I find it fascinating that someone who identifies as Eastern Orthodox seems to be touting Iconoclastic ideas and denying the basic historic Christian and biblical teaching about who Christ is.
-CryptoLutheran
In my persuit to establish the truth in this matter, I have faithfully presented a historical and chronological account of icons and images from my fact finding mission. I have not even discussed matters touching on faith.
I also highlighted that the Church was comprised of the Assyrian Church, Oriental Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, who were the one Church, uncorrupted by Constantine's Christendom. We note that the western branch was only established in the 11th Century, out of the one Church and not the other way around. This means that out of the one Church the Western Rite branched outwards. This was called the Great Schism.
The evidence is presented that the early Eastern Church Fathers rejected icons and images and this is historical fact, because images and icons came in the 4th Century, where in
313 AD Christianity is legalized in the Roman Empire by Constantine and Licinius through the Edict of Milan. Elaborate churches are built under imperial patronage. Christianity becomes the arena for the elites of the Roman ruling class, that is the aristocrats.
As far as the biblical teachings about who Christ is, we need to make distinction between the time he was in the world, to that when he ascended up on high and was glorified as the King of kings, to be forever more our Crowned Monarch.
We could no longer look upon Jesus as a baby in a manger or Jesus suffering as a servant, rather the Revelation of Jesus himself details who he is for the last 2000 years.
Just believe what Jesus says about himself.....
12I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
13and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.
14The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.
15His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
16In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword.
His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. (Revelation 1:12-16)
These are the opening versus to the letter addressed to the 1st Century Apostolic Church!
Jesus clearly showed John how he wanted to be portrayed to his entire Church. That was 2000 years ago, so has he changed to a suffering servant?
Absolutely not!
So can we look upon Jesus any other way? Do we look at the lowest of the lowest in the world and portray Jesus in that light?
God forbid!
I mean, just consider his post resurrection titles for a second and please tell me if this means anything at all to you......
Jesus Christ,
who is the faithful witness,
and the first begotten of the dead, and
the prince of the kings of the earth.
The Rider on the White Horse
11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him
was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12His eyes
were as a flame of fire, and on his head
were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13And
he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14And the armies
which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15And
out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16And
he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16)