Definition

Noun: * The worship of sacred images: The practice of venerating or offering religious devotion to icons, statues, or other sacred representations, especially within certain Christian traditions. This term is often used in theological discussions to contrast with iconoclasm (the rejection or destruction of such images).

Usage

• Iconolatry is a formal, academic term used primarily in historical, religious, and art-historical contexts. It describes a specific religious practice or doctrinal position.
• It is typically used as an uncountable noun (e.g., "the iconolatry of the period").

Examples

• The debate between iconoclasm and iconolatry shaped the religious art of the Byzantine Empire.
• Scholars study medieval iconolatry to understand the role of visual symbols in worship.
• Some sects condemned the practice as iconolatry, equating it with idolatry.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used in a broader, sometimes critical, secular sense to describe excessive admiration for a person or symbol, treating them with almost religious reverence.
  • Example: The critic accused the fashion industry of its iconolatry of celebrity designers.

Variants and Related Words

• Iconolater (noun): A person who worships or venerates icons.
• Iconodule (noun): A supporter of the use of religious images (a synonym for iconolater, often used in historical contexts).
• Iconoclasm (noun): The opposite practice; the rejection, criticism, or destruction of religious icons and monuments.

Synonyms

• Image-worship
• Icon veneration
• Idolatry (Note: is a stronger, almost always pejorative term implying the worship of a false god, whereas can be a neutral descriptor of a sanctioned practice within a faith.)

Antonyms

• Iconoclasm
• Aniconism (the avoidance of images)

Noun

1. the worship of sacred images