The results of the Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787 regarding iconoclasm found that venerating icons could be a useful tool for religious teaching. The belief prior to the council was that it is impossible to depict God in an image because he is invisible and unknowable to man. Also, that it goes against the teachings of God because it was believed that honoring the icon was not, in fact, showing worship to God but the material that the icon was depicted on. However, St. John of Damascus argued that these beliefs were part of the old Orthodox Church and shouldn’t be relevant in the new teachings. He refutes these arguments by saying, “I do not draw an image of the immortal Godhead, but I paint the image of God who became visible in the flesh” …show more content…
The use of worship in the form of adoration is meant for God because he is the only one worthy of complete worship. However, this is not the only way to show worship, it can be displayed on a lesser level through a form of respect. Through the use of images, Christians can show respect to other religious figures such as Saints by bowing, burning candles, and lighting incense in front of their likeness (Bettenson, pg. 99). This allows for worshipers to shows respect for all religious figures while leaving the highest level of worship for God himself (St. John of Damascus, pg. 22). This idea also allows for the worship of important events by crediting landmarks as icons for important religious events throughout history. St. John demonstrates this by saying, “For it is written that the Lord was crucified at the place of the skull, and buried in a tomb which was hewn out of a rock by Joseph; but it is from unwritten tradition that we know the location of these places, and worship there now.” (St. John of Damascus, pg. 31). Without the ability to use icons, Christians would not have been able to use these historic places as tools to worship. Due to the Seventh Ecumenical council, Christian can use these locations both to worship God and show their respect for all those involved, like St. Joseph at the burial location of
Comparing El Grecos St Francis Venerating the Crucifix to El Grecos St John the Baptist
A major theme in the Orthodox church is iconography. In the Orthodox church the paintings are not merely pictures they are icons, an icon makes the saint "present." These icons receive prayers and veneration, but are not worshiped. Icons are not portrayals of scenes like some stained glass windows, they are of one or two people, a holy portrait. Iconography is not restricted to the church but can also be displayed in houses or worn as jewelr...
For example in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Aslan is sacrificed at the stone table in exchange for Edmond’s life. Susan and Lucy morn him and tend to his body, but the next morning he mysteriously returns from the dead. This is the allegory to the story of Jesus’ crucifixion. Aslan represents various aspects to the Holy Trinity in some form during the course of the books the characters need only speak his name to give themselves strength.” (Wordpress). In the book Aslan is embarrassed in front of the witch’s followers at the stone table as they shave his mane and muzzle him yet he does not do anything to save himself or hurt the witch. Just as Jesus was yelled at, spit on, and whipped in front of the all the people but never said anything to them. When the girls were crying over his death the table split as a sign of the resurrection. Likewise when Mary came to check the tomb where Jesus body was she found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. The stone table was a place of sacrifice where one traded his life for all the others. Here we also see a likening to the cross where Jesus sacrificed his life for the rest of humanity. In both cases a blood sacrifice paved the way to
She illustrates the reasons behind iconoclasm, for example, the Roman army used to stole the statue of the captured city to Rome. They usually did not destroy the statue, but displacing these and bringing these art objects to Rome is also a different form of iconoclasm. Another important reason of destroying image or statue is to show disrespect to the specific person or society. Brubaker also claims that " A broader conception of image destruction - perhaps closer to our modern understanding of the term iconoclasm - is attributed to the Byzantines" (Brubaker 2013, 15), however Byzantines iconoclasm was under Christian context, but here the context is Islamic iconoclasm. Idolatry and image worship is forbidden in Islam, moreover, Islam is
In the talk given by Birgit Meyer, she discusses that the reformation of the second commandment in the Catholic religion, is about how God forbids man to worship him through an idol, in this case, images of the divine because it is only a representation of God but it is not God himself. As we continue to pray to the divine through images or statues, especially in church or any other religious gathering, I think that the theme as well as the point that Meyer was trying to make is that people are more skeptical nowadays about the existence of heaven or about any religious figures because they do not have tangible proof therefore, these images and statues gives people some sort of proof that religious beings exists and that their power will be
In the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church the icon of The Nativity of Christ is located in the center of the North wall on the first story of icons.
During the 15th century, Europe started to have different cultural traditions that impacted the type artwork of artwork that was produced. There are several elements that have evolved during this time. Two artworks will be compared so that we will be able to evaluate how various techniques that are used can be used to portray the meaning of the painting as well as how the audience views the scene as well. One of the paintings that we will compare is a Annunciation panel (from the Merode Triptych), which was painted by Robert Campin in 1426. This painting will be compared to Holy Trinity, which was created by Masaccio in 1425. By comparing these two paintings, we will get a sense of what themes and ideals were valued during this time period.
