www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall President Bush's icon

Look at the icon.

http://www.spiritdaily.com/bushvirgin.htm

Im shocked but amazed that GWB as an Evangelical Methodist would have such a thing...
Do you think it was strategically placed there for the picture ?
Good for him anyway...

O Holy Theotokos, through your intercession guide President Bush in his decision making and protect the children of America.

Perhaps it was a gift from Vladimir Vladimirovich of Russia?

I wouldn't be surprised at it being an icon. Many Protestants I know balk at having statues, since they identify those as graven images. But they don't seem to have that objection to icons. Now don't ask me for an explanation, since I don't understand it either.

Dear Friends,

Charles is right - I've a number of Protestant friends who have no problem with icons.

That could have been a diplomatic gift from someone, one shouldn't assume that the President makes three prostrations to the ground before it whenever he enters the room . . .

Alex

Dubya wouldn't know a poklon from a ........ oh never mind!

I think Dubya knows a lot more than he is given credit for. He has now won two elections. I think he would encourage opponents to underestimate him, but if they do it's at their own peril.

Reading the title of the thread, I thought for a minute Robert Lentz had created an icon of Dubya. On second thought, Robert Lentz creating on icon of Dubya- NOT!

Aww come on folks


He was given it as a present - and like you do with pressies it was put on display - sorry I'm a cynic here

No need to lose one's sense of humor!!! Geesh!

Could it have something to do with his brother.

After all President Regan had a statue of Blessed Mother right behind his desk. I think it was from his dad, he called it "my girl." ...while more recent presidents... Ronald Reagan spoke of the ministry of angels (and had a statue of Mary in one of his offices). This was the only article I could find on it, but at the time of his death there were several that I saw in the papers.
http://www.spiritdaily.com/presidentsmystical.htm

About his Pres. Regan's dad's church.
http://www.seeing-stars.com/Churches/StVictors.shtml

Brian, I am in no way angry. My sense of humor has kept me in trouble most of my life, so I am unlikely to lose it - although many would like that. But I maintain that Bush is politically smart, not dumb at all.

The Bushes (Junior AND Senior) have met many times with the Archbishops, present and past, of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

George Senior, was honored in 2001 by the Archons of the Order of St. Andrew (Ecumenical Patriarchate) at their yearly banquet in NYC, and both the Archbishop and EP were present.

Also, the senior Bushes vacation at the invitation of a friend in Greece just about every summer, and this year they brought their granddaughters with them for the Olympics.

With all these occasions to receive an icon as a gift I am sure that both the Senior and Junior Bushes have received more than one.

(Even secular Greeks LOVE to give icons as gifts for *all* occasions such as weddings, christenings, birthdays, engagements, house warming--- and the various creativity surrounding them is also considered a craft-- silver, gold, mosaic, enamel, painted with traditional colors, or more vibrant colors, or any combination of the above--and, thus, icons are displayed in every single jewelry store in the country)

( I think this is one time when the old adage of 'Beware of Greeks bearing gifts' need not be heeded! )

Ofcourse, the traditional 'written' Byzantine icons are also widely available--even in secular stores.

I simply cannot help but marvel at the beauty of all the various icons I see everywhere whenever I have been lucky enough to visit.

Icons of all sizes, shapes, and materials are also popular with Greek Orthodox in other countries.

Dear Friends,

I even have Jewish friends who have an image of Mary in their homes.

When some Jewish friends visited us and saw my icon corner, one of them asked for a small roll of paper on which they wrote a prayer request, folded it up and placed it behind one of my Pochaiv icons.

I still have it.

Alex

The photo was taken in the White House while the President was awaiting the returns the night of the election.

AP Photo [deseretnews.com]