Skip to content
Wellsprings
christian-ecclesiology-sacramentsfeatured in 6 works

Veneration of Icons

Honor given to the image passes to the one it depicts

The veneration of icons is the honoring of images of Christ and the saints, with the honor passing to the one they represent rather than terminating in the image itself. Defended by John of Damascus and affirmed at the Second Council of Nicaea, it became defining for Orthodox and Catholic practice. Iconoclasts opposed it, and much of the Reformed tradition later rejected it, so the traditions differ over the place of images in worship.

How it traveled

  1. Apology.
    — · 220
    challenges
  2. On Idolatry.
    — · 220
    challenges
  3. Selected Epistles of Gregory the Great
    Rome · 604
    explains
  4. The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice
    Nicaea · 787
    explains
  5. Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)
    Paris · 1274
    explains
  6. Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator
    Geneva · 1564
    challenges

Key passages(20)

The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice — Extracts from the Acts. Session I. — part 2↗explains

The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice · The Ecumenical Councils

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice — The Letter of the Synod to the Emperor and Empress. — part 2↗explains

The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice · The Ecumenical Councils

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice — Epitome of the Definition of the Iconoclastic Conciliabulum held in Constantinople, A.D. 754. — part 1↗challenges

The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice · The Ecumenical Councils

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
Apology., Chapter XII↗challenges

Apology. · Apologetic

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator — CHAPTER 11. - IMPIETY OF ATTRIBUTING A VISIBLE FORM TO GOD.—THE SETTING UP OF IDOLS A DEFECTION FROM THE TRUE GOD. — part 5↗challenges

Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
On Idolatry., Elucidations.↗challenges

On Idolatry. · Apologetic

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
Selected Epistles of Gregory the Great — Book IX. — To Serenus Bishop of Massilia (Marseilles).↗challenges

Selected Epistles of Gregory the Great · Pope Gregory the Great

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice — Epitome of the Definition of the Iconoclastic Conciliabulum held in Constantinople, A.D. 754. — part 3↗challenges

The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice · The Ecumenical Councils

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice — Examination of the Caroline Books. — Authorship of the Caroline Books.↗explains

The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice · The Ecumenical Councils

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice — Examination of the Caroline Books. — The Chief Cause of Trouble a Logomachy.↗explains

The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice · The Ecumenical Councils

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice — Extracts from the Acts. Session II. — part 1↗explains

The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice · The Ecumenical Councils

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice — Extracts from the Acts. Session III.↗explains

The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice · The Ecumenical Councils

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice — The Divine Sacra Sent by the Emperors Constantine and Irene to the Most Holy and Most Blessed Hadrian, Pope of Old Rome.↗explains

The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice · The Ecumenical Councils

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice — The Letter of the Synod to the Emperor and Empress. — part 1↗explains

The Seventh Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Nice · The Ecumenical Councils

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
Apology., Chapter XLI↗challenges

Apology. · Apologetic

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator — CHAPTER 11. - IMPIETY OF ATTRIBUTING A VISIBLE FORM TO GOD.—THE SETTING UP OF IDOLS A DEFECTION FROM THE TRUE GOD. — part 2↗challenges

Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator — CHAPTER 11. - IMPIETY OF ATTRIBUTING A VISIBLE FORM TO GOD.—THE SETTING UP OF IDOLS A DEFECTION FROM THE TRUE GOD. — part 4↗challenges

Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
Selected Epistles of Gregory the Great — Book XI. — To Serenus, Bishop of Massilia (Marseilles).↗explains

Selected Epistles of Gregory the Great · Pope Gregory the Great

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) — Question. 25 - OF THE ADORATION OF CHRIST (SIX ARTICLES) — part 4↗explains

Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas

Read in Sefaria →
Very high
Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) — Contra Gentes. (Against the Heathen.) — Part I — part 5↗challenges

Against the Heathen. (Contra Gentes.) · Athanasius of Alexandria

Read in Sefaria →
High