Athanasius, Archbishop of Antioch, to Simeon, Bishop of the Bostri, on the Sabbath.
Just as in the king's absence his image is worshipped, so in his presence it is extravagant to leave the original to pay homage to the image. It is disregarded, because the original on whose account it is honoured is present, but that is no reason for dishonouring it. It is much the same, I think, with the shadow or letter of the law. The apostle calls it a figure. In so far as grace anticipated the reign of truth, the saints were types, contemplating the truth as in a glass. When the promises were fulfilled, it was no longer desirable to live according to types, nor to follow them. In the presence of the realisation the type vanishes into insignificance. Still they did not dishonour nor deride types; they honoured them, and judged those who treated them with contumely impious, and deserving of death and severe chastisement.
A man worships the king's image for the honour due to the king, the image itself being mere wax and paint.
St Athanasius of Mount Sinai on the New Sabbath, and on St Thomas the Apostle.
Those who saw Christ in the flesh looked upon Him as a prophet. We, who have not seen Him, have confessed Him from our childhood to be the great and Almighty God Himself, the Creator of eternity, and splendour of the Father. We listen with faith to His Gospel, as if we saw Christ Himself speaking. And receiving the pure treasure of His body, we believe that Christ Himself is acting in us. And if we see only the image of His divine form, as if looking down upon us from heaven, we prostrate and adore. Great is now the faith of Christ.
From the Life of the Abbot Daniel, on Eulogius the Quarryman.
Then he went away dejected, and threw himself before an image of Our Lady, and crying out, he said: 'Lord, enable me to pay what I promised this man.'
As I was weeping, I lifted up my eyes and saw the image of Our Lady, and I said to her:--
'O Virgin, Mother of God ({ ~GREEK SMALL LETTER THETA U+03b8~}{ ~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON U+03b5~}{ ~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON WITH TONOS U+03cc~}{ ~GREEK SMALL LETTER TAU U+03c4~}{ ~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON U+03bf~}{ ~GREEK SMALL LETTER KAPPA U+03ba~}{ ~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON U+03b5~} { ~GREEK SMALL LETTER DELTA U+03b4~}{ ~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON WITH TONOS U+03ad~}{ ~GREEK SMALL LETTER SIGMA U+03c3~}{ ~GREEK SMALL LETTER PI U+03c0~}{ ~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON U+03bf~}{ ~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA U+03b9~}{ ~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU U+03bd~}{ ~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA U+03b1~}), who didst give birth to God the Word, I know that it is neither fitting nor seemly that one so defiled and so covered with guilt as I should look up to thy image, O ever Virgin. It is fitting that I should be hated and shunned by thy purity. Yet as He who was born of thee became man on purpose to call sinners to repentance, help me, for I have no other succour. Let me also find an entrance. Do not refuse me a sight of the wood on which God the Word, thy Son, suffered according to the flesh, who shed His own precious blood for me. Grant, O Queen, that I may be admitted to worship the sacred Cross, and I will promise thee as surety to the God whom thou didst bring forth that I will keep myself ever undefiled. When I see the Cross of thy Son, I will at once renounce the world and the things of the world, and forthwith follow wherever thou shalt lead.'