Miracles
In the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition there are reports of particular, Wonderworking icons that exude myrrh (fragrant, healing oil), or perform miracles upon petition by believers. When such reports are verified by the Orthodox hierarchy, they are understood as miracles performed by God through the prayers of the saint, rather than being magical properties of the painted wood itself. Theologically, all icons are considered to be sacred, and are miraculous by nature, being a means of spiritual communion between the heavenly and earthly realms. However, it is not uncommon for specific icons to be characterised as "miracle-working", meaning that God has chosen to glorify them by working miracles through them. Such icons are often given particular names (especially those of the Virgin Mary), and even taken from city to city where believers gather to venerate them and pray before them. Islands like that of Tinos are renowned for possessing such "miraculous" icons, and are visited every year by thousands of pilgrims.
Read more about this topic: Eastern Orthodox Icons
Famous quotes containing the word miracles:
“A star was broken
Into the centuries of the child
Myselves grieve now, and miracles cannot atone.”
—Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)
“They say miracles are past, and we have our philosophical
persons, to make modern and familiar, things supernatural
and causeless. Hence is it that we make trifles of terrors,
ensconcing ourselves into seeming knowledge, when we should
submit ourselves to an unknown fear.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Where everything is possible miracles become commonplaces, but the familiar ceases to be self-evident.”
—Eric Hoffer (1902–1983)