Question

The Protestant concern about the role of religious imagery was in many cases outright hostile. Martin Luther spoke about destroying images. This destruction of religious imagery also occurred during the Byzantine period. Which of the following defines this act?

Answer 1

Answer:

The iconoclastic crisis constitutes one of the most fascinating historical processes of the Byzantine Empire. Iconoclasm is understood as the doctrine and attitude of those who reject the cult of sacred images, which was created in the 8th century byzantine. Today, the meaning of the term has been extended to conduct that fails any authority, model or norm without complying with religious images.

Explanation:

Iconoclasm was one of the deepest crises in the Byzantine Empire. The conflict over images affected Byzantine social life. In this context, the iconoclasm is not just a mere rejection, but the destruction of sacred representations as a religious policy adopted by Emperor Leo III. This emperor took the throne in 717 when he went to Constantinople against the current emperor Theodosius III.

The iconoclastic complaint was a conflict that affected the entire Byzantine society from the imperial policy of Leon III regarding the destruction of religious icons and the persecution of those who worshiped. It should be said that the Byzantine religious life had reached very high in liturgical and ceremonial formalities. The icons become a kind of "magic objects" with miraculous qualities, instead of certain mere representations for the worship of the only deity. Usually, in the year 730 an edict was promulgated and the icons were banned and feelings were destroyed.