Seventh Ecumenical Council

The Seventh Ecumenical Council, held in 787 AD in Nicea (modern-day İznik, Turkey), addressed the issue of iconoclasm, the controversy over the veneration of icons (religious images). It affirmed that icons are legitimate aids for worship, emphasizing their significance in Christian practice. The council declared that honoring icons is not the same as worshiping them, clarifying that worship is due only to God. This decision helped solidify Orthodox Christian beliefs about art and devotion, influencing church practices and theological discussions for centuries to come.