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Home , 720s, Council of Hieria, Iconoclasm, Leo V the Armenian

2/12/2012

Lecture 8 and Faith in the Iconoclast Era

HIST 302 Spring 2012

Emperor Leo III (r. 717-41) • originally from – Isaurian Dynasty • nickname “Saracen-minded” • strategos of Anatolian Theme – very competent general

Events leading up to

720s Movement by Syrian to eliminate 721 Umayyad Caliph Yazid II decrees that all figurative art in Christian churches and homes be destroyed 723 Leo III corresponds with ecclesiastical authorities ( and Patriarch) on Iconoclasm – Patriarch Germanus outright rejects idea – Pope Gregory II politely declines

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Events leading up to Iconoclasm

726 volcano on isle of Thera erupts – Leo III has list of iconophiles (-lovers) made – Leo also delivers sermons on the folly of icon

727 remove Christ icon over Palace bronze gate – infuriated crowd kills soldier on the spot

First Phase of Iconoclasm (730-87)

Jan 730 Leo promulgates Iconoclasm – Patriarch Germanus refuses • deposed and replaced – Papal legates thrown into prison • Theme of Hellas sets up a rival emperor and readies a fleet to attack – Leo puts down revolt • demonstrates unpopularity in

What is Iconoclasm

• A movement seeking to prohibit the veneration of an icon (εἰκών = image) – veneration of a religious relic or image AS the thing being worshipped – smacked of worshiping idols

• Differences from idol worship???

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Exodus 20:4-5

4 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them;…

Legal precedent for Iconoclasm

Council of Chalcedon (451) • which defined that, “in Christ the two natures, human and divine, are united without confusion and without separation

Constantine V (741-75) • greater military commander than father – wins several engagements against Muslim forces “High tide” of iconoclasm • excessively brutal – persecuted and tortured iconophiles • soldiers followed him faithfully – supported iconoclasm • placed heroes in public squares – favorite charioteer at the

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Council of Hieria (754)

Constantine V • outlines iconoclast position – tackled Christological issues head-on • summons 338 from around the Empire – all had a copy teaching how and why to rule – They all signed – lacked Papal and Patriarchal representation – had support of the Mobile Army (oath) 1. TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF ALL ICONS 2. EXCOMMUNICATION of Germanus and John of

Christological arguments for and against icons

Iconoclasts Iconophiles • denied possibility of any • justified portrayal by virtue representation of Christ by of incarnation reason of his divinity • savior in human form • connected icons with other • confirmation of the reality and the perfection of his incarnation • both human and divine Monophysite • 2 natures into one image

Arguments for Icons

St. John of Damascus (675-749) "it is not divine beauty which is given form and shape, but the human form which is rendered by the painter's brush. Therefore, if the Son of became man and appeared in man's nature, why should his image not be made?"

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Icons Destroyed Everywhere

• images replaced by: – ornamental decoration – animal and plant motifs – portraits of the Emperor – chariot racing • Attacks on the Cult of the Mother of God • Monasteries especially investigated

Hagia Eirene (Ἁγία Εἰρήνη) "Holy Peace

Rededicated by Constantine V "The apse of the with cross

Mosaic Carpet, Church of St. Stephen, 8th C Umm al-Rasas, ,

Philadelphia (detail), Church of St. Stephen Umm al-Rasas, Jordan

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coin of Constantine V on of his son as co-Emperor

Continued oppression of iconophiles

Const. V’s of those harboring icons – “Crusade against monasticism” – monasteries turned into barracks or baths • one zealous iconoclast general: – gave a choice between: • (breaking vow of celibacy) • or being blinded and banished • Stephen, of Mt. Auxentius monastery – dies a martyr’s death

St. Peter the Apostle Encaustic on panel 6th century Monastery of St. Catherine, Sinai,

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Icon of Virgin and Child St. Catherine’s #45

Khludov Psalter, Earliest Psalter in existence

Khludov Psalter, Moscow earliest Psalter in existence 169 folios: 7.5” x 6” created: monastery of St John the Studite in Constantinople Kept at Athos until 1847 then brought to Moscow

# 57

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Softening against Iconophilism

Leo IV (775-80) • no imperially sponsored active • mild punishment for offenders who were caught • his premature death brought his 10 year old son Constantine VI to • government guided by regent and queen Irene

Repeal of Iconoclasm • Empress Irene (780-97; 797-802) attempted to call a council to reintroduce icon reverence – Plans in 786 thwarted by soldiers in capital 7th Ecu. Council of (787) • Veneration of holy images was acceptable – John of Damascus: icons = salvation – veneration not of object, but person depicted on it • Eucharist (communion) was the only “true” representation of

The Return of Iconoclasm (813-42)

Leo V the Armenian (813-20) • military disasters in East and Danube 814 Iconoclasm reintroduced The Studios Monastery in an • instant resistance: 11th-century manuscript. – argued for icon use – imperial authority sought to control religious life

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Arguments for Icons

St. Theodore of Studios (759-826 ) "Man himself is created after the image and likeness of God; therefore there is something divine in the art of making images. . . As perfect man Christ not only can but must be represented and worshipped in images: let this be denied and Christ's economy of the salvation is virtually destroyed."

Last gasps of Iconoclast Rule

820 Leo V assassinated in the palace chapel on Christmas Day • Michael II half-heartedly continues iconomachy • Emperor Theophilus appoints John Grammarian to return to persecution of iconophiles – martyrdom for those who still worshiped • brothers had iconoclast verses inscribed on their foreheads with hot pokers – a rather enfeeble form of iconoclasm

“Triumph of Orthodoxy” (843)

• Theophilus died in 842 – iconoclasm ends • his mother Theodora regent (Michael III) • Deposition of John the Grammarian – Methodius installed Patriarch – Synodikon – Read aloud each year on the first Sunday after Lent • Creation of first new icon: – “Virgin and Child” in apse of • described as life-like • icon depicts a higher, unearthly reality • “noetic” (beyond human comprehension)

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Long-Term Effects of Iconoclasm

• Narrowing of political vision – more evidence that universal Empire absent • Collapse of the powerful position Byzantium had in Western – starts chain of events leading to and coronation of • Collapse of Roman ascendency in the East – rise of Patriarchate of Constantinople at expense of Emperor

Iconoclasm and Art History

• Greatly reduced volume of Early • Began to rely on neutral motifs – Trees, cranes, cows, peacocks – Scrolls of ivy • Accused by iconophiles as turning the house of God into “a fruit shop and an aviary” • Reverts back to 4th century style

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