Commemorated on October 11
The Seventh Ecumenical Council was held in 787 at Nicea during the reign of the devout Empress Irene and her son, Constantine, in the time of Patriarch Tarasius. This Council finally confirmed the veneration of icons, justifying it by Holy Scripture, by the witness of the Holy Fathers, and by the undeniable examples of miracles manifested through the holy icons.
Adding to examples of miracles previously cited, Bishop Constantine of Cyprus recounted this: One day a certain shepherd from the town of Constantia drove his flock to pasture, and there saw an icon of the Most-holy Theotokos, all decorated with flowers by the faithful. “Why render so much honor to a rock?” Said the shepherd, who had obviously been brought up in iconoclasm.
He struck the icon with his iron shepherd’s cane, and damaged the right eye of the image of the Mother of God. As soon as he turned away, he stumbled over that same cane and gouged out his own right eye. Thus injured, he returned to the city , crying out tearfully that the punishment of the Theotokos had befallen him.
The Council also decreed that the holy relics of martyrs be placed, without fail, it the Anitmension, which is the cloth placed on the Holy altar table, and upon which is celebrated the Divine Liturgy. Three hundred and sixty-seven Fathers participated in this Council. May the Lord also have mercy on us and save us by their prayers.
Troparion & Kontakion
Troparion β Tone 8
Most glorious are You, O Christ our God! / You have established the Holy Fathers as lights on the earth! / Through them you have guided us to the true faith! / O greatly Compassionate One, glory to You!
Kontakion β Tone 6
The Son who shone forth from the Father / was ineffably born, two-fold in nature, of a woman. / Having beheld Him, we do not deny the image of His form, / but depict it piously and revere it faithfully. / Thus, keeping the True Faith, / the Church venerates the icon of Christ Incarnate.