The Iconoclastic Movement occurred during the Byzantine Empire in the 8th and 9th centuries, and represented one of the most important political-religious conflicts against the veneration, contemplation or worship of icons and images of a religious nature. The conflicts took place during the empire of Leo III (717-741) and of Theophilus (829-842), his grandson.
The iconoclasts' main concern was political and religious, since they aimed to avoid the approximation between peoples who had other religions, to the detriment of the Catholic religion, and, in addition, they feared the power and economic and political influence of the Church, which increasingly expanded throughout the Byzantine Empire with the construction of monasteries, churches, temples.
From the Greek, the word Iconoclast arises from the union of the terms “eikon ” (image) and “klastein ” (break) which means “image breaker”, that is, iconoclasts oppose beliefs based on the images of Christ, Virgin Mary, saints, angels, religious leaders, among others.
Until the present day, it is possible to find iconoclasm in religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam.
Abstract
In the year 730, Emperor Leo III (717 to 741), the Isaurian, was the propeller of the iconoclastic movement, stating that individuals should worship only God, thus despising images.
Idolatry (and the creation of idols) was prohibited, which led to the destruction of various religious icons present in temples, churches and monasteries (images, frescoes, mosaics, paintings, etc.) and also the torture, persecution and exile of iconophiles. , that is, those who worship the statues and images of saints, angels and enlightened beings, for example, the monks.
Note that during the Constitution of the Byzantine Empire, the Catholic religion was predominant, however, the Byzantine Empire arises with the division of the Roman Empire in two:Eastern Roman Empire, with capital in Constantinople, and Western Roman Empire, with capital in Milan. The Christians of the East were those who were part of the Iconoclast Movement.
In addition to Leo III, his son Constantine V, in 754, propagated the destruction of images in the Byzantine Empire, thus promoting the iconoclastic cause that ended during the Council of Nicaea II, in the 9th century. So, in that event that took place in 787, again the worship and worship of images was released.
To complete your research, also read the articles:
- Byzantine Empire
- Byzantine Art
- What is Sacred Art?
- Council of Nicaea
- Eastern Schism
- Great Eastern Schism
- Orthodox Church