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Dear: Friends;

Slava Isusu Christu!

Hey what do you guys think about monasteryicons.com and the stories about them? My Parish buys from them, but my Fransican Br. doesnt think that its true about what people say.
For thouse that dont know what im talking about here is the link, to an article about the subject.

http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/general/monasteryicons.htm

From: Daniel
In The Holy+Theotokos

Dear Friends in Christ,

I believe too that their religious pictures could be spiritually harmful, even demonic in origin. Their history is hippy-hindu sect and I am sorry that they can call themselves Orthodox Christians and hood wink the unwary.

Yours in Christ,
Fr Serafim

Dear: Fr.

Slava Isusu Christu!

what should i do? my parish buys them. But Fr. Blesses them are they ok after the blessing?
My Fransican Br. doesnt think that they are harmful he knows the "ikonographer", and doesnt think that what the article says is true. What could i do?

From: Daniel
In The Holy+Theotokos

GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!
GLORY TO HIM FOREVER!

One must remember that they are just paper, ink and wood until they are placed on the Divie Altar and annoited with Holy Chrism and blessed with Holy Water.

Once this is done and a person places an ikon lamp in front of them and starts his/her prayers, then do they become HOLY IKONS worthy of devotion and of hearing our prayers.

the least servant of the servants

mark

I disagree. Icons are a product of prayer and already holy during the painting process. I remember a friend of mine who was a priest who sent a three-paneled Nativity icon off to some very inexpensive painters in Korea and had them make a very large version for display in front of the church at Christmas. The result was an excellent duplicate but it was not an icon. The painter merely enlarged the copy he had been given. He or she did not imbue the painting with the prayer necessary for it to be an icon. Anyone could see it just by looking at it.

I agree with Fr. Seraphim. I would hope that Daniel lets his pastor know of the history of this group and do the research necessary to substantiate the fact that this group is not healthy. If Daniel's pastor chooses not to listen to the evidence there is not much to be done (except, of course, pray!).

Dear: Administrator

Slava Isusu Christu!

Ill mail a copy of the article to my pastor.
even though the Creater of the "icons" are questionable. If the Icon was blessed by the priest, wouldnt that purify the icon so to say,
and be ok for veration?

From: Daniel
In The Holy+Theotokos

Daniel,

Mailing a copy of the catalog is not enough. You either need to meet with him or write him a polite letter expressing your concerns and providing the necessary proofs. I'd look for a legitimate and respected Catholic or Orthodox source to use to support your argument. The website you have has been condemned by most Orthodox and much of the content of it is suspect so I would not recommend using it as an Orthodox source.

Maybe you could do some research on what makes an icon and what does not and include that when you express your concerns.

I'd have to do some research before responding to your other point. My guess is that the blessing of a painting is not enough to turn it into an icon. It would always be mising the element of prayer. Maybe one of the learned theologians could provide a better explanation.

Admin

Serge (of OldWorldRus) warned me against them. But I looooove their icons. I think they're beautiful. I am thinking of getting one...I will read the link you supplied and the responses to your post before deciding, but gosh, can anything that beautiful be bad?

ZT

Satan disguises himself as an angel of light sometimes.

I am glad this topic came up. I remember the subject matter from a long while back.

Some years ago, I got a couple "icons" from that group, not realizing what the group was/is about. I am not sure what to do with them. Any prayerful ideas?

Thanks!

Kelly

For a link to George Burke's Gnostic Christianity book:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=3EF5D6ICZR&isbn=0932104053

"From: Daniel
In The Holy+Theotokos"

"In?" Has the blessed Theotokos become divine?

Kelly,
What I would do, and did, is to have them blessed and then use them as you would any other Icon.

David

Kelly,

I am unaware of any recalls on these icons due to the group producing them. I'm not sure all our parishes would be willing to recall them and reimburse you. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the nuns at Mt. St. Macrina mostly sells these at their gift shop during the Otpust. A number of parishes that learned of their background have simply found other sources for icons. No recalls. No reimbursements. So, it must be OK to use them.

It's too bad that there isn't a producer of Icons that have a wider Western Saints section. Many buy the Icon not fully understanding that it must be done in the Traditional way for it to be an Icon.