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Church

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › The Church › Church

The question

What do parts of the church symbolize (example: the paintings in church, the window pictures, etc.)?

The answer

Icons represent a story. Therefore, you read an icon. That is why Orthodox Church icons do not appear to depict the natural human, but rather focus on the essence of the story told in the icon.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

How do we reply to those who say church is not important, and that everyone can pray at home? It is not a need to go to church. How do we reply to those remarks?
How would you convince someone not to go to other churches?
Does going to other churches mean sharing in their beliefs?

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 1794 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.