pray for the intercession of saints when the Eastern Orthodox churches also pray for the intercession of saints?

"Through the intercessions of Saint Basil the Great, may we continue to be inspired to do works of charity and philanthropy throughout this New Year 2008." - DEMETRIOS, Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America
Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America (http://www.goarch.org/en/archbishop/demetrios/encyclicals/detail.asp?id=179)

Catholics and Eastern Orthodox have so much in common because both go back to the time of the apostles, and both were united in one universal Church for the first 1,000 years of Christian history. Eastern Orthodox are neither Catholic nor Protestant.

[Hentenza]

LOL!!! LWU, give it up. ;):D:wave:

[BigNorsk]

If icons are what the Orthodox claims they are, these magical windows to heaven, why doesn't the Roman church use them?

Marv

[cubanito]

One thing I always found cute is how the more educated EO's of those ancient times got arouind the clear commandment of God: an Icon is not a "graven image"

Anyway, sure, the EO's are mistaken on this point as well. The whole "iconoclastic controversy" was one of the first ones where the Church reached the WORNG conclusion.

We build on the written Scripture. We accept those councils, such as Nicea and so on that agree w Scripture. We reject those that do not.

However, Scripture does not 100% CLEARLY ban asking of dead people to interceed for us living. Nowhere does it commend it, nor show it, but neither does it CLEARLY forbid it. It does CLEARLY forbid kneeling before statues. So while an EO might "skate by" on the flimsy technicality that an icon is not a graven image, the RC is wo even that as a fig leaf. No righteous man in all Scripture is ever commended or permitted to KNEEL to anyone but God. Many lost their lives because of this, and now you seek to make it praiseworthy.

ree-jected

JR

[LivingWordUnity]

If icons are what the Orthodox claims they are, these magical windows to heaven, why doesn't the Roman church use them?

MarvWe do use them. The Eastern Catholic rites are all subordinate to the Pope. They are just as much a part of the Catholic Church as the Latin rite Catholics are. But we don't consider the use of icons to be idolatry.

Further info:
Catholic Rites and Churches (http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/catholic_rites_and_churches.htm)
Iconoclasm (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07620a.htm)