Скачать или смотреть Icons or Idols? The Battle That Split the Byzantine Empire

What happens when a church goes to war with its own images?

In the 8th and 9th centuries, the Byzantine Empire was torn apart by the Iconoclast Controversy—a century-long battle over whether Christians should venerate icons of Christ, Mary, and the saints. Emperors like Leo III (726 AD) and Constantine V (754 AD) banned and destroyed icons, while theologians like John of Damascus and councils like Nicaea II (787 AD) fought back to defend them.

This struggle wasn’t just about art—it was about the very nature of Christianity. Was an icon a sacred “window to heaven” or a dangerous idol? Was Christianity meant to reflect the Word only, or the Incarnation made visible? The debate pulled in politics, culture, and even the influence of Islam at the empire’s borders.

Finally, in 843 AD, Empress Theodora restored icons permanently, an event still celebrated today in the Orthodox Church as the Triumph of Orthodoxy. Step inside this dramatic history and discover how the fight over images shaped Eastern Christianity—and why it still matters today.

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