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quotations of the early fathers in support of the use of iconic images - provided here for balance - External links more to come
Byzantine iconography is the oldest and only Christian art form which has continued unchanged for the past 2000 years. The Eastern Orthodox believe that the first icons of Christ and the Virgin Mary were painted by St. Luke the Evangelist. St. Luke is the Patron Saint of iconographers.
Byzantine iconography is the oldest and only Christian art form which has continued unchanged for the past 2000 years. The Eastern Orthodox believe that the first icons of Christ and the Virgin Mary were painted by St. Luke the Evangelist. St. Luke is the Patron Saint of iconographers.
Iconography is considered to have begun the day our Lord Jesus Christ pressed a cloth to His face and imprinted His divine-human image thereon<ref>This is according to tradition the Veil of Veronica ("true image") which she offered in pity to the Lord with which He (or she) wiped the sweat and spit from His face, also simply called the Veronica. [http://www.catholictradition.org/Christ/veronica.htm The Holy Face: Veil of Veronica (catholictraditon.org)]</ref>. According to Tradition, Luke the Evangelist painted the image of the Mother of God; and, also according to tradition, there still exist today many Icons which were painted by him. An artist, he painted not only the first Icons of the Mother of God, but also those of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, as well as possibly, others. Many early Church fathers from the 2nd century through the 3rd and 4th centuries before the time of [[Constantine]] supported the "underground" (literally, in the catacombs) use of relics, statues and images including icons.<ref>[https://practicalapologetics.blogspot.com/2013/07/early-church-fathers-on-relics-statues.html Early Church Fathers on Relics, Statues and Images (practicalapologetics.blogspot.com)] ''Includes [[Apologetics|apologetic]] quotations from [[Ante-Nicene Fathers]] in support of the use of images in early Christian worship and devotion''.</ref>
Iconography is considered to have begun the day our Lord Jesus Christ pressed a cloth to His face and imprinted His divine-human image thereon<ref>This is according to tradition the Veil of Veronica ("true image") which she offered in pity to the Lord with which He (or she) wiped the sweat and spit from His face, also simply called the Veronica. [http://www.catholictradition.org/Christ/veronica.htm The Holy Face: Veil of Veronica (catholictraditon.org)]</ref>. According to Tradition, Luke the Evangelist painted the image of the Mother of God; and, also according to tradition, there still exist today many Icons which were painted by him. An artist, he painted not only the first Icons of the Mother of God, but also those of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, as well as possibly, others. Many early Church fathers from the 2nd century through the 3rd and 4th centuries before the time of [[Constantine]] supported the "underground" (literally, in the catacombs) use of relics, statues and images including icons.<ref name=Fathers>[https://practicalapologetics.blogspot.com/2013/07/early-church-fathers-on-relics-statues.html Early Church Fathers on Relics, Statues and Images (practicalapologetics.blogspot.com)] ''Includes [[Apologetics|apologetic]] quotations from [[Ante-Nicene Fathers]] in support of the use of images in early Christian worship and devotion''.</ref>
Iconography did not develop further during the time of the Roman persecutions, but Christians did attempt to express in symbols what they wished to convey. Christ was portrayed as the Good Shepherd and in the guise of various personalities from pagan mythology. Then, when Constantine became emperor, Christians were free to express themselves. As Christianity quickly transformed the Roman Empire and replaced paganism, iconography flourished with full force. Directives concerning Iconography were recorded in the first ecumenical councils.
Iconography did not develop further during the time of the Roman persecutions, but Christians did attempt to express in symbols what they wished to convey. Christ was portrayed as the Good Shepherd and in the guise of various personalities from pagan mythology. Then, when Constantine became emperor, Christians were free to express themselves. As Christianity quickly transformed the Roman Empire and replaced paganism, iconography flourished with full force. Directives concerning Iconography were recorded in the first ecumenical councils.
The [[Iconoclasm|Iconoclastic controversy]] was a dispute over the veneration of icons within Christianity.
