Second Council of Nicaea

The Second Council of Nicaea, held in 787 AD, was an important gathering of Christian leaders in what is now Turkey. It addressed the controversy over the use of icons, or religious images, in worship. The council affirmed that icons could be venerated (honored) but not worshipped, distinguishing between honor given to the images and worship due only to God. This decision aimed to unify the church and counteract the rise of iconoclasm, which sought to destroy these images. The council's conclusions helped shape Christian practices regarding art and worship in the Eastern Orthodox Church.