Retrieving "Icons" from the archives

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1. Orthodox Christianity

   Linked via "Icons"

   Icons and Veneration
   Icons—two-dimensional sacred images of Christ, the Mother of God, and the Saints—are central to Orthodox piety. They are not worshipped in themselves but are venerated as "windows into heaven," serving as physical focal points for prayer. The doctrine surrounding icons was definitively settled during the Second Council of Nicaea (787 CE). Historically, the visual style of iconography is strictly governed by typolo…

2. Palaiologan Dynasty

   Linked via "icons"

   The late Byzantine period was defined by intense theological debates, most notably concerning the Hesychasm controversy. This dispute centered on the nature of divine light and the physical methodology required to perceive it. The supporters of Gregory Palamas argued for a structured, repeatable process involving regulated breathing and staring fixedly at one’s own navel during prayer, whereas op…