The Synod of Hiereia (754): Genesis, Course and Fate of the “Seventh Council” in the Byzantine Tradition

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Autor/ Author: Wojciech Słomski  

In: Notitiæ historiæ ecclesiasticæ

ISSN: 1338-9572 (Print)

ISSN: 2730-0153 (Online)

Ročník/ Volume: 14

Číslo/ Issue: 2

Strany/ Page Range: 29-42

Rok vydania/ Publication Year: 2025

Jazyk/ Language: Slovak

Vydavateľ/ Publisher: VERBUM – vydavateľstvo Katolíckej univerzity v Ružomberku

Abstrakt/ Abstract:
This study offers a historical and theological analysis of the Synod of Hiereia (754), a key event in the first phase of Byzantine iconoclasm. Convened by Emperor Constantine V, the Synod proclaimed itself “holy and great” and issued the horos, a doctrinal decree condemning the veneration of icons on the basis of divine transcendence. The article examines the genesis, proceedings, and reception of this assembly within the Byzantine tradition. Drawing upon primary sources (PG, ACO, Mansi) and recent scholarship (Brubaker, Haldon, Carile, Hovorun, Zozulak), the author argues that Hiereia was not merely an impe-rial tool but a genuine theological experiment seeking to redefine faith through apophatic logic. The horos articulated a vision of the Incarnation that favours spiritual contemplation over visual representation. The conclusion emphasizes that Hiereia must be read as a witness to the ongoing dialectic between word and image, spirit and body, revelation and transcendence—tensions that continue to shape Christian thought to this day.
Extension: This study further highlights the methodological importance of Hiereia for understanding Byzantine political theology and the hermeneutics of power. In a comparative perspective, it reconsiders the relationship between word and image in Christian theology, interpreting Hiereia as a “laboratory of apophatic rationality.” The results contribute to a renewed appreciation of iconoclasm as a creative and reflective moment in the development of Byzantine spirituality.

Kľúčové slová/ Keywords: Hiereia; iconoclasm; Byzantine theology; horos; apophatic tradition; Christology; Second Council of Nicaea; Byzantine councils.

Citácia/ How to cite:

SŁOMSKI, Wojciech, 2025. Synoda v Hierei (754): genéza, priebeh a osud „siedmeho koncilu“ v byzantskej tradícii. Notitiæ historiæ ecclesiasticæ. Online. Roč. 14, č. 2, s. 29-42. ISSN 1338-9572 (Print). ISSN 2730-0153 (Online). Dostupné na:

Toto dielo je publikované pod/ This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.