Second Council of Nicaea

Definition

The Second Council of Nicaea, held in 787 CE, was the seventh ecumenical council of the Christian Church that addressed the issue of icon veneration and iconoclasm. It affirmed the legitimacy of icons in worship and established guidelines for their use, marking a significant turning point in the development of icon painting and veneration, particularly within the Byzantine tradition.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Second Council of Nicaea was convened by Empress Irene and involved over 300 bishops from across the Christian world.
2. The council explicitly endorsed the veneration of icons, declaring that icons represent Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints, and should be honored and respected.
3. One of the main outcomes was the rejection of iconoclasm as a heresy, affirming that destroying icons was contrary to Christian faith.
4. The council produced a series of canons (rules) detailing how icons should be treated and displayed in churches.
5. The decisions made at this council had a lasting impact on Orthodox Christianity and set the foundation for later developments in iconography and religious art.

Review Questions

• How did the Second Council of Nicaea address the issues surrounding iconoclasm?
  • The Second Council of Nicaea directly confronted the controversy over iconoclasm by affirming that icons were essential to Christian worship and should be venerated. The council declared that icons serve as visual representations of divine figures, thus rejecting the notion that their use constituted idolatry. By condemning iconoclasm as a heresy, the council established a clear stance that allowed for the continued development and veneration of icons within the Church.
• In what ways did the decisions made at the Second Council of Nicaea influence Byzantine art and culture?
  • The decisions made at the Second Council of Nicaea had a profound impact on Byzantine art and culture by legitimizing icon veneration. This led to an explosion in icon production and a more standardized approach to Byzantine iconography. Artists began to create works that adhered to specific religious themes and symbolism, enriching both spiritual life and cultural expression within the empire, ultimately shaping how religious stories were visually communicated to worshippers.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of the Second Council of Nicaea on Christian practices regarding religious images in both Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Christianity.
  • The Second Council of Nicaea established foundational principles for icon veneration that continued to influence Eastern Orthodoxy for centuries. Its affirmation of icons shaped worship practices, liturgical aesthetics, and theological understanding in Orthodox communities. In contrast, while Western Christianity initially accepted similar practices, it eventually moved towards a more nuanced stance on religious imagery, especially during events like the Reformation, which questioned many established traditions. This divergence highlights how differing interpretations stemming from this council have shaped distinct identities within Christianity over time.

Related terms

Iconoclasm:

The rejection or destruction of religious images or icons, often rooted in the belief that their veneration constitutes idolatry.

Byzantine Iconography: A style of religious art characterized by the use of specific themes, symbols, and visual language to convey spiritual truths, especially in icons.

Council of Constantinople: An earlier ecumenical council that addressed various theological issues but did not resolve the icon controversy, leading to the need for the Second Council of Nicaea.