Today is the celebration of St Theodora the Empress within the Church. Especially in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America of which I belong. And it is a commemoration of which holds significant place among the history of the church and the profession of the Orthodox faith. Most often we recognize this commemoration as being held on the First Sunday of Lent, also referred to as the Sunday of Orthodoxy. St Theodora, who ruled alongside her iconoclast husband Theophilus, was a true venerator of the icons even to his disdain and anger. Upon his death she returned icons to their rightful place in the worship of Orthodox Christians and brought an end to the second iconoclasm. With this, Orthodoxy triumped once again over the heretics which wished to destroy the very heart of the church and discredit it as the witness of Christ upon earth. Icons hold a special place in the hearts of Orthodox Christians everywhere, they are the windows to heaven, giving us a glimpse of the beauty that awaits us in the Bosom of Abraham. It gives us a reminder that those we call saints were humans just like us, that they were not superheroes who had special powers but were granted the ability to do extraordinary things by God for his glory. Those who seek to discredit their veneration do not understand that it is not idol worship, but rather giving of honor to the person the same way you would a celebrity or high ranking political figure. The saints are our family as we are a part of theirs because we are brothers and sisters in Christ and they though not physically alive on earth are more alive than we are because they sit at the footstool of God. Let's not forget the boldness of Theodora the Empress who restored this sacred tradition and very heart of Orthodoxy. May she intercede for us and may we be found worthy of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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