This document provides background information on icons in Christianity. It discusses the origins and meaning of the word "icon" and cites biblical sources used to support both iconodule and iconoclast positions. It outlines the 8th century Iconoclastic Controversy between those who destroyed images and those who defended them. The document also presents views of John of Damascus, a 8th century monk who wrote extensively in defense of icons. It notes icons were meant to raise the mind to God rather than be substitutes, and discusses terminology around worship and veneration of icons. Examples of modern icon artwork are also presented.

1. JOHN OF DAMASCUS
ON THE DIVINE IMAGES
Dr. Kimberly Vrudny
Theo. 452: Theology and Beauty
University of St. Thomas

2. ICON
•
Etymology
– Latin, icon
– from Greek eikon, ―likeness, image, portrait,‖
from eikenai: ―to resemble, to be like, to look like‖
•
Biblical Sources / Traditions
– imago Dei, translated: ―image of God,‖ meaning ―icon of God‖
– There is a Jewish saying that thousands of angels go before every
human being, crying: ―Make way, make way for the image of
God‖—the icon of God.
•
In Christianity
– ―[A] conventional religious image typically painted on a small
wooden panel and used in the devotions of Eastern Christians.‖

4. The Ladder of Divine Ascent
Twelfth Century
St. Catherine‘s Monastery, Sinai/Egypt

5. Andrei Rublev
The Holy Trinity
Fifteenth Century
Russia

6. ICONOCLASTS
•
Definition: “Destroyer of Images”
•
Biblical Case:
– Ex. 20:4 / Deut. 5:8: ―You shall not make for yourself an idol,
whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is
on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.‖
– Deut 4:15-18: ―Since you saw no form when the Lord spoke to you
at Horeb out of the fire, take care and watch yourselves closely, so
that you do not act corruptly by making an idol for yourselves, in the
form of any figure—the likeness of male or female, the likeness of
any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that
flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground,
the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth.‖
– Deut. 27:15: ‗Cursed be anyone who makes an idol or casts an
image, anything abhorrent to the Lord, the work of an artisan, and
sets it up in secret.‘ All the people shall respond, saying, ‗Amen!‘

7. ICONODULES
•
Definition: “Defender of Images”
•
Biblical Case:
– Ex. 31:1-11: ―The Lord spoke to Moses: See, I have called by name
Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: and I have filled him
with divine spirit, with ability, intelligence, and knowledge in every kind of
craft, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in
cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, in every kind of craft.
Moreover, I have appointed with him Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the
tribe of Dan; and I have given skill to all the skilful, so that they may
make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and the ark of
the covenant, and the mercy-seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of
the tent, the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its
utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt-offering with all
its utensils, and the basin with its stand, and the finely worked
vestments, the holy vestments for the priest Aaron and the vestments of
his sons, for their service as priests, and the anointing-oil and the
fragrant incense for the holy place. They shall do just as I have

8. 8th Century
ICONOCLASTIC
CONTROVERSY
• Emperor Leo III
–
–
–
–
–
726
Opposed veneration of icons (vs.)
Destroyed image of Christ at imperial palace, Constantinople
Riots
730, Second Council of Nicea, reiterated prohibition of sacred images
• Pope Gregory II
– Defended veneration of icons
– Resisted Emperor‘s policy
• Exceeded authority of lay ruler
• Iconoclasm denied Incarnation
– Emperor attempted to replace and then to assassinate Gregory

9. 8th Century
ICONOCLASTIC
CONTROVERSY
• Constantine V, Leo‘s successor, reasserted prohibition of
images
– 754
– Condemned the work of painters under threat of punishment
–
Iconodules were imprisoned and tortured; many went into exile
• Empress Irene reconvened Council of Nicea II
– 787
– Restored veneration
• Emperor Leo V revived iconoclastic policies
– 815, Council in St. Sophia
– Repressed Images
• Empress Theodora and ―Feast of Orthodoxy‖
– 843, Empress Theodora restored at Synod in Constantinople

10. JOHN of DAMASCUS
• Biography
–
–
–
–
ca. 675 - ca. 749
born in Damascus
730, joined monastery of St. Sabas near Jerusalem
726-730, wrote Apologia Against Those Who Decry Holy
Images, the ―first Christian treatise devoted explicitly and
exclusively to sacred images.‖ —Moshe Barasch

11. On the Apologia
―[John] maintained that an icon does not pretend to be an equivalent, and therefore a
substitute, for what it portrays, but is a likeness which raises the mind to its original.
Both he and—and a later stage of controversy—the monastic reformer Theodore of
Studios (759-826) identified the fundamental issue in the iconoclastic controversy as
Christological. If Christ‘s humanity, which can in principle be pictured, is real, concrete,
and historical; and if, at the same time, it is truly one with the hypostasis of the divine
Logos, then the veneration of an image of Christ is analogous to the veneration of the
Gospels, which ‗pictures‘ Christ in words. Both icon and Gospel are testimonies to the
[presence] of the divine in the worlds of nature and history, and both are media of
access to God.‖
—Williston Walker, 233.

12. JOHN OF DAMASCUS
TRINITARIAN GOD
FORMAL SUBSTANCE
spiritual / divine nature
―It is clear that it is impossible to make an
image of God or of anything like God, since he
is uncircumscribable and unimaginable, lest
the creation be venerated in worship as God‖
(para. 15, page 28).
―Of old, God the incorporeal and formless was
never depicted, but now that God has been
seen in the flesh and has associated with
human kind, I depict what I have seen of God. I
do not venerate matter, I venerate the
fashioner of matter, who became matter for my
sake‖ (para. 16, page 29).
IMAGE / ICON
MATERIAL SUBSTANCE
human nature
CREATED ORDER
―[T]here are images of invisible and formless
things that provide in bodily form a dim
understanding of what is depicted. . . . ‗[T]he
invisible things of God, since the creation of
the world, have been clearly perceived through
the things that have been made.‘ For we see
images in created things intimating to us dimly
reflections of the divine‖ (para. 11, page 26)
―I reverence therefore matter and I hold in
respect and venerate that through which my
salvation has come about, I reverence it not as
God, but as filled with divine energy and grace‖
(paga. 14, page 71).
―We therefore venerate the images, not by
offering veneration to matter, but through them to
those who are depicted in them‖ (para. 41, page
112).

13. Terminology
•
Worship
– Latreia
 worship
 adoration
 properly offered to God alone
 Veneration
– Hyperdulia
 veneration
 In the sense of devotion
 properly offered to Theotokos
 such veneration points ultimately to God
– Proskunesis (Greek) / Dulia (Latin)
 veneration
 in the sense of devotion
 properly offered to saints and images
 such veneration points ultimately to God

14. ONGOING
CONTROVERSIES

15. Br. Robert Lentz, OFM
Christ of Maryknoll
2002

16. Br. Robert Lentz, OFM
Mother of the Disappeared
1986

17. Br. Robert Lentz, OFM
Gandhi

18. Fr. William Hart McNichols
Our Lady of Sorrows

19. Fr. William Hart McNichols
Francis ‘Neath the Bitter Tree

20. Alex Alferov
Madonna Study
1993
Acrylic on Paper
20‖ x 36‖

21. Alex Alferov
Graffiti Madonna 1
2004
Acrylic and Spray Paint on
Canvas
40‖ x 60‖

22. DISCUSSION