7th Ecumenical Council

The 7th Ecumenical Council, held in 787 AD, was a significant gathering of Christian leaders, primarily in Constantinople, to address disputes over the use of religious images, or icons. Some people believed icons were idol worship, while others saw them as important teaching tools. The council affirmed the use of icons in worship, emphasizing their role in inspiring devotion and teaching faith. It rejected iconoclasm (the destruction of icons), reinforcing the importance of visual symbols in Christian practice. This council helped solidify the theological and artistic tradition of revering icons in Eastern Orthodox Christianity.