jbc1949:Well I must be losing it! I am sure that I read this somewhere. Could this possibly be true of other non-Chalcedonians? The Abyssinians for example?
The best way is to go to a Coptic Orthodox Church or any other OO church and see for yourself. In a Coptic Orthodox Church, you will find the icons on the Holder of the Icons in front of the altar, on the side walls, on the back wall, everywhere. The difference in icons between a coptic church and another coptic church would be the icon of the blessed Saint who the church is named after, on the left hand side of the altar.
All Copts have icons at their homes, in their wallets, and even in their cars. Our church believe firmly in the intercession of the saints, and we have thousands of saints who we know and millions not known, having been killed during times of persecution in mass martyrdom.
We also have been blessed by the intercession of the saints in many times through the history. We think, that in spite of all the persecution throughout 2000 years, non-stop, The Lord has kept the OO churches and Coptic Church in Egypt because of the verse in Isiah 19:19 and he will be always faithful to His Words and because of the Intercession of the millions of saints we have been blessed with.
One thing: During the Pacha week, except on Thursday of the New Covenant, we have no liturgies and in the liturgy of Thursday we don't have a Xenexarium, the commemoration of the Saints. The Pascha prayers are held in the middle of the church, not in front of the altar, and only the icon of Christ and the Holy Cross Icon (whether the Crucified Lord alone or the Scene itself with St.Mary and St.John) is in the middle of the church.
In the feasts of the saints, we make rounds around the church with the Cross at the front and the icon of the saints afterwards.
Peace,
Stavro