754: Should Worshipping Images Be Allowed?

Synod of 754 During the eight century, there is a lot of controversy about worshipping of images. There are two sides of this argument those who support the worshipping of images that are commonly referred to as iconophile or iconodule, and those who do not support the worshipping of images. In the Synod of 754, Leo III, who was a Byzantine emperor, and his son Constantine V, who was the current ruler of the Byzantine emperor at this time, called a church council to ban the worshipping of images, which is often mentioned as iconoclasm or iconoclast. This council, which was held in Constantinople, consisted of three hundred and thirty-eight bishops. In this paper, I will be revealing these three important beliefs that prove that worshipping images should be forbidden: the council believed that the by worshipping these

The only image that the council believes to be acceptable to worship is the lord’s supper. The council states, “The only admissible figure of the humanity of Christ, however, is bread and wine in the Holy Supper. This and no other form, this and no other type, has he chosen to represent his incarnation. Bread he ordered to be brought, but not a representation of the human form, so the idolatry might not rise” (67). This is the only icon that is considered to be acceptable to worship. Like I mentioned earlier, all other images besides the Lord’s Supper should be banned or not allowed. The council states, “The evil custom of assigning names to the images does not come down from Christ and the Apostles and the holy Fathers; nor have these left behind them any prayer by which an image should be hallowed or made anything else than ordinary matter” (67). None of the images that church members worship come from Christ or even Christ’s apostles. There are unholy images that were made or created by unholy