Council of Nicaea II

The Second Council of Nicaea, held in 787 AD, was an important gathering of Christian bishops to discuss the use of icons in worship. The council affirmed that depicting Jesus, Mary, and saints in religious art was permissible, countering a movement that opposed such practices. It aimed to resolve conflicts over icon veneration, emphasizing that icons could serve as important tools for teaching and devotion, not as objects of worship themselves. This council helped shape Christian practices surrounding art and spirituality in the centuries that followed, reinforcing the role of images in the faith.