The [[Iconoclasm|Iconoclastic controversy]] was a dispute over the veneration of icons within Christianity.
The early church appears to have inherited the opposition to icons inherent in second temple, Talmudic Judaism. Hence, early Christians were accused of being "atheists" by Romans who assumed the absence of images meant the absence of belief in gods.<ref>For example, ''Martyrdom of Polycarp'', chapter 9; cited by John B. Carpenter, "Icons and the Eastern Orthodox Claim to Continuity with the Early Church," ''Journal of the International Society of Christian Apologetics'', Vol. 6, No. 1, 2013, p. 111.</ref> Origen (184-254) responded to the charge of "atheism" by admitting that Christians did not use images in worship, following the Second Commandment.<ref>Origin, Contra Celsus, Book VII, Chapter 64; according to John B. Carpenter, "Icons and the Eastern Orthodox Claim to Continuity with the Early Church," ''Journal of the International Society of Christian Apologetics'', Vol. 6, No. 1, 2013, p. 112.</ref> Canon 36 of the Council of Elvira (c. 305) states, “Pictures are not to be placed in churches, so that they do not become objects of worship and adoration.” About the year 327 the early church historian Eusebius (c. AD 263 – 339) wrote, "To depict purely the human form of Christ before its transformation, on the other hand, is to break the commandment of God and to fall into pagan error."<ref>David M. Gwynn, “From Iconoclasm to Arianism: The Construction of Christian Tradition in the Iconoclast Controversy” [Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies 47 (2007) 225–251], p. 227.</ref> Epiphanius (inter 310–320 – 403), bishop of Salamis, in Cyprus wrote, in Letter 51 (c. 394), to John, Bishop of Jerusalem about an incident of finding an image in a church in his jurisdiction: "I went in to pray, and found there a curtain hanging on the doors of the said church, dyed and embroidered. It bore an image either of Christ or of one of the saints; I do not rightly remember whose the image was. Seeing this, and being loath that an image of a man should be hung up in Christ's church contrary to the teaching of the Scriptures, I tore it asunder and advised the custodians of the place to use it as a winding sheet for some poor person." He goes on to tell John that such images are “contrary to our religion” and to instruct the presbyter of the church that such images are “an occasion of offense.”<ref>John B. Carpenter, "Icons and the Eastern Orthodox Claim to Continuity with the Early Church," ''Journal of the International Society of Christian Apologetics'', Vol. 6, No. 1, 2013, p. 118.</ref>
The early church appears to have inherited the opposition to icons inherent in second temple, Talmudic Judaism. Hence, early Christians were accused of being "atheists" by Romans who assumed the absence of images meant the absence of belief in gods.<ref>For example, ''Martyrdom of Polycarp'', chapter 9; cited by John B. Carpenter, "Icons and the Eastern Orthodox Claim to Continuity with the Early Church," ''Journal of the International Society of Christian Apologetics'', Vol. 6, No. 1, 2013, p. 111.</ref>
Origen (184-254) responded to the charge of "atheism" by admitting that Christians did not use images in worship, following the Second Commandment.<ref>Origin, Contra Celsus, Book VII, Chapter 64; according to John B. Carpenter, "Icons and the Eastern Orthodox Claim to Continuity with the Early Church," ''Journal of the International Society of Christian Apologetics'', Vol. 6, No. 1, 2013, p. 112.</ref>
Council of Elvira, Canon 36 (c. 305) states, “Pictures are not to be placed in churches, so that they do not become objects of worship and adoration.”
