If anyone asks you why you pray to soulless icons, what profit do you derive from them, say that we derive incomparably greater profit from our icons than we do from the kindest and most benevolent living persons. Say that blessed power and help to our souls always comes to us from icons, saving us from sins, sorrows, and sicknesses; especially from icons of the Savior and the Mother of God.
The images of the Saints that are depicted in our sacred icons indicate that the Saints of God are near us in the Holy Spirit, when we pray to them with fervent faith.