Icons, the cult images of the Eastern Church, have long enjoyed great popularity among us as well. They are revered by believers and collected by enthusiasts. Many icon painting courses are offered, and icons can be found in numerous Catholic and Protestant churches. However, little is known about the theological background of icon veneration. This volume publishes important texts in German translation for the first time, illuminating the understanding of icons in the Eastern Church. They show that icons are not merely images, but that the veneration of images is closely linked to the faith in salvation through Jesus Christ for Eastern Christians. Many of these texts date back to the 8th and 9th centuries, during the Iconoclast Controversy in the Byzantine Empire, which brought supporters and opponents of image veneration to the forefront. Extensive accompanying texts on the history of the iconoclast controversy, the theological content, and the significance of icons in Orthodoxy today make this volume not only a working book for academic teaching but also a handbook for anyone interested in and passionate about icons.