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Introduction
Although we associate icons with Eastern Christianity, many churches in Britain prior to the Reformation, and especially in the Anglo-Saxon era before the Conquest of 1066, were wall-to-wall, floor-to-roof, a patchwork of frescoes of saints, Biblical scenes, flowers and animals. Indeed, it was in the East that doubts about sacred art first arose.
WHEN St Augustine preached Christianity to King Ethelbert of Kent in 597, he carried a silver cross and a painted icon of Christ. A century later, icons were putting a human face to the spoken word up in Bede’s Northumbria, from church walls to the pages of the Lindisfarne Gospels.*
But in 730, Roman Emperor Leo III was faring badly against the Muslim caliph in Syria, and some among his counsellors put the blame on icons. Did not God always abandon the Kings of Israel when they made images and bowed down to them? Even as Bede sang unmolested before the icons in Ceolwulf’s Northumbria, in Leo’s Constantinople soldiers were raiding churches and private homes, tearing down icons and scrubbing away frescoes, punishing resistance with the sword.*
It was John of Damascus, a monk of the St Sabbas monastery near Jerusalem, who led the fightback.* John’s mastery of music, science and Scripture rivalled even Bede’s, and as Jerusalem was in Muslim hands, Leo could not touch him.
Bede’s own account of the coming of icons to Northumbria can be read in our post How Benedict Biscop brought Byzantium to Britain. The ‘Lindisfarne Gospels’ is an illuminated book of the Four Gospels in Latin, produced by Bede’s contemporary St Eadfrith during his tenure as Bishop of Lindisfarne (698-721). You can see many of the pages at the website of The British Library. In the 10th century, the Latin was supplemented with a translation into Old English between the lines, making this book the oldest surviving English translation of the Gospels.
For a remarkable story about just such a raid, see our post The Keeper of the Gate.
For more on St Bede’s contemporary and likeness in so many ways, see our post St John Damascene.
Précis
In the 8th century, the Roman Empire based in Constantinople suddenly banned sacred art in churches, in stark contrast to Britain, where it was flourishing following the Gregorian mission of 597. Emperor Leo’s chief critic was St John of Damascus, who (like the British) lived outside the Empire, and was able to campaign without fear of reprisals. (57 / 60 words)
In the 8th century, the Roman Empire based in Constantinople suddenly banned sacred art in churches, in stark contrast to Britain, where it was flourishing following the Gregorian mission of 597. Emperor Leo’s chief critic was St John of Damascus, who (like the British) lived outside the Empire, and was able to campaign without fear of reprisals.
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Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: because, besides, may, must, not, or, since, whether.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
How were icons threatening the Roman Empire, according to Leo’s advisers?
Suggestion
They were increasing the risk of invasion. (7 words)
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
People told Leo to ban religious images. They said Scripture does not allow them. They said God does not help Kingdoms which have them.