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Questions & Answers

Statutes

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Holy Scripture › Statutes

The question

I am extremely interested in Christian Orthodoxy and would need know whether it is sin to have and use idols for non-idolatrous purposes (ex. for educational purposes in a museum, using parts of them as bricks to build an house etc.).

The answer

There is nothing wrong in using statues for educational purposes or for decoration as long as they are not venerated or worshipped. Our Orthodox Church does not use statues following God's commandment (Exodus 20:4; Deut 5:16) lest someone get the wrong impression that they are to be worshipped.

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

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 954 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.