In a culture filled with idols the Ante-Nicene fathers were right to distrust pictures and statues. But to make their distrust into a principle for all times and places is to over-react. This wouldn’t be the first issue which Tertullian and Jerome carried to an extreme in their laudable austerity. As Protestants, we have the freedom to critique the Fathers’ iconoclasm. (:-) I take special pleasure in that sentence.)
The Orthodox are right, as well, that “venerating” an image is not necessarily worship, and can be a good and healthy prompt for the memory and affections.
I have a picture of my wife. I may be found with it at times, sighing with affection and even kissing the image. This is not worship; this is veneration. I don’t think God is threatened or offended.
I am a Protestant. I have a painting of the Christ Pantocrator ikon in my study. I may, at times, be found in a profound bow to the picture. This is an expression of my affection for Jesus. If this is my worst offense on His Great Day, I will have done well.
TimothyOne 