Hierolatry (Noun)
Meaning
The worship of saints.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The early Christian church struggled with the fine line between reverence and hierolatry when it came to the veneration of saints.
- In the eyes of many reformers, the elaborate shrines and relics were clear examples of hierolatry, detracting from the worship of God alone.
- The medieval Catholic Church walked a delicate balance between encouraging devotion to the saints and avoiding the appearance of hierolatry.
- Some critics argue that the emphasis on intercession by saints can easily tip into hierolatry, where the mediator is elevated to a status rivaling that of God.
- Protestant reformers like Luther and Calvin vehemently rejected what they saw as hierolatry in the Catholic Church's veneration of saints and relics.