My parish in Athens, actually handed out little mass-produced icons on one - at least - occasion, on Orthodoxy Sunday three years ago. So people who had not brought their own icons to be blessed - like me - had the opportunity to participate to the ceremony and take a blessed icon back home. This is actually the only icon I have taken with me abroad as well as a couple of laminated business card - sized, paper ones, also given to me in church. I think this very fact shows they are blessed. Still, I stick with the fact that it is not the icon I pray to but the person depicted and as far as mass-produced laminated prints are concerned, they are usually copies of well known and valid icons, so I think there is little margin for an inadequate representation of the persons portrayed.For my part, I know I feel uncomfortable when looking at western - style or Catholic icons because I remember quite a bit of what I was taught about the symbolism of Byzantine Christian iconography which is the opposite of the afore-mentioned style. I think, though, this discomfort of mine has more to do with being brought up as Greek Orthodox in Greece. Back to the original question though, I have seen laminated prints on wood in churches especially on the days of less known saints, where a hand - made icon is not readily available.
