A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

761in her, define with all certitude and accuracy, that just as thefigure of the precious and life-giving cross, so also the venerableand holy images, as well in painting and mosaic, as of other fitmaterials, should be set forth in the holy churches of God, andon the sacred vessels and on the vestments and on hangings andin tablets both in houses and by the wayside, to wit, the figure ofour Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, of our spotless lady, theTheotokos, of the venerable angels, of all saints, and of all piouspeople. For by so much the more frequently as they are seenin artistic representation, by so much the more readily are menlifted up to the memory of their prototypes, and to a longing afterthem; and to these should be given due salutation and honorablereverence [ἀσπασμὸν καὶ τιμητικὴν προσκύνησιν], not indeed [697]that true worship [τὴν ἀληθινὴν λατρείαν] which pertains aloneto the divine nature; but to these, as to the figure of the preciousand life-giving cross, and to the book of the Gospels and toother holy objects, incense and lights may be offered accordingto ancient pious custom. For the honor which is paid to theimage passes on to that which the image represents, and he whoshows reverence [προσκυνεῖ] to the image shows reverence tothe subject represented in it. For thus the teaching of our holyFathers, which is called the tradition of the Catholic Church,which from one end of the earth to the other hath received theGospel, is strengthened. Thus we follow Paul, who spake inChrist, and the whole divine Apostolic company and the holy Fathers,holding fast the traditions which we have received. So wesing prophetically the triumphal hymns of the Church: Rejoicegreatly, O daughter of Sion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem.Rejoice and be glad with all thy heart. The Lord hath taken awayfrom thee the oppression of thy adversaries; thou art redeemedfrom the hand of thy enemies: The Lord is a king in the midstof thee; thou shalt not see evil any more, and peace be unto theeforever.Those, therefore, who dare to think or teach otherwise, or as