March 25, 815 - Theodore the Studite Marches on Constantinople

Pope Leo III was the first to crown a monarch when he crowned Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor. He stated that the church no longer needed to use the icons and former saints and outlawed them. However, the Eastern Church disagreed with this and, in an act of defiance, Theodore the Studite marched into Constantinople on March 25, 815. As part of this march, Theodore and his fellow monks marched with icons on poles tall enough to be seen over the city walls. Pictured is the icon of Theodore the Studite.