The Second Commandment

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai the first time, he saw a sight that troubled him and angered him.  The Israelites had melted down tiny goblets, plates, vases and jewelry, and molded them into a golden calf.  They used the golden calf as a religious god.   Many of the ancient religions worshipped statues, the sun, moon, stars, animals, plants and stones.  Some nations even deified their rulers and worshiped them as gods.   The Second Commandment tells us it is sinful and wrong to worship anything or anybody other than God.

You shall not worship graven images.
 

Icons and Sacred Objects

When you bring a friend to visit your Church who is not an Orthodox Christian, inevitably he or she will ask you about the icons in the Narthex and on the Iconostas.  Immediately, the question arises: “The Second Commandment says, ‘You shall not worship graven images.’  Why do you have icons?  Are they not graven images?”

In our Orthodox Churches, we have icons and religious pictures which represent Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, the Saints, the Cross, and Bible events.  Icons serve as a reminder of the person who is depicted: the type of life the person lived and our desire to live in the same type of dedicated life in Christ.   Icons elevate us mentally and spiritually.  But we do not worship icons, we venerate icons.
 

Veneration

Veneration is a form of reverence, honor and deep respect.  We do not honor and respect the material upon which the Saint or event is portrayed, but the actual Saint or event.  For example:

• The Nativity Scene
• The Entry into Jerusalem
• The Crucifixion
• The Resurrection
• The Ascension
• Pentecost

With veneration, we bow down, we make the Sing of the Cross and we kiss the icon.  This sign of reverence reminds us of the pious and devout life exemplified by the Saints, the Mother of God and our Lord.

We also venerate sacred relics of Saints.  For example, if you were to visit the Island of Aegina, Greece, you would have the opportunity to venerate the relics of St. Nektarios, who dies in the 1920’s.  People flock to his Shrine from all over the world, because he is a modern-day Saint and continues to perform miracles in the Name of Jesus Christ.  If you visit the Island of Patmos, you would be able to venerate the graveside of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist.   There are any number of places where the sacred relics of Saints are venerated.  When Orthodox Churches are consecrated, a sacred relic of a Saint is placed in the center of the holy Altar Table.

Christians and non-Christians alike visit the Holy Land every year just to walk where our Lord walked and to see where He lived, was crucified, entombed, resurrected and ascended into Heaven.   In each instance it is not the ground, the place nor the Saint who is being venerated, but Christ, the Christ-like life lived, the miracles performed and the contribution made to the Church and mankind.  With veneration we pay respect, honor and esteem.  At the same time, we rededicate our lives to Christ, our Lord.
 

Religious Objects Used in Orthodox Christian Worship

Along with holy icons, we have other objects which are used in Orthodox Christian worship.  Each one serves to draw us closer to Christ, and in no way are they graven images.

Vigil Lamps burn in our Churches and in our homes to show the perpetuated light of our faith in Christ.

Candles are burned side by side to show the warmth and glow of our faith in Christ, as individuals, and as a community of worshippers.

The Holy Altar Table is regarded as the Tomb of Christ in our Churches.  It is not a Dead Christ, but a Live, triumphantly Resurrected Christ Who comes and gives us the Bread of Life through Holy Communion.

Crosses are used in our Churches with the Crucifixion behind the Altar Table, the Blessing Cross on the Altar Table, and various crosses in architecture and design.  In each cross, we are reminded of Christ’s sacrifice for us, but more so, of the life-giving grace which comes from the Cross.

The Holy Gospel Book is often venerated too, because of the life-saving teachings which it contains.

The Epitaph and Tomb are used on Good Friday as a tangible reminder of Christ’s Sepulchre Tomb.  We venerate the Epitaph which depicts Jesus placed on the stone block.  Although we are saddened with the event of His Death, we venerate the Epitaph in eager anticipation of Christ’s Resurrection.
 

Conclusion

Graven images come in different forms and take different shapes in our thoughts and deeds.  Here are some mental graven images you might consider:

• Have I ever set myself up as a judge and judged my fellow man unjustly?
• Have I ever passed judgment on my fellow man and wished I were in a position to execute the punishment?
• Have I ever placed more trust and confidence in money, people and things, than in the grace of God?
• How much does my mind wander while reading the Bible, during prayer, during Church Services, sermons, and meditation periods?
• Would I rather put off my obligations to God until later on, when I am older?
• Would I rather stay at home on Sunday mornings than go to Church and commune with God through the Divine Liturgy?
• Would I rather buy new clothes for myself than help a needy person or a charitable project?
• Tempting as it often is, would I rather give in to sins, than carry out God’s Commandments?
• In short, would I rather do something that pleases me, even if I know it displeases God?

Graven images are objects that we give priority to over and above our worship to God.

The Second Commandment says, You shall not worship graven images.
 

* adapted from Teenage Ten Commandments (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, 1989)
by Rev. Fr. George Nicozisin