Iconoclasm refers to the destruction of pictures or hostility towards visual representations normally. A lot of specifically, the world is employed for the unorthodox disputation that cask the geographical area for quite a hundred years.

Open hostility toward spiritual representations began in 726 once Emperor Vicar of Christ publically took a grip against icons; this resulted in their removal from churches and their destruction. There had been several previous system of rules disputes over visual representations, their system of rules foundations and legitimacy. However, none of those caused the tremendous social, political and cultural upheaval of the unorthodox conflict.

Iconoclasm is the social belief in the importance of the destruction of icons and other images or monuments, most frequently for religious or political reasons. The term does not generally encompass the specific destruction of image of a ruler after his death or overthrow.

The original theological basis for iconoclasm was fairly weak. Arguments relied mostly on the old testament prohibition. But it was clear that this prohibition was not absolute since god also instructs how to make three dimensional representations of the cherubim for the ARK of the covenant, which is also quoted in the Qld Testament, just a couple of chapters after the passage that prohibits image.

The first phase of iconoclasm ended in 787, when the Seventh Ecumenical Council of bishops met in Nicaea. This council affirmed the view of the iconophiles, ordering all right-believing (orthodox) Christians to respect holy icons, prohibiting at the same time their adoration as idolatry. Emperor Leo V initiated a second period of iconoclasm in 814, but in 843, Empress Theodora proclaimed the restoration of icons and affirmed the decisions of the Seventh Ecumenical council. This event is still celebrated in the Orthodox Church as the “Feast of Orthodoxy.”