image breakers; or ICONOMACHI, image opposers, were names
given to those who rejected the use of images in churches, and, on
certain occasions, vented their zeal in destroying them. The great
opposition to images began under Bardanes, a Greek emperor, in the
beginning of the eighth century; and was revived again, a few years
after, under Leo, the Isaurian, who issued an edict against image
worship, which occasioned a civil war in the islands of the Archipelago,
and afterward in Italy; the Roman pontiffs and Greek councils
alternately supporting it. At length images were rejected by the Greek
church, which however retains pictures in churches, though her members
do not worship them; but the Latin church, more corrupt, not only
retained images, but made them the medium, if not the object, of their
worship, and are therefore _Iconoduli_, or _Iconolatræ_, image
worshippers.
given to those who rejected the use of images in churches, and, on
certain occasions, vented their zeal in destroying them. The great
opposition to images began under Bardanes, a Greek emperor, in the
beginning of the eighth century; and was revived again, a few years
after, under Leo, the Isaurian, who issued an edict against image
worship, which occasioned a civil war in the islands of the Archipelago,
and afterward in Italy; the Roman pontiffs and Greek councils
alternately supporting it. At length images were rejected by the Greek
church, which however retains pictures in churches, though her members
do not worship them; but the Latin church, more corrupt, not only
retained images, but made them the medium, if not the object, of their
worship, and are therefore _Iconoduli_, or _Iconolatræ_, image
worshippers.