Iconoclasm Of The Byzantine Church

Christianity experienced notable change during the Byzantine Era as a result of the fact that new ideas were introduced into the religion and because more and more cultural values from across the world started to pervade it. The religion was very different in Byzantium from how it was in the West principally because a series of Eastern ideas were adopted by Christian leaders. Christianity experienced a different development in the East when compared to the evolution that it experienced in the West. In the centuries lasting between the beginning of the Eastern half of the Roman Empire and the end of a small medieval state Christianity has practically been bombarded with Eastern ideas and with ideas that generally differed from the ones promoted in the West, eventually making it possible for "a distinct system of religious practice and devotion" (Krueger, 1) to emerge.

Post 1 - When Emperor Alexius I Comnenus was in power in 1095, Pope Urban II called together the Council of Clermont in France so that there would more help with defense against the Byzantines. He also called the military to go and take the Holy Land from the Turks.

The Byzantine Empire, seen as a direct continuation of the Roman Empire, lasted approximately from 500-1450 CE. This empire proved to be a valuable city for both the Greeks as well as the Romans. Throughout history, the Aegean Sea, the Bosphorus Strait, and Constantinople all impacted Roman history through constant trade and achievements. Other than trade, perfecting the oil industry, and the construction of aqueducts, conduits, and tunnels was other main achievements.

The Byzantine Empire and the Roman Catholic Western Europe during the Middle Ages were very similar and different. Both, shared three main things in common and three main things that were different, separating them from each other.

The Byzantine Empire and Western Europe originally were part of the Roman Empire, but by the middle Ages(medieval times), they were very different, even though they did share some common traits, but by the 300's, the Byzantine Empire had far surpassed Western Europe in trade and economics and political unity, while both empires were having arguments over religion.

Virgin and Child (Vladimir Virgin) is a medieval Byzantine icon. This icon is dated from the late 11th century and the early 12thcentury. This work is about a virgin and child, the Virgin being St. Mary and the child being Jesus Christ. Unlike other icons of the Virgin and Child, this icon shows a more personalized and compassionate image of the Virgin. Here St. Mary the virgin is shown to be tender even in the way she is holding the child. The iconographer is unknown. However, the icon was painted in Constantinople by a Hellenic iconographer. The Vladimir Virgin is the most eminent middle Byzantine icon that was produced in Russia.

The Byzantine Empire modern day Turkey was an empire that was based on its own culture coming out of the Roman Empire. It was a strong Empire that came out of the Roman Empire along with Islam and Europe, each where apart of the Roman Empire, and each survived the fall of the Roman Empire: “By 750 three distinct and nearly separate civilizations- Byzantine, European, and Islamic- crystallized in and around the territory of the old Roman Empire.” . The Byzantine Empire was considered a small country at the time, but even so it was also considered tough. As a result of Byzantine being a part of the Roman Empire before the collapse of the Roman Empire, they represent a break from the old

Often referred to as Iconoclasm; the act of rejecting, destroying or disowning of religious icons and idols has been a niche human theme throughout history. From the era of the Byzantine Empire, to the German Protestants, Christian iconoclasm seems to spring up in nearly every time period. That being said, instances of the rejection of idols and icons is presented by two rather eloquent texts: The Gothic Idol: ideology and image-making in medieval art by Michael Camille, as well as, The Idol in the Age of Art by Suzanne Preston Blier. The first text mentions idols of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, while the second focuses on idols of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In addition, the iconoclastic movement among German Protestants occurred during the sixteenth century.

The Arch of Constantine is located along the Via Triumphalis in Rome, situated between both the Colosseum and the Temple of Venus and Roma. Along the width of the arch, there are three arches with partially engaged Corinthian columns. The arch is about 20 meters high, 25 meters wide, and 7 meters deep. At the central opening, it is almost 12 meters high, with identical inscribed marble panels above, one on each side, that read:

Following the decline of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, a new empire rose up in the ashes. This new empire, the Byzantine Empire, was a culmination of Western Roman cultures and tradition, yet, it also contains many distinctive features. Originating from the same empire, the two empires display similar cultural roots.

Byzantine Mosaics and San Marco Basilica Intro Mosaics have been present in Italy dating back to the Romans. They were originally used in palaces, temples, and other monumental structures as a way of decoration and paving of surfaces such as walls, ceilings, and floors, however they can also serve as pictorial art. Mosaics are pictures formed by marble, stones, and vitric tesserae of various colors, placed on a layer of stucco, putty or other durable building material.

During the Ottoman occupation of Greece there were many aspects of life that changed due to the new ruling power, but one aspect that strived to be unchangeable was the Greek Orthodox Church. With an occupation that spanned nearly 500 years and encompassed periods of great industrial and agricultural growth, it is clear Greece must have gone through changes. The Greek Orthodox Church was extremely resistant to change during the Ottoman rule due to its people’s belief that Greek identity lay within their faith, and conservation of their faith in the form of the Greek Orthodox Church was of the utmost importance. The Greek Orthodox Church was resistant to change under Ottoman rule despite its privileges due to the want to preserve Greek heritage, the peripheral support of Russia, and the hope to someday be free from Ottoman rule. Though the Greek Orthodox Church proclaimed to protect its followers, it was full of corruption and their favor was easily swayed by Mohammad II due to their hatred of the Catholics.

Early Christian and Byzantine art started after Jesusí death in the first century ranging and ending to the fourth century AD. The art produced during this period was secretive because Christianity was not a formal religion but as a cult; the Romans and rest of Europe persecuted Christians so the artist disguised their work with symbols and hints of Christian aspects. Christianity was the first cult to not involve rituals of sacrifice of animals and refused to worship an Emperor causing the Roman Empire to make Christianity illegal. Byzantine art excelled in the Justinian period in the east during 520-540 AD. The art was produced in Ravenna, Byzantine, Venice, Sicily, Greece, and Russia. The

Today we have encountered numerous situations of iconoclasm. Iconoclasm means “icon-breaking,” which includes the religious as well as the political destruction of images or monuments usually, not always, by those of another group. There are many examples in the past and even recently that prove that iconoclasm still exists today. Thus, iconoclasm is the destruction of icons and sometimes it is believed that it is done because of the difference between religious beliefs.

What is iconoclasm? Iconoclasm can be defined: the destruction of visual representations of religion. The word is Greek for “image smashing.” More specifically meaning: the impulse to destroy images for political and religious purposes. This is due to the rejection of what the art piece represents. The controversy involving iconoclasm is the fear that people will worship the image represented instead of the object it represents. A reason for Iconoclasts (those who reject images) to follow iconoclasm comes from the second of the Ten Commandments, which discusses not worshipping the image of an idol rather than the idol itself [idol meaning God] (Icons and Iconoclasm, Iconoclastic Controversies, The Ten-Commandments).