read many passages of the fathers in favor
of the relative honor due to holy images. After which, all cried
out, they were sons of obedience, who placed their glory in
following the tradition of their holy mother the church; and they
pronounced many anathemas against all image-breakers, that is, those
who do not honor holy images, or those who call them Idols. In the
end they add a confession of filth, in which they declare, that they
honor the mother of God, who is above all the heavenly powers: then
the angels, apostles, prophets, martyrs, doctors, and all the
saints; as also their pictures: for though the angels are
incorporeal, they have appeared like men. This profession of faith
was subscribed by the pope's legates, St. Turasius, the legates of
the three other patriarchs, and three hundred and one bishops
present, besides a great many priests and deacons, deputies of
absent bishops, and by one hundred and thirty abbots. In the fifth
session were read many passages of fathers falsified and corrupted
by the Iconoclasts, as was clearly shown. The archpriest, the pope's
legate, demanded that an image should be then set up in the midst of
the assembly, and honored by all, which was done; and that the books
written against holy images night be condemned and burned, which the
council also ratified. In the sixth session the sham council of the
Iconoclasts under Copronymus was condemned and refuted as to every
article: as first, that it falsely styled itself a _general_
council; for it was not received but anathematized by the other
bishops of the church. Secondly, because the pope of Rome had no
ways concurred to it, neither by himself nor by his legates, nor by
a circular letter, according to the custom of councils: nor had the
western bishops assisted at it. Thirdly, there had not been obtained
any consent of the patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem,
nor of the bishops of their respective districts. These are
conditions necessary to a general council, which were all wanting to
that sham synod. The council goes on refuting it, because it accused
the church of idolatry; which is giving the lie to Christ, whose
kingdom, according to scripture, is everlasting, and whose power
over hell can never be wrested from him. To accuse the whole church
is to do fill injury to Christ. T