The early church historian Eusebius (c. AD 263 – 339) about the year 327 wrote, "To depict purely the human form of Christ before its transformation, on the other hand, is to break the commandment of God and to fall into pagan error."<ref>David M. Gwynn, “From Iconoclasm to Arianism: The Construction of Christian Tradition in the Iconoclast Controversy” [Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies 47 (2007) 225–251], p. 227.</ref>
However, the same Eusebius of Caesarea '''Church History, Book 7''' (A.D. 295-340) testifies to the approved proper use of images of Jesus, Peter and Paul: "They say that this statue is an image of Jesus. It has remained to our day, so that we ourselves also saw it when we were staying in the city. Nor is it strange that those of the Gentiles who, of old, were benefited by our Savior, should have done such things, since we have learned also that the likenesses of his apostles Paul and Peter, and of Christ himself, are preserved in paintings, the ancients being accustomed, as it is likely, according to a habit of the Gentiles, to pay this kind of honor indiscriminately to those regarded by them as deliverers."<ref name=Fathers/>
Basil '''Letter 360''' (A.D. 329-379) cites with approbation the approved use of images, saying, "I acknowledge also the holy apostles, prophets, and martyrs; and I invoke them to supplication to God, that through them, that is, through their mediation, the merciful God may be propitious to me, and that a ransom may be made and given me for my sins. Wherefore also I honor and kiss the features of their images, inasmuch as they have been handed down from the holy apostles, and are not forbidden, but are in all our churches."<ref name=Fathers/>
Epiphanius (inter 310–320 – 403), bishop of Salamis, in Cyprus wrote, in '''Letter 51''' (c. 394), to John, Bishop of Jerusalem about an incident of finding an image in a church in his jurisdiction: "I went in to pray, and found there a curtain hanging on the doors of the said church, dyed and embroidered. It bore an image either of Christ or of one of the saints; I do not rightly remember whose the image was. Seeing this, and being loath that an image of a man should be hung up in Christ's church contrary to the teaching of the Scriptures, I tore it asunder and advised the custodians of the place to use it as a winding sheet for some poor person." He goes on to tell John that such images are “contrary to our religion” and to instruct the presbyter of the church that such images are “an occasion of offense.”<ref>John B. Carpenter, "Icons and the Eastern Orthodox Claim to Continuity with the Early Church," ''Journal of the International Society of Christian Apologetics'', Vol. 6, No. 1, 2013, p. 118.</ref>
[[John Chrysostom]] '''Homilies 10 Ephesians''' [A.D. 347-407] praises the use of images overlaid with gold as contributing beauty and grace, and condemns those who destroy them as a destructive fire lighting on the Church: "For like a conflagration indeed, or like a thunderbolt hurled from on high, have they lighted upon the roof of the Church, and yet they rouse up no one; but whilst our Father's house is burning, we are sleeping, as it were, a deep and stupid sleep. And yet who is there whom this fire does not touch? Which of the statues that stand in the Church? for the Church is nothing else than a house built of the souls of us men. Now this house is not of equal honor throughout, but of the stones which contribute to it, some are bright and shining, whilst others are smaller and more dull than they, and yet superior again to others. There we may see many who are in the place of gold also, the gold which adorns the ceiling. Others again we may see, who give the beauty and gracefulness produced by statues. Many we may see, standing like pillars. For he is accustomed to call men also on account of their beauty, adding as they do, much grace, and having their heads overlaid with gold.<ref name=Fathers/>
John Chrysostom '''Homilies 21 on the Statues''' paragraph 10 [A.D. 347-407] admonishes those who were disconsolate over the destruction of holy images by the [[Iconoclasm|iconoclasts]]: "Were your Statues thrown down? You have it in your power again to set up others yet more splendid."<ref name=Fathers/>
