In the year 726 the Emperor Leondios III the Isaurian , the "roaring lion," issued his first edict against the veneration of Icons and their display in public places. In 730 he issued his second edict where he declared that it was unlawful to display Icons in the Churches. Any that were found had to be destroyed, and their locations had to be washed over. When Leondios died,his son Constantine Copronymous came to the throne. He carried on after his father, declaring that all who fought these edicts were to be anathemised. They were all supposedly against Jesus, and St John of Damascus came in for much abuse. He was a "favourer of Saracens" and a "traitorous worshipper of images." When Copronymous died his son Leo IV reigned for four and a half years.

It was then that Constantine VI became the new Emperor. He was only ten years old at the time so his mother Irene was left as regent until he became of age to rule.She directed the 7th Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 787 where it was declared that as the figure of the Holy Cross is venerated so too images of the Lord and the Virgin Mary were to be venerated likewise, but worship belongs to God alone.Thus the crisis was solved a few years after St John died.