The representation of divinity was clearly defined in Christ in Majesty with Symbols of the Four Evangelists through its subject matter, technique, and style. Christ acts as the focal point, but the artist also used different subjects from the Old and New Testament to decorate the apse. Unlike the mosaics in the apse of Byzantine churches, the artist employed the technique of classical fresco painting. The artist also applied decoration to the figures with the hierarchy of scale, and through the geometric style in the drapery instead of maintaining a sense of realism.
The Christian Church was absolutely instrumental in the art of the Renaissance. It was the driving force behind every inspiration; without the Church, there would have been no art. The Church was the only institution powerful enough to be able to support the commissions of all of the artwork, and it was the only institution, in which people had enough faith and devotion to spend so much of their time and money creating pieces that—although beautiful—were not necessities. The role of religion in art actually began during the Byzantine era. During this time, all artwork was religious in nature, and most of it was done in a consistently similar style so that figures from the Bible could be easily recognized by everyone and so that people had a consistent view of religious matters. Art during this time was largely iconic, meant to inspire the awe of God in the viewer. Along with various versions of the crucifix, one of the most popular images of the Byzantine style was The Pantokrator, an image of Jesus Christ as shown from above. An example of one of these pieces was done in the twelfth century in the abbey church of Monreale in the city of Palermo. Jesus is a monumental figure that takes up much of the space across the apse of the Church. One of his hands forms a mudra as the other holds the scripture. His fully frontal and direct stance along with the glimmering gold background serves to strike awe and fear into the viewer. Clearly this piece was done with the intent to impress the value and mightiness of religion first and attention to the detail and technique of the art second.
...rulers were unsuccessful and that iconophobic views would help strengthen the Byzantine Empire. (pg. 247) Under Leo’s command a council was assembled and met at Hagia Sophia three times to discuss the matter of icons. (pg. 249) Leo’s report was read and those who did not agree with it were spit on, beaten, or dismissed from the council. (pg. 247) On the third day a proposal was created and approved in favor of iconoclasm. (pg. 247) The previous teachings of Hieria were subjected as being right in which they stated that “images are essentially idols, icons of Christ either circumscribe his uncircumscribable divinity or split his divine and human natures, and images cannot convey the resurrected glory of saints”. (pg. 247) Although Leo had suggested that images be removed from reach in churches, the council had not done much to actually engage in iconoclasm. (pg. 250)
The Attarouthi Treasures consist of fifteen objects: ten chalices, three censers, a wine strainer, and a dove. The artifacts were found buried in the vicinity of the ancient town Attarouthi. This town was a stopping point on the trade routes. The chalices were used to hold wine during the Liturgy. Upright frontal figures decorated most of the chalices with Christ appearing as a beardless young man. The dove represents the Holy Christ that descended over Christ when Saint John baptized him. Crosses and bust-length figures of Christ decorate the censers.
Many things in our culture today deal with rituals of the people that lived before us. There are many parallels between World Religions, one of them being the rituals of worship. One Religion that is specifically known for its rituals is the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church has many different rituals that its followers use to practice their faith. Without these rituals of faith the religion would have no unity of worship and be in shambles.
Flood explains the origin of Islamic iconoclasm through a quote by K.A.C. Creswell stating, "the inherent temperamental dislike of Semitic races for representational art" and believes iconoclasm is contested among Muslims as well. The Hadith, which is the narrative of the Prophet's life forbids "all representations that have shadows (whose defacement is obligatory), and some schools of thought go so far as to liken artists to polytheists." Although the impact of iconoclasm depends on the time and place in which it occurred, the Hadith definitely helped to promote "the eschewal of figural imagery" and "the destruction or mutilation of existing figural imagery." In 696-697 figural imagery was repla...
The introduction of Christianity as a major religion followed the pattern of other ancient religions. Many of the great works of art were done for religious purposes. Some of the most famous artworks in history are religious. Just a few that come immediately to mind are The Last Supper, the ceiling of the Cysteine Chapel, and the Statue of David. Even during the period known as the Dark Ages art was inspired by religion. True, the art was generally dark and full of death and demons, but the art was based upon religious themes, mostly from the book of Revelations. As with the art that preceded it, the religious art of Christianity is full of symbolism. For example, a painting where the man is standing with two fingers upraised on his right hand is generally a religious leader such as a pope or Jesu...
Iconoclasm means the rejection or destruction of religious images as heretical. “In 726, all the icons, religious pictures and statues were removed from Hagia Sophia by the orders of Emperor Leo the Isaurian, as he was against the veneration of the images.” (Hagiasophia.com) With its vaulted and domed ceilings, artists were able to utilize the curved surfaces for dramatic effect or to compliment narratives. The Hagia Sophia was filled with frescos and mosaics of religious events and royalty of the Byzantine period. Many of the mosaics were destroyed, and the frescos were covered up with several layers of