14.
In this
paragraph, the element of Nestorianism (or modern Unitarianism) in Iconoclasm
is more clearly seen. Iconoclasm betrayed the Incarnation by allowing no place
to what, and forgetting about what?
Iconoclasm betrayed the Incarnation
in that it allowed no place for Christ's humanity or His Body. The heresy also
overlooked the fact that man is to be saved and transfigured in both soul and
body. St. John of Damascus addressed the issue of matter, which was so much of
a problem for the Iconoclasts, in his explanation that:
Of old, God the incorporeal and uncircumscribed was not depicted at all.
But now that God has appeared in the flesh and lived among men, I make an image
of the God Who can be seen. I do not worship matter, but I worship the Creator
of matter, Who for my sake became material and deigned
to dwell in matter, Who through matter affected my salvation. I do not cease
from worshiping the matter through which my salvation has been affected.
Orthodox
believe that salvation is definitely connected to
matter, for salvation is realized in the
hypostatic union of God and human flesh.
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