The Church with her sacraments can't be described as a collection
of means merely to help us with our "spiritual journey". We
understand the Church as the Body of Christ and as a profound and
eternal reality, which reveals God to us, and which transforms His
invisible presence into visible, tangible, even edible, love of
Christ. If it is "necessary" for our salvation "to taste" ... how good
is the Lord" in Holy Eucharist, so also it is necessary for us "to
see" His goodness in holy icons.