Also called soldier saints, these are a group of saints who were generally soldiers in life, martyrs to Christ in death, and then latterly revealed as our heavenly protectors. But is their appearance in icons – equipped and ready for war – appropriate for Christian veneration?
Yes, is the short answer. The longer answer is to do with how the icon depicts these warrior saints’ relationship with us, and with Christ.
via The Warrior Saints | A Reader’s Guide to Orthodox Icons.
…can I be mildly sad that not only am I sure that the reassurance that this is “appropriate” needed, but that there’s a line to argue with the statement of yes?