What is the purpose of an icon in Byzantine Christianity?

Related questions

1. Are Byzantium and Constantinople the same?
2. What is another name for Byzantine?
3. What is Byzantium called now?
4. Who led the 4th crusade?
5. Which was a major difference between the Roman and Byzantine empires?
6. Why is it called Byzantine?
7. Why did the Byzantine Empire fall?
8. What is the purpose of Byzantine art?
9. Are Byzantines Romans?
10. What were some differences between Byzantine Christianity and Roman Catholic Christianity?

Tags

1. #their
2. #breaking
3. #impulse
4. #ancient
5. #obliterated
6. #historical
7. #during
8. #recurring
9. #revolution
10. #break
11. #successors
12. #pharaohs
13. #egypt
14. #means
15. #images
16. #visages
17. #political
18. #reasons
19. #literally
20. #kings
21. #religious
22. #french
23. #refers
24. #iconoclasm
25. #carved
26. #example
27. #image
28. #destroy
29. #defaced