Pope Shenouda III
We cannot disregard the effect of pictures as lessons explaining the events of the Holy Bible and the lives of the heroes of faith and history. An icon may leave a more profound effect on the soul than reading or listening to a sermon. Icons connect the believers on earth with the angels in heaven and the righteous who abide in Paradise. They give us a strong inner motive to carry out the Apostle's words: “Remember the leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Heb.13: 7).