'''[[Council of Ephesus]] Extracts from session 1''' (A.D. 431) "Theodosius, the humble Christian, to the holy and Ecumenical Synod: I confess and I agree to (''suntiqemai'') and I receive and I salute and I venerate in the first place the spotless image of our Lord Jesus Christ, our true God, and the holy image of her who bore him without seed, the holy Mother of God, and her help and protection and intercessions each day and night as a sinner to my aid I call for, since she has confidence with Christ our God, as he was born of her. Likewise also I receive and venerate the images of the holy and most laudable Apostles, prophets, and martyrs and the fathers and cultivators of the desert. Not indeed as gods (God forbid!) do I ask all these with my whole heart to pray for me to God, that he may grant me through their intercessions to find mercy at his hands at the day of judgment, for in this I am but showing forth more clearly the affection and love of my soul which I have borne them from the first. Likewise also I venerate and honor and salute the reliques of the Saints as of those who fought for Christ and who have received grace from him for the healing of diseases and the curing of sicknesses and the casting out of devils, as the Christian Church has received from the holy Apostles and Fathers even down to us to-day."<ref name=Fathers/>
'''[[Gregory I|Gregory the Great]] Letters Book 4 letter 30''' (A.D. 540-604) testifies to the reverent dread of respect given even the silver over the body of the apostle Peter: "The Serenity of your Piety, conspicuous for religious zeal and love of holiness, has charged me with your commands to send to you the head of Saint Paul, or some other part of his body, for the church which is being built in honor of the same Saint Paul in the palace. And, being desirous of receiving commands from you, by exhibiting the most ready obedience to which I might the more provoke your favor towards me, I am all the more distressed that I neither can nor dare do what you enjoin. For the bodies of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul glitter with so great miracles and terrors in their churches that one cannot even go to pray there without great fear. In short, when my predecessor, of blessed memory, was desirous of changing the silver which was over the most sacred body of the blessed apostle Peter, though at a distance of almost fifteen feet from the same body, a sign of no small dreadfulness appeared to him."<ref name=Fathers/>
'''Gregory the Great Letters Book 9 letter 105''' (A.D. 540-604) attempted to correct a distortion or misrepresentation regarding the proper use of iconic pictorial images in the minds of a certain Fraternal Order, counselling them to preserve the images and also prohibit the people from adoration of them: "Furthermore we notify to you that it has come to our ears that your Fraternity, seeing certain adorers of images, broke and threw down these same images in Churches. And we commend you indeed for your zeal against anything made with hands being an object of adoration; but we signify to you that you ought not to have broken these images. For pictorial representation is made use of in Churches for this reason; that such as are ignorant of letters may at least read by looking at the walls what they cannot read in books. Your Fraternity therefore should have both preserved the images and prohibited the people from adoration of them, to the end that both those who are ignorant of letters might have wherewith to gather a knowledge of the history, and that the people might by no means sin by adoration of a pictorial representation<ref name=Fathers/>
'''Gregory the Great Letters Book 11 letter 13''' (A.D. 540-604) explains that images are permitted by him but that adoration paid to them is improper: "If for this instruction for which images were anciently made you wish to have them in the church, I permit them by all means both to be made and to be had. And explain to them that it was not the sight itself of the story which the picture was hanging to attest that displeased thee, but the adoration which had been improperly paid to the pictures.<ref name=Fathers/>
John of Damascus '''Apologia Against those who Decry Holy Images''' (A.D. 676-749)—From the Life of the Abbot Daniel, on Eulogius the Quarryman: "Then he went away dejected, and threw himself before an image of Our Lady, and crying out, he said: "Lord, enable me to pay what I promised this man."<ref name=Fathers/><br>—"St Basil says, ‘Honouring the image leads to the prototype.’ If you raise churches to the saints of God, raise also their trophies."<ref name=Fathers/><br>—"A tradition has come down to us that Angaros, King of Edessa, was drawn vehemently to divine love by hearing of our Lord,and that he sent envoys to ask for His likeness. If this were refused, they were ordered to have a likeness painted. Then He, who is all-knowing and all-powerful, is said to have taken a strip of cloth, and pressing it to His face, to have left His likeness upon the cloth, which it retains to this day."<ref>According to the tradition associated with an ancient document purporting to be "The Letters of Abgarus king of Edessa and Jesus Christ the Lord" this was before the Lord's passion, death, crucifixion and resurrection.