Final answer:
Eastern Orthodox rites traditionally use icons as church ornamentation, serving both a decorative and devotional purpose. The use of icons was prevalent in Byzantium, decorating churches and facilitating veneration practices within the religious community.
Step-by-step explanation:
Eastern Orthodox rites use icons as ornamentation in their churches rather than statues. Byzantine art focused on creating religious icons using various mediums, including mosaics, metals, and enamels. These icons weren't just for decoration; they served as focal points for devotion and veneration within the churches. Additionally, the Byzantine Empire's increasing wealth contributed to the flourishing of architecture and art in churches, allowing for intricate iconographic schemes within their curved and vaulted ceilings. Notable examples of such religious art can be seen in San Vitale in Ravenna and Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, where large mosaics were favored by the elites, and Saint Mark's Basilica in Venice, renowned for its many domes and golden mosaic-filled ceilings.