Today the Church remembers the 350 Holy Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council held in Nicea during the reign of the Empress Irene and her son Constantine VI in the year 387A.D. During this council the heresy of iconoclasm was defeated. The Holy Fathers said that the veneration of icons is not idolatry (which the Orthodox denounces) but the practice of the veneration was desirable and necessary for the proper understanding of Christianity. St. John of Damascus, the one man who knew both the Christian world and the Muslim world (whose influence started the heresy under Byzantine Leo III.) wrote his monumental treatise on the defense of the Holy Icons. His main defense of that of the incarnation. If Jesus Christ, the eternal logos of God revealed Himself in this world as a man, then he could be depicted. “When the invisible one becomes visible to flesh, you may draw a likeness of His form.” St. John carefully explained the difference between worship (due to God alone) “latria” and “proskynesis” which mean to honor. The honor in an icon is given to the one depicted and not to the wood and paint. Today modern “Christians” still hold to the argument that the use of icons is idolatry and that their use is strange and unholy! But rather it is their view that is strange and unholy. The entire Church following this council accepted the decision of the council because it was true and reflected what Christians had always held true, necessary, and instructive. I recommend that all of you read On the Divine Images by St. John of Damascus. Our bookstore may even have a copy!

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Email: Rector@Stmarymagdalenechurch.org