Theodore the Studite
Abbot of the Studion monastery who defended the veneration of icons during the renewed iconoclast campaign and shaped Byzantine monastic discipline.
Historical context
Theodore lived through the second phase of iconoclasm. His public icon procession in 815 belongs to this later phase, after Nicaea II and before the 843 restoration.
Key points
- Icon defense joins Christology to the possibility of depicting the incarnate Lord.
- His letters and catecheses also address common monastic life and obedience.
Scripture
- John 1:14 — The Word's real incarnation underlies the defense of Christ's image.
Primary sources
Theodore writes to Naucratius:
Theodore distinguishes an icon from its archetype in nature while relating them by likeness.
an icon and its archetype are not the same in nature, but they are the same in similitude.
Passage context and translation
Theodore distinguishes an image from its archetype in nature while defending a relation of likeness. The passage therefore does not identify painted material with Christ's substance.
Before the excerpt
If, therefore, one says he venerates the icon of Christ as Christ himself, in the sense of similitude, he is sound in mind
After the excerpt
For if both were identified in substance they would differ in every way, I mean in the case of man-made icons.