Byzantine Iconoclasm: What Happened
From 726 to 843 AD, the Byzantine Empire was torn by a fierce religious conflict over icons, the holy images of Christ, the Virgin Mary and the saints used in worship. The iconoclasts, meaning image breakers, believed that venerating icons was a form of idolatry forbidden by the Bible. The iconophiles, or image lovers, argued that icons were a legitimate way of honoring the holy figures they represented. According to tradition, the emperor Leo III began the conflict around 726 AD, though historians debate how far he actually went. His son Constantine V pursued iconoclasm more aggressively, holding a church council in 754 that condemned icons and persecuting their defenders, especially monks. Many icons were destroyed or covered over. In 787 AD, the Empress Irene summoned the Second Council of Nicaea, which restored the veneration of icons. However, iconoclasm returned under Leo V in 815 AD. The dispute finally ended in 843 AD under the Empress Theodora. The conflict shaped Orthodox Christianity profoundly and helps explain why icons remain so central to Greek Orthodox worship today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Byzantine Iconoclasm?
Byzantine Iconoclasm was a religious conflict from 726 to 843 AD over the use and veneration of icons, the holy images of Christ, the Virgin Mary and the saints.
What does iconoclasm mean?
Iconoclasm means image breaking. Iconoclasts believed venerating icons was idolatry, while iconophiles believed icons were a proper way to honor holy figures.
Which emperors supported iconoclasm?
Leo III is traditionally credited with starting it around 726 AD, and his son Constantine V pursued it aggressively. It returned under Leo V in 815 AD.
What was the Second Council of Nicaea?
The Second Council of Nicaea, summoned by Empress Irene in 787 AD, restored the veneration of icons, although iconoclasm returned in 815 AD.
When did iconoclasm end?
Iconoclasm ended in 843 AD under the Empress Theodora, an event celebrated in the Orthodox Church as the Triumph of Orthodoxy.
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