Iconoclastic Controversy: Use Of Religious Images In The Byzantine Empire

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Iconoclastic controversy was a dispute over the use of religious images in the Byzantine Empire during the 8th and 9th centuries. The people who believed the icons were wrong were called iconoclasts. Iconoclasts disagreed against the worship of religious images because of the scripture in the Old Testament. This scripture is one of the Ten Commandments and says, “'You shall not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven above or on earth beneath or in the waters under the earth.” (http://www.catholic.org/bible/book.php?bible_chapter=20&id=2) Another reason that Iconoclasts are against religious images is because there is the possibility of idolatry. The people who defended worshipping icons said that the icons have symbolic …show more content…

Leo III removed an image of Christ over the Chalke Gate in Constantinople and changed it to a cross. He said that the image was idolatry. Pope Gregory II was the pope at this time. He received a letter from an emperor telling him to destroy all the images in Rome and to create a council to stop their use. Pope Gregory II answered in defense of the pictures. In the letter, Gregory explains the difference between the images and the idols. Leo replies by threatening him and saying that he will destroy the statue of St. Peter. The pope answers by saying he would be able to easily escape and the West will not like that Leo wants them to destroy their images at his command. Pope Gregory says he would stay determined to prove the emperor’s threats. The West did not agree with the East. In Rome, Ravenna, and Naples, the people rose up against the emperor’s law about icons. Pope Gregory II refused to send taxes to Constantinople. In 730 the use of icons was officially prohibited. Those who worshipped icons were now subject to persecution. The Western church remained firm in belief of …show more content…

Gregory III succeeded him. He sent a priest named George with letters that were against Iconoclasm to Constantinople. He was too afraid to present them, and did not fulfill the job. George was then sent out again and was arrested and imprisoned in Italy by a governor. In 731, Gregory III held a synod of 93 bishops who broke and destroyed images of

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