And may Christ fill you with the joy of His resurrection, most holy flock of Christ, Christian people, chosen race, body of the Church, and make you worthy to walk in the footsteps of the saints, of the shepherds and teachers of the Church, leading you to enjoy His glory in the brightness of the saints. May you gain His glory for eternity, with the Uncreated Father, to whom be praise for ever. Amen.
Speaking on the distinction between images and idols, and defining what images are, it is time to give proofs in question, according to our promise.
TESTIMONY OF ANCIENT AND LEARNED FATHERS CONCERNING IMAGES.
St Denis, Bishop of Athens, from his letter to St John the Apostle and Evangelist.
Sensible images do indeed show forth invisible things.
The same, from his Homily on the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy.
The substances and orders to which we have already alluded with reverence, are spirits, and they are set forth in spiritual and immaterial array. We can see it when brought down to our medium, symbolised in various forms, by which we are led up to the mental contemplation of God and divine goodness. Spirits think of Him as spirits according to their nature, but we are led as far as may be by sensible images to the divine contemplation.
Commentary.-If, then, we are led by the medium of sensible images to divine contemplation, what unseemliness is there in making an image of Him Who was seen in the form, and habit, and nature of man for our sakes?
St Basil, from his Homily on the Forty Martyrs.
The fortunes of war are wont to supply matter both for orators and painters. Orators describe them in glowing language, painters depict them on their canvas, and both have led many on to deeds of fortitude. That which words are to the ear, that the silent picture points out for imitation.
The same, on the Thirty Chapters on the Holy Ghost to Amphilochios, 18th Answer.
The image of the king is also called the king, and there are not two kings. Neither power is broken, nor is glory divided. As we are ruled by one government and authority, so our homage is one, not many. Thus the honour given to the image is referred to the original. That which the image represents by imitation on earth, that the Son is by nature in Heaven.
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