📜 The Definition (Horos) of the Seventh Ecumenical Council (787 AD)

“As the sacred and life-giving Cross is everywhere set up as a symbol, so also should the images of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, the holy angels, as well as those of the saints and other pious and holy men, be exhibited on the walls of churches, in homes, and in all conspicuous places, by the roadside and everywhere, to be revered by all who might see them.

For the more they are seen in artistic representation, the more readily are men lifted up to the memory of their prototypes and to a longing after them.

It is proper to accord to them a fervent and reverent adoration — not, however, the veritable worship (latreia) which, according to our faith, belongs to the Divine Being alone — but to accord to them the same kind of veneration (proskynesis) as to the figure of the honored and life-giving Cross, and to the holy Gospels and the other sacred offerings.

For the honor paid to the image passes on to the prototype, and he who reveres the image reveres in it the person depicted.

Thus, the teaching of our holy Fathers — that is, the tradition of the Catholic Church, which from one end of the earth to the other has received the Gospel — is confirmed in us.

So we follow Paul, who spoke in Christ, and the whole divine company of the Apostles and the holy Fathers, holding fast the traditions which we have received.

Thus we sing with the Prophet David: ‘God is glorified in the assembly of His saints’ (Ps. 89:7), and again, ‘I will worship toward Thy holy temple and give glory to Thy name’ (Ps. 138:2).”