Council of Constantinople (A.D. 843)

The Council of Constantinople in A.D. 843 was an important church meeting that officially restored the veneration of icons—religious images—after a period of controversy known as iconoclasm. Previously, some believed icons were idols and should be destroyed, leading to destruction and division. The council affirmed that icons are legitimate and valuable for worship and teaching, emphasizing that they serve as windows to the divine. This event was crucial in unifying the Byzantine Empire’s church and guiding Christian practice regarding religious images, helping to preserve much of Eastern Orthodox tradition.