Research Catalog

Title

Images of the divine : the theology of icons at the Seventh Ecumenical Council / by Ambrosios Giakalis ; with a foreword by Henry Chadwick.

Author

Giakalis, Ambrosios.

Publication

Leiden ; New York : E.J. Brill, 1994.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Additional Authors

Chadwick, Henry, 1920-2008

Description

xv, 151 p.; 25 cm.

Summary

"This book examines the theology of icons in the eighth century, the most critical period in the evolution of the Eastern Church's teaching on images. The principal source is provided by the acta of the Seventh Ecumenical Council of 787." "The political circumstances which led to the outbreak of the controversy over icons are discussed in detail but the main emphasis is on the theological arguments and presuppositions of the participants in the council. Major themes include the nature of tradition, the relationship between image and reality and the place of christology." "Ultimately the argument over icons was about the accessibility of the divine. Icons were held by the iconophiles to communicate a deifying grace which raised the believer to participation in the life of God."--BOOK JACKET.

Series Statement

Studies in the history of Christian thought, 0081-8607 ; v. 54

Uniform Title

Studies in the history of Christian thought v. 54.

Subject

• Orthodox Eastern Church > Doctrines
• Council of Nicaea 787)
• 600-1500
• Icons > History of doctrines > Middle Ages, 600-1500
• Image (Theology) > History of doctrines > Middle Ages, 600-1500
• Iconoclasm

Note

• Revision of author's thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Cambridge, 1988.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. [139]-146) and indexes.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

Foreword / Henry Chadwick -- I. Introduction -- The Origins of the Iconoclast Controversy -- The Outbreak and Intensification of the Controversy -- The Seventh Ecumenical Council (787) -- The Western Reaction -- II. Icon and Tradition -- The Meaning of Tradition -- The Evidence of the Bible and the Fathers -- The Chief Patristic Witnesses -- The Evidence of the Councils -- The Evidence of Historical Antiquity -- The Evidence of Miracles -- Accusations of Heresy -- III. Icon as an Agent of Truth -- Education as a Cultural Ideal -- The Teaching Role of the Icon -- The Limitations of the Icon -- Iconoclast Reservations -- The Emotional Response to the Icon -- The Value of Matter -- IV. Icon and Reality -- The Deification of Matter -- A Hidden Origenism? -- Matter and Evil -- Iconophile Realism -- The Sanctifying Vision of the Real -- Two Contrasting Ontologies -- V. Icon and Christology -- Iconoclast Objections -- The Iconophile Case -- Prototype and Imitative Icon -- The Visibility of the Divine -- VI. Icon and Worship -- Imageless Prayer -- The Veneration of Images -- Man as the Priest of Creation -- Participation in the Uncreated Energies of God -- VII. The Significance of the Council -- A Christological Council -- The Iconoclast Position -- The Iconophile Response -- Two Different Christologies -- The Soteriological Aspect.

ISBN

9004099468

LCCN

^^^93031993^

OCLC

28709312

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library