Why was Iconoclasm revived?

Why was Iconoclasm revived?

1. Second iconoclasm lasted from 815-842 and was dominated by Leo V, Michael II and Theophilos

2. Leo V

   • Did not revive the ban on holy portraits immediately, but only in 815, after serious defeats by the Bulgars
     • He may have believed that military defeats were a manifestation of God's anger with the Byzantines for returning to the veneration of icons
   • Was known for, according to later authors, associating himself with the last emperor known for his military success, the arch-iconoclast Constantine V
     • Renamed his son Constantine
     • Coped his minting of coins

3. For the first time ever there was monastic opposition to an imperial iconoclast position, led by Theodore of Stoudios, whose letters to the pope argued strongly against Theodotos' appointment

4. Council met later in 815. Acts of the Council do not exist but arguments can be constructed by later refutations

   • We see a less dogmatic approach to the image question. Icons were no longer condemned as 'icons' but simply 'incorrect'

5. Emperor's stressed their want to purify the church of unwholesome practices that had crept in over the past few decades

   • Michael II's letters to the pope show that harmony was evidently more important than ideology. Church unity was the overriding concern

6. Theophilos was a more active persecutor of those who promoted veneration of icons

   • Began in 833 after Arab victories over Byzantium
     • Theodore and Theophanes punished
       • But Methodios - first punished for his promotion of images - was later recalled to Constantinople to advise the emperor
         • SOME PRO-IMAGE SENTIMENT WAS TOLERATED

7. Conclusions

   • The ban of images was not, as far as we can see, revisited for ideological reasons
     • emulation of strong leadership, long reigns and military success of Constantine V
       • Leo V's decision to return to earlier policies was grounded in his desire to associate himself with successful earlier emperors rather than any strong feelings about ecclesiastical policy
         • Only Theophilos had such strong feelings, and his patronage of Methodios shows that even these were intermittent

8. Final council on iconoclasm defined difference between idol, rejected the ideal the idea of 'real essence' and that images did not pretend to be identical with their subject