I didn't fully answer your question about how iconography or images were used in the Western Church, but I'm thinking about including a developed response in Part 2 of this series.
In the east the concept of iconographic prototypes is still well understood and consciously followed by iconographers. The concept was formally codified after the 1st Iconoclastic crisis by the Second Council of Nicaea in 787. <-- CORRECT
However, one slight erratum:
The Second Council of Nicaea (843)²: <--- INCORRECT Emperor Constantine VI³ convened the Second Council of Nicaea. This council officially condemned iconoclasm and reinstated the veneration of icons within the Church as well as intercessory prayer to saints, with which veneration of icons was intimately connected. The council established guidelines for the creation and use of icons, attempting to strike a balance between honouring religious imagery and preventing idolatry.
Is it possible to fix the date ?
---
The Second Council of Nicea was in 787 AD but the final triumph of the veneration of icons was in 843 AD. In the Byzantine Liturgical Year, we commemorate the Fathers of Nicea II on the Sunday between Oct. 11 - 17. The First Sunday of the Great Fast - which was originally meant to honor all the Prophets - is now the commemoration of the triumph of the veneration of icons in 843 AD, known as the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the Sunday of the Triumph of the True Faith or simply Icon Sunday.
Excerpt from Ode 8 of Matins for the First Sunday of the Great Fast:
Keeping the laws of the Church that we have received from the Fathers, we write icons, and with our lips and heart and we venerate them as we cry aloud: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
The honour and veneration shown to the icon, is ascribed to the prototype it represents, following the divinely-inspired teachings, wherefore with faith we cry aloud to Christ: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Let us bless Father, Son, Holy Spirit, the Lord!
Her mind enlightened by the illumination of the divine Spirit, the honoured Empress, filled with the fruits of divine wisdom, and with love of the splendour of Christ’s Church, along with all the faithful, blesses Jesus, the God-Man.
Excerpts from Matins for the Sunday of the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council (787 AD):
In Tone 4, Glory…
O divinely inspired Fathers,* gathered together in the Seventh Council, pray unceasingly to the Holy Trinity* to save us from every heresy and condemnation* those who praise your holy gathering* that they may receive the kingdom of heaven.
Now…
Through the intercession of your holy Mother* and those of the Fathers assembled in the Seventh Council,* in Your goodness, O Lord,* strengthen Your Church and confirm the faith;* make us all inhabitants of the kingdom of heaven* when You come to earth to judge the whole creation.
Source: Royal Doors Liturgical Texts & Music
Hope this helps. A blessed Great Fast/Lent to you.
I never knew this about St John of Damascus. We owe much to him! By the way, I love the little white eyebrow hairs sticking out in each icon of him. Is that found in other icons of venerable male saints?
What a wonderful letter, full of impeccable logic too. I like this: "Do not despise matter, for it is not despicable. Nothing that God has made is. Only that which does not come from God is despicable — our own invention, the spontaneous decision to disregard the law of human nature, i.e., sin." I'm so grateful for his role in establishing the goodness of religious art.
As I always say, if St. John of Damascus and the other Saints who defended the veneration of icons did not speak up, there would be no Giotto, no Michelangelo, no Raphael or any of the great works of sacred and secular art because it would have been forbidden to portray Our Lord, Our Lady and the Saints .
These Saints risked their lives to pass on to us the Catholic Faith.
God grant through their intercession that we can do the same.
Excellent! Thank you. Looking forward to more.
I didn't fully answer your question about how iconography or images were used in the Western Church, but I'm thinking about including a developed response in Part 2 of this series.
This really iis the exact sort of thing I hoped would happen with this site, people asking questions, talking, developing ideas... I'm so chuffed.
I loved your article, Hilary.
As you noted here:
In the east the concept of iconographic prototypes is still well understood and consciously followed by iconographers. The concept was formally codified after the 1st Iconoclastic crisis by the Second Council of Nicaea in 787. <-- CORRECT
However, one slight erratum:
The Second Council of Nicaea (843)²: <--- INCORRECT Emperor Constantine VI³ convened the Second Council of Nicaea. This council officially condemned iconoclasm and reinstated the veneration of icons within the Church as well as intercessory prayer to saints, with which veneration of icons was intimately connected. The council established guidelines for the creation and use of icons, attempting to strike a balance between honouring religious imagery and preventing idolatry.
Is it possible to fix the date ?
---
The Second Council of Nicea was in 787 AD but the final triumph of the veneration of icons was in 843 AD. In the Byzantine Liturgical Year, we commemorate the Fathers of Nicea II on the Sunday between Oct. 11 - 17. The First Sunday of the Great Fast - which was originally meant to honor all the Prophets - is now the commemoration of the triumph of the veneration of icons in 843 AD, known as the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the Sunday of the Triumph of the True Faith or simply Icon Sunday.
Excerpt from Ode 8 of Matins for the First Sunday of the Great Fast:
Keeping the laws of the Church that we have received from the Fathers, we write icons, and with our lips and heart and we venerate them as we cry aloud: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Glory to You our God, glory to You.
The honour and veneration shown to the icon, is ascribed to the prototype it represents, following the divinely-inspired teachings, wherefore with faith we cry aloud to Christ: O all you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Let us bless Father, Son, Holy Spirit, the Lord!
Her mind enlightened by the illumination of the divine Spirit, the honoured Empress, filled with the fruits of divine wisdom, and with love of the splendour of Christ’s Church, along with all the faithful, blesses Jesus, the God-Man.
Excerpts from Matins for the Sunday of the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council (787 AD):
In Tone 4, Glory…
O divinely inspired Fathers,* gathered together in the Seventh Council, pray unceasingly to the Holy Trinity* to save us from every heresy and condemnation* those who praise your holy gathering* that they may receive the kingdom of heaven.
Now…
Through the intercession of your holy Mother* and those of the Fathers assembled in the Seventh Council,* in Your goodness, O Lord,* strengthen Your Church and confirm the faith;* make us all inhabitants of the kingdom of heaven* when You come to earth to judge the whole creation.
Source: Royal Doors Liturgical Texts & Music
Hope this helps. A blessed Great Fast/Lent to you.
Margaret
oh yes,. thanks. I don't know how I got the date wrong. I know fine well what it is. Must have been some copy-paste error.
And we'll get to the second Iconoclastic crisis and its resolution in the next thrilling episode. Stay tuned.
Thanks Hilary!
I never knew this about St John of Damascus. We owe much to him! By the way, I love the little white eyebrow hairs sticking out in each icon of him. Is that found in other icons of venerable male saints?
Here's a link to the whole letter. It's pretty cool. https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/study/module/john-of-damascus
What a wonderful letter, full of impeccable logic too. I like this: "Do not despise matter, for it is not despicable. Nothing that God has made is. Only that which does not come from God is despicable — our own invention, the spontaneous decision to disregard the law of human nature, i.e., sin." I'm so grateful for his role in establishing the goodness of religious art.
As I always say, if St. John of Damascus and the other Saints who defended the veneration of icons did not speak up, there would be no Giotto, no Michelangelo, no Raphael or any of the great works of sacred and secular art because it would have been forbidden to portray Our Lord, Our Lady and the Saints .
These Saints risked their lives to pass on to us the Catholic Faith.
God grant through their intercession that we can do the same.
Agree!!!!
Very enlightening. Thank you!