Veneration of Icons

Anathema to those who dare to say that the Catholic Church hath at any time sanctioned idols. Anathema to those who say that the making of images is a diabolical invention and not a tradition of our

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And as the hands and feet are moved in accordance with the directions of the mind, so likewise, we, having received the grace and strength of the Spirit, and having also the assistance and co-operatio

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Epitome of the Definition of the Iconoclastic Conciliabulum held in Constantinople, A.D. 754. In this epitome of the verbose definition of the council, I have followed for the most part Hefele. (Hist

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Chapter XII. But I pass from these remarks, for I know and I am going to show what your gods are not, by showing what they are. In reference, then, to these, I see only names of dead men of ancient t

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12. I am not, however, so superstitious as to think that all visible representations of every kind are unlawful. But as sculpture and painting are gifts of God, what I insist for is, that both shall b

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Elucidations. ———————————— I. (The Second Commandment, p. 64.) Tertullian’s teaching agrees with that of Clement of Alexandriafor, in the Scriptures we are informed that God himself commanded imag

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Epistle CV. To Serenus Bishop of Massilia (Marseilles). Gregory to Serenus, &c. That we have been so long in sending a letter to your Fraternity attribute not to sluggishness, but to press of busin

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[Then follows the prohibition of the making or teaching any other faith, and the penalties for disobedience. After this follow the acclamations.] The divine Kings Constantine and Leo said: Let the ho

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Examination of the Caroline Books. I. Authorship of the Caroline Books. I find that many writers on the subject of what they call “image worship,” speak frequently of these “Caroline Books,” and ref

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IV. The Chief Cause of Trouble a Logomachy. Now from all this one thing is abundantly clear, that the great point set forth with such learning and perspicuity by the Seventh Synod, to wit, the distin

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Extracts from the Acts. Session II. [The Papal Letters were presented by the Legates. First was read that to Constantine and Irene, but not in its entirety, if we may trust Anastasius the Librarian,

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Extracts from the Acts. Session III. (Labbe and Cossart, Concilia, Tom. VII., col. 188.) Constantine, the most holy bishop of Constantia in Cyprus, said: Since I, unworthy that I am, find that the

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The Divine “Divine” here, as usually in such connections, means “imperial.” Mendham (The Seventh General Council, the Second of Nicæa. London, s.d.) by a curious blunder takes the adjective for the

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The Letter of the Synod to the Emperor and Empress. (Labbe and Cossart, Concilia, Tom. VII., col. 577.) To our most religious and most serene princes, Constantine and Irene his mother. Tarasius, the

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Chapter XLI. You, therefore, are the sources of trouble in human affairs; on you lies the blame of public adversities, since you are ever attracting them—you by whom God is despised and images are wo

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3. It is true that the Lord occasionally manifested his presence by certain signs, so that he was said to be seen face to face; but all the signs he ever employed were in apt accordance with the schem

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9. After such a figment is formed, adoration forthwith ensues: for when once men imagined that they beheld God in images, they also worshipped him as being there. At length their eyes and minds becomi

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Epistle XIII. To Serenus, Bishop of Massilia (Marseilles) Other epistles to Serenus of Marseilles are VI. 52, IX. 105, XI. 58. In IX. 105 he had already been reproved for his inconsiderate zeal in b

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If, therefore, we speak of the cross itself on which Christ was crucified, it is to be venerated by us in both ways---namely, in one way in so far as it represents to us the figure of Christ extended

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§18. Heathen defence continued. (2) ‘The gods are worshipped for having invented the Arts of Life.’ But this is a human and natural, not a divine, achievement. And why, on this principle, are not all

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