Sunday of the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council

Today, we commemorate the 350 holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council led by Patriarch Tarasios. This Council, held in 787 at Nicea, rejected the Iconoclast heresy during the rule of Empress Irene and her son Constantine Porphyrogenitos. The Council affirmed that the veneration of Icons is not idolatry, as it is not directed towards the material but towards the person depicted. It also affirmed the permissibility of depicting Christ, who took on human form through the Incarnation. However, the eternal nature of the Father cannot be portrayed, as "no man has seen God at any time" (John 1:18).

Icons have been crucial in our prayer lives since the Council. In our Eastern Church, we have adopted the practice of having an Icon corner in our households, known as Domestic Churches. This corner serves as a focal point for daily prayer and symbolizes our commitment to the Christian life and heavenly kingdom. It typically contains the family Icon and is positioned in a special location, often facing east to align with the rising sun and Christ's Light. The prominent Icons are those of Christ and the Theotokos, sometimes accompanied by patron Saints of the parents and children. To honor the sacred presence of the depicted holy ones, a votive lamp or candle is usually kept burning before the Icon, particularly during prayer. The face of a genuine Icon is designed to reflect the light from the candle or lamp, reminding us of the person's reflection of the grace of the Holy Spirit within them.