Discuss the origins and causes of the Iconoclastic policy of the Byzantine Emperor Leo III Isaurian and Constantine V. How did Iconoclasts enforce their policies within the Byzantine Empire? How did this policy cause a rift between the Byzantine Emperors and the Papacy at Rome who had heretofore depended on the emperors for support? What other points of contention led to the ultimate split between the Roman and Eastern Churches in 1054? Sample Essay Iconoclastic Policies in Byzantine Iconoclasm involves the destruction of images as well as extreme hostility to the followers. Iconoclastic policies originated during the ban of religious images in Byzantine by Emperor Leo III and his successors. The policies involved the destruction of religious images and the perpetuation of those who followed the religious images. The emperors also prohibited the use of the Old Testament as they were against religious teachings in the empire. The policy originated when the then Emperor of Byzantine Leo III made a stand against icons. Despite the presence of several theological foundations and learning the icons were destroyed as per the directives of the Emperor (Nichols 4). The move was aimed at including other religious acts such as the Jews and Muslims who had been overwhelmed by Christian icons everywhere in the empire. Emperor Constantine V also an iconoclast claimed the images were separating the relationship between man and god. Consequently the iconoclasm was so extreme that it led to a rift with the Papacy of Rome. St. John of Damascus and St. Theodore the Studite claimed the iconoclasts were confused. They claimed that the images of Christ were not representing nature and humans but were a representation of Jesus Christ who was the son of God (Cameron 1). The iconoclasts believed that the images were used as idols but the Papacy of Rome was adamant that they were just a representation of Jesus Christ and God leading to a wide rift between the Papacy of Rome and the Byzantine Emperors. Moreover the Great Schism led to the split of the Roman and Eastern Churches in 1054. The Great Schism write my paper was more of a practical conflict as it was a spiritual one. The eastern churches refused to practice the ceremony of communion and the split was further instigated when the pope a leader of Rome who ruled over the patriarchs as well as religious elders from the east. Consequently this led to the split of the Roman and Eastern Churches in 1054 (Cox 55). Works Cited Cameron Averil. Byzantine Christianity: A Very Brief History. SPCK 2017. Cox Anna M. THE GREAT SCHISM: The Great Divide of the West the East and Christianity. Intl J. Soc. Sci. Stud. 6 (2018): 55. Nichols Aidan. The art of God incarnate: Theology and image in Christian tradition. Wipf and Stock Publishers 2016.
