The Second General Council of Nicaea - Concludes
Reinstatement of Orthodoxy Regarding Veneration of Images, 787 A.D.
Jan 30, 2009
After the long ‘Reign of Terror’ begun by Leo III and continued by Constantine V and his son Leo IV, the widow of the Emperor Leo IV, Irene became the hero. So for this moment, this Council, she saved the day. But another time would come not many years later when she would become the villain.
The Long Road Home to Orthodoxy through a Royal Line
What was to ensue for the next 30 years constituted some of the greatest tragedies of the Catholic Faith. Persecution began and Churches, Relics, Religious Articles and even the bodies of saints were destroyed and thrown into the sea. It was called ‘The Reign of Terror,’ and indeed it was this. Leo III was succeeded in rule by Constantine V who was succeeded in rule by his son, Leo IV. It was only then, when Irene, Leo IV’s widow began to rule that the road back to orthodoxy began.
The Second General Council of Nicaea Wasn’t Meant to be Held There
Irene was orthodox and wished to stop the reign of terror and called the bishops to a new General Council. It was to be held at Constantinople, but they were raided by an army and driven away. But she was not to be dissuaded, one year later, the Second General Council of Nicaea was formed and Irene made sure that the current pope, Adrian I, Would preside.
Other controversies were handled during the Council, but the primary motives were to completely anathematize the ‘Council’ held by Leo III condemning the veneration of images. Pope Adrian made a strong case for the apostolic tradition all the way back to St. Peter, the first pope. He noted the figures of cherubim in ‘Holy of Holies’ and the serpent. He quoted long lines of authority from the Greek Fathers. It was decreed: “We define that as with the priceless, life-giving cross, so with the venerable and holy images, they may be set up in their various forms in the churches . . . The more often we look upon them, the more vividly are our minds turned to the memory of those whom they represent . . . to give to them, the images, an adoration of honour, but not, however, the true latria (worship), which, as our faith teaches, is to be given only to the divine nature . . . so that, like the holy cross, the gospels, and the relics of the saints, to these images offerings of incense and lights may be made, as was the pious custom of our ancestors.” The Church in Crisis: A History of the General Councils, 325 – 1870 – By Philip Hughes
In the final decrees the Latin word Honorariam Adorationem is given to the practice which means paying obeisance to or a gesture of great respect.
In the final decisions, it was declared that idolaters who were condemned in the Old Testament truly believed their idols were Gods, whereas in Catholic Tradition, the images were venerated in memory of events, people and places and were not worshipped as idols in such a manner, but rather, reminders of holy things which are good and true for every believer to remember.
The Second General Council of Nicaea - Prelude, 787 A.D. Part 1
The Fourth General Council of Constantinople, 680-81 A.D.
Sources: The Church in Crisis: A History of the General Councils, 325 – 1870 – By Philip Hughes, The General Councils: A History of the Twenty-One Church Councils from Nicaea to Vatican II – By Christopher M. Bellito, The Documents of Vatican II – By Walter M. Abbott, S.J. and the Very Reverend Monsignor Joseph Gallagher, A Short History of Christian Doctrine: From the First Century to the Present – By Bernard Lohse, The Reform of the Liturgy – Annibale Bugnini, www.catholicdigitalstudio.com/councils.htm
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