</ref> ([[Shroud of Turin]]?)<ref name=Fathers/><br>—"If you say to this that blessed Epiphanius clearly rejected our use of images, you must know that the work in question is spurious and written by some one else in the name of Epiphanius, as often happens. A father does not fight his own children. All have become participators in the one Spirit. The Church is a witness of this in adorning images, until some men rose up against her and disturbed the peace of Christ's fold, putting poisoned food before the people of God."<ref name=Fathers/><br>—"Listen to what I am going to say as a proof that images are no new invention. It is an ancient practice well known to the best and foremost of the fathers. Elladios, the disciple of blessed Basil and his successor, says in his ''Life of Basil'' that the holy man was standing by the image of Our Lady, on which was painted also the likeness of Mercurius, the renowned martyr. He was standing by it asking for the removal of the impious apostate [[Julian]], and he received this revelation from the statue. He saw the martyr vanish for a time, and then reappear, holding a bloody spear."<ref name=Fathers/>
'''Constantinople/Trullo/Quinisext canon 82''' (A.D. 692): "In some pictures of the venerable icons, a lamb is painted to which the [[John the Baptist|Precursor]] points his finger, which is received as a type of grace, indicating beforehand through the Law, our true Lamb, Christ our God."<ref name=Fathers/>
'''''Avenging of the Savior''''' (A.D. 700) gives testimony to the martyrdom of Veronica, the woman who, according to tradition, was healed of the hemorrhage she had suffered for 12 years, and to the iconic image she kept: "It is the woman called Veronica who has the portrait of the Lord in her house. And immediately he ordered her to be brought before his power. And he said to her: Hast thou the portrait of the Lord in thy house? But she said, No. Then Velosianus ordered her to be put to the torture, until she should give up the portrait of the Lord. And she was forced to say: I have it in clean linen, my lord, and I daily adore it. Velosianus said: Show it to me. Then she showed the portrait of the Lord." (Veronica was the woman who suffered for 12 years with the issue of blood)<ref name=Fathers/>
'''2nd Council of Nicaea'''—During the time of Pope Stephen II [A.D. 787-788]: "We, therefore, following the royal pathway and the divinely inspired authority of our Holy Fathers and the traditions of the Catholic Church (for, as we all knoweth Holy Spirit indwells her), define with all certitude and accuracy that just as the figure of the precious and life-giving Cross, so also the venerable and holy images, as well in painting and mosaic as of other fit materials, should be set forth in the holy churches of God, and on the sacred vessels and on the vestments and on hangings and in pictures both in houses and by the wayside, to wit, the figure of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, of our spotless Lady, the Mother of God, of the honorable Angels, of all Saints and of all pious people. For by so much more frequently as they are seen in artistic representation, by so much more readily are men lifted up to the memory of their prototypes, and to a longing after them; and to these should be given due salutation and honorable reverence not indeed that true worship of faith which pertains alone to the divine nature; but to these, as to the figure of the precious and life-giving Cross and to the Book of the Gospels and to the other holy objects, incense and lights may be offered according to ancient pious custom. For the honor which is paid to the image passes on to that which the image represents, and he who reveres the image reveres in it the subject represented....<ref name=Fathers/>
[[Image:Icon2.jpg]]
[[Image:Icon2.jpg]]
== Sources ==
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
== See also ==
[[Orthodox Mysteries]]
[[Ecumenical council]]
[[Theotokos]]
[[English Reformation]]
[[Protestant Reformation]]
[[Great Apostasy]]
== External links ==
*[http://www.goarch.org Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]
*[http://www.goarch.org Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]
*[https://www.flickr.com Flickr Public Photos]
*[https://www.flickr.com Flickr Public Photos]
==References==
== Sources ==
*Carpenter, John B. "Icons and the Eastern Orthodox Claim to Continuity with the Early Church," ''Journal of the International Society of Christian Apologetics'', Vol. 6, No. 1, 2013.
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Religion]]
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