These new views did not, as might be expected, find favour with the Catholic party, whose cause was taken up by Theodemir, abbot of Nimes, a friend of Claudius’, by Jonas of Orleans, and Dungal, an Irish priest.  But, as in the case of Felix, the heresiarch was more than a match for his opponents in argument.[6]

    [1] Fleury, xl. ii. 1, says he was an apostate.  See Mendham,
    Seventh General Council, Introd., pp. xii. xiv.

    [2] “Adorationem soli Deo debitam imaginibus impertire aut
    segnitiae est, si utcumque agitur, aut insaniae, vel potius
    infidelitatis, si pertinaciter defenditur.”—­III. c. 24.

“Imagines vero, omni cultura et adoratione seclusa, utrum in basilicis propter memoriam rerum gestarum sint, nullum fidei Catholicae afferre poterunt praeiudicium, quippe cum ad peragenda nostrae salutis mysteria nullum penitus officium habere noscantur.”—­III. c. 21.

    [3] Prescott.

    [4] Neander says 814, Herzog 820.

[5] Neander, v. 119.  The Spanish Christians were not free from the charge of adoring the cross, as we can see from the answer of the Khalif Abdallah (888) when advised to leave his brother’s body at Bobastro:  shall I, he said, leave my brother’s body to the mercy of those who ring bells and adore the cross.  Ibn Hayyan, apud Al Makk., ii. 446.

[6] Fleury, v. 398, confesses that the case of the image-worshippers rests mainly on tradition and the usage of the Church—­meaning that they can draw no support from the Bible.  He might have remembered Matt. xv. 7—­“Ye make void the Word of God because of your tradition.”

Claudius’ own defence has been lost, but we gather his views from his opponents’ quotation of them.

Briefly expressed, they are as follows:—­

(a.) Image-worship is really idol-worship: 

(b.) If images are to be adored, much more should those living beings be adored, whom the images represent.  But we are not permitted to adore God’s works, much less may we worship the work of men:[1]

(c.) The cross has no claim to be adored, because Jesus was fastened to it:  else must we adore other things with which Jesus was similarly connected; virgins, for example, for Christ was nine months in a virgin’s womb; mangers, asses, ships, thorns, for with all these Jesus was connected.  To adore the cross we have never been told, but to bear it,[2] that is to deny ourselves.  Those generally are the readiest to adore it, who are least ready to bear it either spiritually or physically.[3]

Claudius also had very independent views on the question of papal supremacy.[4] Being summoned before a council, with more wisdom than Felix, he refused to attend it, knowing that his cause would be prejudged, and contented himself with calling the proposed assembly a congregation of asses.  He died in 839 in secure possession of his see, and with his Iconoclastic belief unshaken.