CHRISTIAN COUNCILS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON ICONOCLAST MOVEMENTS

Abstract

In all religions, debates arise about the interpretation and application of certain principles of religion.Regardless of which religion, these issues are tried to be resolved in order to ensure integrity.The controversial issues faced by the Christian world were also discussed and solutions were sought in councils gathered by high-level clergy.Christian councils are the highest level of clergy who come together to discuss various issues and come to a decision, or to solve and discuss problems posed by church life.Issues of doctrinal significance or the Christian discipline are discussed in Christian councils.One of the issues discussed in these councils is icons. The word icon comes from the Greek verb “eiko”, which means to embellish, to liken.The icons were made exclusively for worship by Eastern Christians of the Orthodox Christian sect and are considered a sacred object.The holy people of Christianity and some events expressed in writing in religious books are given as paintings on icons.However, the fact that all kinds of paintings were strictly prohibited in the “Exodus” section of the holy book made the icons controversial along with all visual religious artworks.As a result of these discussions, although icons were allowed for a period, a movement called iconoclast emerged in the Byzantine Empire from the 8th century to the mid-9th century.In our study, the approach of the councils to icons and their effects on iconoclast movements were examined.