Iconoclasm

Its Meaning for Byzantium and its Consequences on the West

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to give a realistic estimation of byzantinic iconoclasm. Iconoclasm is primarily a theological conflict that has its roots in the first centuries of christianity. Lack of sources renders the research of causes that in the 8th century lead to the outbreak of the conflict. Neither the East Provinces origin of the emperor Leon, nor the Arabs, the Jews or monophisits were to blame, but a theologically well based, in the old christianity tradition rooted relation of the emperor towards sacred images. In the second part of the paper the author deals with the reaction of popes on iconoclasm, with a conclusion that, contrary to some sources and secondary literature, various antibyzantinic precautions in Italy cannot be connected with iconoclasm.