Second Council of Nicaea
The council defended the place of holy images in Christian life, distinguishing honorable veneration given to icons from worship owed to God alone.
Historical context
Iconoclasm revived after 787; the restoration remembered in 843 followed a later phase. John of Damascus defended images before the council and was not a participant.
Key points
- The defense of icons is tied to the real incarnation of Christ.
- Read the definition alongside its distinction between veneration and worship.
- The council also issued disciplinary canons, including measures on monastic life and simony.
Scripture
- Colossians 1:15 — Christ is called the image of the invisible God.
- John 1:14 — The Word became flesh.
Primary sources
The council anathematizes the claim:
Nicaea II rejects treating sacred images as gods, marking a boundary between icon veneration and divine worship.
Anathema to those who say that Christians resort to the sacred images as to gods.
Passage context and translation
The council's definition distinguishes reverence given to an icon from worship reserved for the divine nature. A similar but differently worded sentence earlier on this page belongs to Basil of Ancyra's confession, not the council's definition.
Before the excerpt
Anathema to those who call the sacred images idols.
After the excerpt
Anathema to those who say that any other delivered us from idols except Christ our God.