The Christological Foundations of the Doctrine of Sacred Icons According to John of Damascus

Overview

The significance of icons in our faith cannot be overstated. They are deeply rooted in the mystery of Christ's Incarnation and His Paschal events. As St. Paul reminds us, Jesus is the visible icon of the invisible God (cf. Col 1:15). This book, originally a doctoral thesis, brings out the arguments of John of Damascus, justifying the depictions and venerations of icons against the iconoclastic controversy, a significant chapter in Byzantine history, which is generally divided into two distinct phases: the first spanning 726-787 A.D. and the second occurring between 814-843. In response to the first phase of iconoclasm, John of Damascus stood as a leading voice in the defence of icon veneration.