Triumph of Orthodoxy: What Happened
On 11 March 843 AD, a great procession in Constantinople marked the final restoration of icons in the Byzantine Empire, ending more than a century of iconoclasm. After the emperor Theophilos, the last iconoclast ruler, died in 842, his widow, the Empress Theodora, became regent for their young son, Michael III. Theodora supported the veneration of icons. She arranged for the iconoclast patriarch to be removed and replaced by Methodios, a monk who had suffered imprisonment for defending icons. A church council confirmed the decisions of the Second Council of Nicaea of 787, which had approved the veneration of holy images. The restoration was celebrated with a procession to the church of Hagia Sophia, where icons were returned to their places. The event became known as the Triumph of Orthodoxy. Ever since, the Orthodox Church has celebrated it every year on the first Sunday of Lent, called the Sunday of Orthodoxy, when believers carry icons in procession. The victory ensured that icons would remain at the heart of Orthodox Christian worship and art.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Triumph of Orthodoxy?
The Triumph of Orthodoxy is the final restoration of icons in the Byzantine Empire on 11 March 843 AD, ending more than a century of iconoclasm.
Who restored the icons in 843?
The Empress Theodora, regent for her young son Michael III, supported icons and appointed Methodios, a monk who had suffered for defending them, as patriarch.
What is the Sunday of Orthodoxy?
The Sunday of Orthodoxy is celebrated every year on the first Sunday of Lent, when Orthodox believers carry icons in procession to commemorate the restoration of icons.
Why are icons important in Orthodox Christianity?
Icons are seen as windows to the divine, honoring the holy figures they depict. The Triumph of Orthodoxy ensured they would remain at the heart of Orthodox worship.
Where was the Triumph of Orthodoxy celebrated?
The restoration was celebrated with a great procession in Constantinople to Hagia Sophia, where icons were returned to their places.
