Sunday of orthodoxy: a festive victory in the worship of icons

Sunday of orthodoxy: a festive victory in the worship of icons

Next Sunday, March 9, 2025, Orthodox Christians are committed to the important "Sunday of Orthodoxy". This festival falls on the first Sunday in Orthodox Lent and is a venerable memory of Nicea's 7th ecumenical Council, which took place in 787 and restored the worship. As kathpress.at , this festival is celebrated by spiritual and believing all orthodox churches, even if in recent years due to inner orthodox Conflicts of official meetings were missing.

The image dispute: historical background

The image dispute, a conflict between the Catholic Orthodox Church and the Byzantine imperial house, took from around 730 to 843 and asked whether the worship of icons was compatible with the Christian faith. Iconoclasts that were against the worship of pictures faced the icon modules, the defenders of the icons. The reasons for this dispute have not yet been conclusively clarified, but it is known that it was influenced by political power struggles and religious beliefs, as sciodoo.de . Emperor Leo III. 726 made an edict against the worship of pictures and thus led to massive conflicts that split society. Icons and works of art were destroyed in large numbers, while the picture friend Empress Irene ended the persecution 787 with the convening of the Council of Nicea.

The "Sunday of Orthodoxy" symbolizes the victory of the icon admirers over the iconoclasts. During the current celebrations, not only icons are presented in solemn processions, but also read parts of the Council certificate that explains that the honor that is given to an image is transferred to the archetype. The debates about the icons not only had religious, but also far -reaching political effects and are still of central importance for the Orthodox Church.