Icons & Idololatry in Christianity | Iconoclasm Unveiled

During the iconoclastic controversies, particularly during the 8th and 9th centuries, several emperors and church leaders supported iconoclasm, and promoted policies that led to the destruction of icons and religious images.
Iconoclasts those who supported this movement believed that the veneration of icons constituted idolatry and violated the Second Commandment ("You shall not make for yourself a carved image..."). They argued that these images hindered the spiritual relationship between individuals and God.
Conversely, the supporters of icons, believed that religious images were essential for religious education and devotion. They argued that icons served as a means to connect with the divine and honor the saints, rather than being objects of worship in themselves.
The controversy led to a series of church councils, including the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which affirmed the use and veneration of icons in Christian worship. The council, which took place under the rule of Empress Irene of Athens and her son Emperor Constantine VI, resulted in a significant decision. In 787 AD, the council affirmed the veneration of icons and declared that their use was not idolatrous. The key consensus was that the veneration of icons was acceptable as long as the worship was directed toward the person represented in the icon, rather than the physical object itself. This decision allowed for the use of icons in Christian worship and had a lasting impact on the development of Christian art and religious practices.
It is essential to note that until the 11th century, when the Christian Church was unified, the veneration of holy icons was upheld throughout the Christian world. One could find images in the form of murals, mosaics, and portable icons, even in the catacombs of the early Christians and in all the ancient churches.
Although one can say that only the Orthodox Church kept the decisions of the 7th ecumenical council, nevertheless, other Christian denominations, including the Catholic Church, also embraced the use of icons in their religious services and devotional practices. Additionally, many Protestant denominations, while generally less inclined towards the use of icons compared to the Orthodox and Catholic traditions, still incorporate religious images into their worship spaces and rituals to varying extents.
In summary, the Seventh Ecumenical Council, held in 787 AD, played a crucial role in establishing the legitimacy of icons in Christian worship. Its decisions have had a lasting impact, and the holy icons, are widely used in various forms, across different Christian denominations, worldwide.
"Christians do not worship the material of the icon but venerate the persons represented in the icon, whether it be Christ, the Virgin Mary, or the saints." John of Damascus (c. 676-749 AD)
"The honor given to icons ultimately goes to the person represented, and not to the material substance of the icon."
Saint Theodore the Studite (759-826 AD)
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[@alexpanagiotis4706]

Religious pictures are not icons. In the west they do not understand the deep theological and spiritual meaning of iconography.

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