page_title: Timeline of Orthodoxy in Greece (717–1204)
section_title: Era of Byzantine Iconoclasm (717-842)
hierarchical_section_title: Timeline of Orthodoxy in Greece (717–1204) / Era of Byzantine Iconoclasm (717-842)
caption_attribution_description: VII Вселенский Собор. Миниатюра из Минология Василия II. 976–1025 гг. (Vat. gr. 1613. Fol. 108) // Second Council of Nicaea
context_page_description: This is a timeline of the presence of Orthodoxy in Greece. The history of Greece traditionally encompasses the study of the Greek people, the areas they ruled historically, as well as the territory now composing the modern state of Greece.
  Christianity was first brought to the geographical area corresponding to modern Greece by the Apostle Paul, although the church's apostolicity also rests upon St. Andrew who preached the gospel in Greece and suffered martyrdom in Patras, Titus, Paul's companion who preached the gospel in Crete where he became bishop, Philip who, according to the tradition, visited and preached in Athens, Luke the Evangelist who was martyred in Thebes, Lazarus of Bethany, Bishop of Kition in Cyprus, and John the Theologian who was exiled on the island of Patmos where he received the Revelation recorded in the last book of the New Testament. In addition, the Theotokos is regarded as having visited the Holy Mountain in 49 AD according to tradition. Thus Greece became the first European area to accept the gospel of Christ. Towards the end of the 2nd century the early apostolic bishoprics had developed into metropolitan sees in the most important cities.
context_section_description: 717-18 Accession of Leo III the Isaurian to the Byzantine throne; Second Arab siege of Constantinople.
  720 Martyrdom of Nicholas the New of Vounina, of Larissa.
  721 Caliph Yazid II banned Christian icons in his kingdom.
  c. 725 John of Damascus resigns his position as chief councilor (protosymboulos) at the court of Damascus, and becomes a monk and priest at the  Great Lavra of St. Sabbas the Sanctified; foundation of the Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos on Mount Ithome in Messenia, by iconophile monks (Greek: Ιερά Μονή Κοιμήσεως Θεοτόκου Βουλκάνου).
  726 Iconoclast Emperor Leo the Isaurian starts campaign against icons, the Iconoclastic controversy; Emperor Leo III (717–41) publishes his  Ecloga , designed to introduce Christian principle into law.
  726-730 John of Damascus wrote three works defending icons, the most important of which was Fountain of Knowledge in three parts, the most important of which was On The Orthodox Faith (De Fide Orthodoxa), a collected summary of the Greek Fathers on major Christian doctrines.
  727 The Byzantine themes of Greece rebelled against the iconoclast emperor Leo III and attempted to set up their own emperor, although Leo defeated them.
  730 Leo III deposed Patriarch Germanos I who refused to sanction the emperor's iconoclastic policy.
  731 Pope Gregory III of Rome called an Italian synod that condemned Iconoclasm as heretical.
  732-1850 Era of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
  732-33 Byzantine Emperor Leo III the Isaurian transfers Southern Italy (Sicily and Calabria), Greece, and the Aegean from the jurisdiction of the Pope to that of the Ecumenical Patriarch in response to Pope Gregory III of Rome's support of a revolt in Italy against iconoclasm, adding to the Patriarchate about 100 bishoprics; the Iconoclast emperors took away from the Patriarch of Antioch 24 episcopal sees of Byzantine Isauria, on the plea that he was a subject of the Arab caliphs; the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Constantinople became co-extensive with the limits of the Byzantine Empire.;
  734 Death of Peter the Athonite, commonly regarded as one of the first hermits of Mount Athos.
  739 Byzantine forces defeat a great Umayyad invasion of Asia Minor at Battle of Akroinon, renaming the city Nicopolis (Greek for "city of victory").
  746 Byzantine forces destroy the Muslim fleet and regain Cyprus from the Arabs.
  c. 750-950 Syrian Christians (both Monophysites and the Church of the East) transmitted to Muslims what was known of Greek pagan thought and whatever other knowledge was available in the Syrian language, also influencing the development of Sufism through their mysticism.
  751 Cosmas the Melodist, Bishop of Maiuma and foster brother of John of Damascus composed solemn canons in honour of the Nativity, Epiphany and Exaltation of the Holy Cross, fourteen of which are included in the liturgical books of the Orthodox Church.
  754 Iconoclastic Council (Council of Hieria) held in Constantinople under the authority of Emperor Constantine V Copronymus, condemning icons and declaring itself to be the Seventh Ecumenical Council; Constantine begins dissolution of the monasteries.
  766 Byzantine Emperor Constantine V also condemned relics and prayers to the Theotokos and to the Saints, extreme measures that even the Iconoclastic Council (Council of Hieria) had not adopted.
  767 Martyrdom of Stephen the Younger, Byzantine monk from Constantinople who became one of the leading opponents of the iconoclastic policies of Emperor Constantine V.
  769 A Roman synod approved the veneration of icons.
  c. 770-772 Byzantine general Michael Lachanodrakon, the strategos (military governor) of the Thracesian Theme and a fanatical supporter of Iconoclasm, dissolved the monasteries and eradicated monasticism within his theme.
  778-779 Byzantines defeat the Muslim Arabs at Germanikeia and expel them from Anatolia.
  c. 787 Greek Orthodox bishops were resident in Atil, the capital of Khazaria, and in Samkarsh, subject to the authority of the Metropolitan of Doros in Crimea.
  787 Seventh Ecumenical Council held in Nicaea, condemning iconocla
caption: Miniature showing the Second Council of Nicaea.
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