As Khouria Frederica Mathewes‑Green says in the video below, icons are often one of the biggest stumbling blocks for Protestants who are exploring Orthodox Christianity. That was certainly true for me. This question caused months of intellectual, emotional, and spiritual wrestling as I considered whether Orthodoxy might be my home. I spent countless hours reading, listening, and trying to understand both the concerns and the explanations surrounding the veneration of icons.

Mathewes‑Green offers many of the well‑known reasons Orthodox Christians give for venerating icons, but what struck me most in this particular video was her description of how human beings naturally seek tangible ways to express love. She uses the example of a soldier looking at a photo of his wife—how he speaks to her in his heart, kisses the picture, and cherishes it. He knows the photo isn’t her, but it’s not nothing either. It’s a way his love finds expression.

When I first visited an Orthodox church and saw people kissing icons, that analogy came to mind immediately. It was obvious to me that they weren’t worshipping the images. They were simply expressing love toward the people depicted.

Still, because of the icon‑free environment I grew up in, I had a lingering fear: what if I accidentally crossed a line and worshipped someone other than God? That fear was sincere, and it took time to work through. But as I kept studying and reflecting, I began to notice how many ordinary parts of life involve gestures of respect or affection toward something that represents a person or a community. Standing for the National Anthem, placing flowers on a loved one’s grave, keeping family photos on a nightstand, even bowing to classmates in my karate school—these are all ways we show honor, gratitude, or affection. Seeing these everyday practices helped me understand what Orthodox Christians mean by veneration, and why it isn’t the same thing as worship.

Recognizing that helped me finally relax and trust that I wasn’t in danger of accidentally worshipping anyone. I was simply learning a new way to express love and respect—something I had already been doing in other parts of life without realizing it.

If you’re considering Orthodoxy and struggling with the idea of icons, I hope this video gives you another angle to think about, just as it did for me.