The Iconoclast Controversy: Conflict and Reform in Byzantine Christianity

In this episode of Controversies in Church History, we tackle the subject of iconoclasm in the Byzantine Empire. In the eighth and ninth centuries, Byzantine emperors waged a campaign against the veneration of sacred images, destroying them and persecuting their defenders. Despite this, the practice persisted, and eventually supporters of icons proved victorious and the veneration of images was enshrined in Orthodox and Catholic teaching. In this episode, we will look at the historical context of this important period, discussing the motivation for iconoclasm, the arguments on both sides, and why the eventual triumph of icon veneration is important for the history of Catholicism and Christianity in general.