Today the Memorial of the Seventh Ecumenical Council is celebrated
This Council was held in 787 in Nicaea, during the reign of the pious Irina and her son Constantine, and during the reign of Patriarch Tarasius. This Council finally established the icon-worship by explaining it with the Holy Scriptures, with the testimony of the Holy Fathers and with reliable examples of miracles performed by the Holy Icons. Among the other examples of miracles mentioned, Bishop Constantine of Cyprus mentioned the one that will be handed over here. A shepherd from the city of Constanta once saw the icon of the Most Holy Mother of God decorated with flowers by the orthodox as soon as he drove out the grazing flock. "Why give so much honor to a rock?" The shepherd (apparently brought up in iconoclasm) said to himself, then hit the icon with his iron stick and spoiled the right eye of the Mother of God. But as soon as he left that place, he stumbled and with that same stick stabbed himself in the right eye. When he returned to the city blindfolded, he cried and said that he had been punished by the Most Holy. This Council also decided to invest in the holy relics of the martyrs. 367 fathers participated in the Council. After their prayers, may God have mercy on us and save us. Amen.