What Does the Orthodox Church Teach About the Virgin Mary and the Saints?
Most Protestant Christians have difficulty in accepting the teaching of the Orthodox Church on the Virgin Mary and the saints, and the veneration accorded by Orthodox Christians to them. What is the basis of the Orthodox Christian teaching of the Ever-Virgin Mary? Who are the saints? Why do Orthodox Christians pray at times to the Saints and Mary? Answers to these and other questions will be given. Session 10, May 20 What the Icons Teach Us Icons are greatly venerated in the Orthodox Church. Churches are filled with icons. Orthodox Christians pray in front of them, burn incense before them, and often times kiss them. To the non-Orthodox Christian, the veneration accorded to icons borders on idolatry. An explanation of the place of icons and their importance to Orthodox Christian spirituality will be given, and an apologia (defense) of the Orthodox veneration of icons will be made. Session 11, May 27 Open Forum Discussion An open forum discussion will take place on topics from the floor
