So people didn't worship the icons.
Images of Jesus, Mary, and the saints are called icons. In the Christian tradition, icons are considered sacred representations that aid in prayer and meditation. They are used as visual aids to connect with the divine and serve as reminders of the presence of God and the example of the saints.
The Eastern Orthodox Church believes in the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus Christ, the importance of tradition and scripture, sacraments as a means of grace, the veneration of saints and icons, and the concept of theosis, where individuals strive to become more like God. They also prioritize unity with the early Christian Church and emphasize the authority of ecumenical councils in shaping their doctrinal beliefs.
A religious artefact is an object that holds religious or spiritual significance within a particular faith or tradition. These items are often used in religious ceremonies, rituals, or as symbols of faith and devotion. Examples include statues, relics, icons, prayer beads, and ceremonial tools.
A painting of a religious image is known as an icon. Icons are commonly used in various religious traditions, such as Christian Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches, as objects of veneration and meditation. The process of creating icons follows specific guidelines established by the tradition they belong to.
A picture of a saint is called an icon. Many painting masters have drawn and painted religious icons like Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and others.
I believe that you are referring to icons, as used in the Orthodox church.
In 730, the Byzantine emperor Leo III banned the use of icons. Icons are religious images used by Eastern Christians to aid their prayers.
actually Christians do do not use icons
In 730, the Byzantine emperor Leo III banned the use of icons. Icons are religious images used by Eastern Christians to aid their prayers.
In 730, the Byzantine emperor Leo III banned the use of icons. Icons are religious images used by Eastern Christians to aid their prayers.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, icons are sacred images representing Christ, the Virgin Mary, saints, and biblical events. They serve as a means of spiritual connection and veneration, believed to convey divine presence and grace. Icons are often used in worship and are integral to the church's theology, emphasizing the incarnation of Christ and the communion of believers with the heavenly realm. Their creation follows strict artistic conventions and is considered an act of devotion.
Roman Catholic AnswerThe Greek Church outlawed the use of statues and uses icons as being less "life-like". The Roman Church does use icons, just not as exclusively as the Greek Church does.
Only Catholic and Orthodox Churches use statues and pictures of Jesus or of the saints to help them pray. Protestant Churches do not, considering the use of icons akin to idolatory.
[i'kona]
the display of religious icons in the church.
If they are Christian statues, Christians generally call them icons. If they are non-Christian statues, Christians generally call them idols.
Some Anglicans (known as Episcopalians in the US) use icons in their churches. Most fall into the category of "high church" Anglicans, rather than the "low church" Anglicans. High church Anglicans frequently use icons, incense and bells as a means of facilitating worship and relationship to God, whereas the low church Anglicans tend to believe excessive rituals and implements distract from worship and relationship. In many places around the world, Anglicans are emphasizing their ancient roots and are encouraging the use of icons and other devotional practices again. For example, St Paul's Cathedral in London, has a large icon of the Virgin Mary and Christ on its wall. The current Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend Dr. Rowan Williams, also encourages the use of icons as part of Anglican services. It may also be argued that the Anglican tradition has long emphasized words as iconography even more than images. Examples can be found in the mystical and poetical tradition throughout Anglicanism's history. Examples may include such notable "icons" as "St. Patrick's Breastplate," the poetry of John Donne, and the Book of Common Prayer, itself. The Orthodox Church, however, places much greater emphasis on the corporate use of holy icons in its services and some churches are full of portable icons and frescoes or mosaics on the walls. It continues the practice of the Early Church which has used icons in its Liturgy and services for over 2000 years. For example, the evangelist and apostle St Luke, himself painted many icons of the Virgin Mary and Christ. So from this, no one can say that the use of icons did not have an Apostolic foundation. Indeed, the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which is accepted by all mainstream Christian Faiths, made a clear ruling that icons are a necessary and essential part of the Christian Faith. The veneration or honour of holy icons has an important place in the Church, but it confirmed that icons are not worshipped. Only the Lord Jesus Christ is worshipped. Icons are venerated, which means respected and honoured, in the same way that we respect a photo of our loved ones by kissing it, but we do not worship them either. Icons represent the transfigured Saint who is represented in the icon, and sometimes depicts some scenes from their life or martyrdom. Holy icons have been used as an aid to worship by Christians since the earliest times during Orthodox Church services. Especially since the Church had only the Hebrew Scriptures without a formalized New Testament for the first few centuries of the Church.