Icons In The Greek Orthodox Church

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Religion Essay Draft
Welcome back to sixty minutes, I am Thomson Poly and tonight we discuss the great dispute over icons in the Greek Orthodox Church. Throughout this show, we will cover in-depth details about the origins of the Greek Orthodox church and icons, The iconoclastic controversy and the contradictory views of different people. If icons have been used spiritually as sacred texts in the Greek orthodox church, then it is conclusive that there are contradictory views within the Greek Orthodox church concerning how icons are/aren’t a significant spiritual expression due to the fact that everyone will have their own views on their tradition/Inheritance and carry it out in their own way.
So what is the Greek orthodox church and all this
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There were a variety of reasons for the Great schism but the main one was the fight for preeminence and the final separation was caused by excommunication from both sides. According to the Editors of Britannica, “Political jealousies and interests intensified the disputes; and the final break came in 1054, when Pope Leo IX struck at Michael Cerularius and his followers in excommunication and when the Patriarch retaliated in with similar excommunication.” (The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica, 2006) So what are icons and what is the big fuss about them that shook the Byzantine Empire? Icons in the Greek orthodox church are seen as holy images which depict important figures such as Christ, Mary the Theotokos the saints and angels but …show more content…
This was also defended by many people who wanted to keep and protect icons. The first iconoclastic period (730-787) was started by Emperor Leo III the Isaurian and ended with his grandson Leo IV and they tried to persecute icon venerators and destroy icons. “Leo the Isaurian forbade the use of icons of Jesus, Mary, the saints, angels and commanded their destruction,” (E,2008) this was the first major act against icon defenders. John of Damascus and along with other defenders of icons protested with the evidence of ancient Christian practice of distinction between adoration and veneration. “Adoration is due to god alone, and veneration is due to holy people, places, images and things according to both Old and New testament precedents” (E,2008). The iconoclastic period was a time when icons were destroyed and the defenders were prosecuted but resistance was still