And it's been absolutely clear to Non-Catholics that "Veneration" is nothing but a "Weasel word" to mask the FACT that the Catholic Mary thing (and to a lesser degree the Orthodox Theotokos) IS DEFINITLY WORSHIPPED - more prominently in the Roman system than Jesus is.
MUCH DEEPER!!! Roman Catholics have created their own phony "Rituals", "Sacraments", and "Salvation by WORKS" theology which makes Christ of NO EFFECT in their religious system. ROman Catholicism is a rancid mixture of Pagan practices and images, that FEW find their way out of and into TRUTH.
And obviously Things that Catholics in GENERAL have adapted into their "Worship" from PAGANS.
I can understand how the veneration of Mary and the Saints can seem to be "worship" to a non-Orthodox Christian. Worship of an icon is a grave sin in the Orthodox Church. When you walk into the narthex of my Orthodox Church you see an icon of Christ, the Theotokos, our patron saint, Saint George, and some others. The nave is full of icons of saints, we have a beautiful mosaic icon of Pentecost at the back of the nave. Christ Pantocrator looks down on you and then the iconostasis, icon screen, separates the nave from the sanctuary. I'm know, as during our Greek festival I give tours of our Church (I have no Greek ancestry by the way), it can be an overwhelming experience for some.
We Orthodox share a close, spiritual history with our Catholic brethren. What "Rituals" do you speak of?
So this is the root of my question, that what Orthodox believe in or practice, whether it be veneration of the Saints, the Sacraments or worship, is not Biblical?
I can assure you, as an Eastern Orthodox Christian, we do not worship Mary or the Saints.
A Rose by any other name - etc.
Ah, I see. Trust the none Eastern Orthodox who tells you what the Eastern Orthodox believe. Makes sense
Well, I'm a practicing Eastern Orthodox Christian and again, can assure you that we DO NOT worship Mary. I'm curious, have you ever attended the Orthodox Divine Liturgy? Vespers? Other prayer services?
I don't bother with Roman Catholics, and I wouldn't even know where to find an "Orthodox Church" here in Dallas. I have no interest in 'em.
There are some good ones, Saint Seraphim Orthodox Cathedral and Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, just to name a couple.
Short answer, the Liturgy, leitourgia (λειτουργία), literally, the "work for the people". The climax of the Liturgy? The Eucharist!
So "worship" to you is a piece of bread, and a drop of wine.
The climax of the Divine Liturgy is the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of our Lord. Worship consists of the Divine Liturgy as well as the Liturgical life of the Church, which is prayer, praise and glorifying God.
O.K. - A piece of bread, a drop of wine (ROman Catholics don't give any wine - the bread is "Sufficient" - and cheaper), and some rituals.
Nope. The Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Many of Jesus' own followers left because they did could not comprehend the teaching, John 6, "66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, 'Do you also want to go away?' 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
It takes imagination -Nope. The Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Many of Jesus' own followers left because they did could not comprehend the teaching, John 6, "66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, 'Do you also want to go away?' 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
The Eucharist is hard to grasp for many. It takes faith
Well, not according to St. Paul, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, "16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion (koinōnia; κοινωνία) of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion (koinōnia; κοινωνία) of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread." Koinōnia means fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse. What must the cup and the bread be to make possible this participation in the blood and body of Christ? The most obvious and logical answer is that the bread and cup of wine must really be the body and blood of Christ.
Except, of course that it ISN'T. It's an ORDINANCE - not a "Sacrament". BUT HEY - if you wan't to think it's "Magic" go ahead. Just make sure that you're BORN AGAIN of the Holy Spirit, since THAT'S the only thing that's REALLY important.