t is a horrid abomination to see in Christian temples a painted image either of Christ or of any saint.
Epiphanius, bishop of Salamis (c. 315-403 A.D.)
[Speaking of Gnostics] They also possess images, some of them painted, and others formed from different kinds of material; while
they maintain that a likeness of Christ was made by Pilate at that time when Jesus lived among them . . . They also have other modes of
honouring these images, after the same manner of the Gentiles.
Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons (latter part of 2nd century A.D.)
[Referring to a pagan writer] He says, also, that the ancient Romans, for more than a hundred and seventy years, worshipped the gods
without an image. "And if this custom," he says, "could have remained till now, the gods would have been more purely worshipped."
Augustine, bishop of Hippo (354-430 A.D.)
. . . as if there could be anything more wretched than mankind tyrannized over by the work of his own hands, since man, by
worshipping the works of his own hands, may more easily cease to be man, than the works of his hands can, through his worship of them, become gods.
Augustine
Nor need we judge the way this charlatan juggles with church assemblies, courting popularity and putting on a show to win the
admiration of simple souls, as he sits on the dais and lofty throne he has had constructed for him (how unlike a disciple of Christ!) or in the
secretum [a magistrate's private room, ed.], as he calls it, which he occupies in imitation of the rulers of this world.
Eusebius, bishop of Ceasarea (c. 263-c. 339)
Asking what place it was, and learning it to be a church, I went in to pray, and found there a curtain hanging on the doors of the said
church, dyed and embroidered. It bore an image of Christ or of one of the saints; I do not rightly remember whose the image was. Seeing this,
and being loth that an image of a man should be hung up in Christ's church contrary to the teaching of the Scriptures, I tore it asunder and
advised the custodians of the place to use it as a winding sheet for some poor person.
Epiphanius
And to these images they pray, with the same result as if one were to talk to the walls of his house.
Clement of Alexandria (c. 150-c.215 A.D.)
How then can they fail to be judged godless by all, who even by the divine Scriptures are accused of impiety? or how can they be
anything but miserable, who are thus openly convicted of worshipping dead things instead of the truth?
Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria (c. 297-373 A.D.)
Let nought that is worshipped be depicted on walls.
Council of Elvira (c. 305 A.D.)
And so that none of them could say, "It is not the image that I worship, but that which the images stand for," there was immediately
added, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the
Creator. Understand this clearly. They worship either the image or the creature.
Augustine
