I'm struggling to continue this very interesting discussion in a way that won't be taken as offensive by anyone. Please understand that I strongly defend the right and freedom of each individual to worship (or not) as he chooses and I have no wish to demean anyone's belief system.

Organized religion usually has certain perscriptions for what is considered correct or “canonical” within the practice of a particular body or group. Christianity (Orthodoxy) inherited this concept from Judaism—Christianity began as a sect of Judaism, the first Christians had first to be Jews in order to be Christians—and, over time, developed canon law and modes of worship that seemed appropriate. A lot of the canons deal with the perceived validity of religious practice.

From an Orthodox perspective, a priest does not hold any valid orders, for example, unless properly ordained by a canonical Orthodox Bishop in good standing with his Patriarch and the other canonical Orthodox Churches. Unless a priest is a canonical Orthodox priest, there is no communion, no Eucharist, from the perspective of an Orthodox Christian. There has never been any exception to this in the history of Orthodoxy.

Likewise, no Orthodox Iconographer would write an Icon for a church that wasn't Orthodox. Neither would an Orthodox bishop or priest consecrate an Icon outside of an Orthodox Church.

Orthodoxy is currently receiving a large number of converts as people search for true spirituality in a Christian tradition. Especially in the Anglican (Episcopal) church, often whole parishes—priest and flock together—choose to become Orthodox. Some of these also adopt the traditional Eastern liturgical practice and some choose a Western Rite liturgy. The Antiochian Orthodox Church has received a number of these parishes.

Were I in a situation where there was no Orthodox Church with an hour or two of my home, I might opt to attend an Anglican parish—possibly Hardi's and Susan's—but I wouldn't excommunicate myself by participating in their communion nor would I view religious art as Icons.

      - Mark