Icons and Church Fathers

[Cruxis117]

If this is in the wrong place, I apologized. I assumed that since Icons are very prevalent in Orthodoxy, they would be similarly present in Eastern Catholicism.

Where can I find some Early Church Father quotes on Icons and Iconography?

 

[ConstantineTG]

On what specific topic about icons? The Seventh Ecumenical Council has very specific and authoritative pronouncements on why we have icons.

 

[Rainaldo]

If this is in the wrong place, I apologized. I assumed that since Icons are very prevalent in Orthodoxy, they would be similarly present in Eastern Catholicism.

Where can I find some Early Church Father quotes on Icons and Iconography?

fordham.edu/halsall/basis/johndamascus-images.asp

 

[Cruxis117]

Any type. I’ve heard from a Protestant that ECFs condemned icons/images before the 7th century, so I’m curious. I know that the ECFs do not instantly create anything as doctrine, and I trust the Church. I just want to see some quotes from the ECFs.

 

[lssanjose]

Any type. I’ve heard from a Protestant that ECFs condemned icons/images before the 7th century, so I’m curious. I know that the ECFs do not instantly create anything as doctrine, and I trust the Church. I just want to see some quotes from the ECFs.

I think it was St. Cyril of Jerusalem who staunchly defended the use of icons,.

 

[Cavaradossi]

I think it was St. Cyril of Jerusalem who staunchly defended the use of icons,.

Surely you are thinking of St. John of Damascus. St. Cyril of Jerusalem lived several centuries before the first iconoclasm.

 

[lssanjose]

Surely you are thinking of St. John of Damascus. St. Cyril of Jerusalem lived several centuries before the first iconoclasm.

Thanks, for the clarification

 

[Rainaldo]

Surely you are thinking of St. John of Damascus. St. Cyril of Jerusalem lived several centuries before the first iconoclasm.

Didn’t I just … oh, nevermind …

 

[Jeffgo]

This is a reason why you should always ask for a quote, or at least the name of a document or a citation, when someone claims, “The early Church fathers said this…”, especially when their claim goes contrary to what the early Church actually practiced. Given the prevalence of icons in the early Church, (check, for example, the catacombs, or St. Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai), you can see how dubious this claim is.

Icons are very, VERY common in Eastern Catholic Churches, at least those of the Byzantine tradition (I’m not terribly familiar with the other Eastern Rites, although I know that the Copts are quite fond of them as well). It’s also not at all uncommon to see an icon or two in a Roman Rite church (most commonly, either Our Mother of Perpetual Help or the San Damiano Crucifix).