The iconoclast controversy on Crete

In 726 Emperor Leo III the Isaurian ordered that the icon of Christ be removed from the Chalke Gate to the imperial palace in Constantinople. This event marked the beginning of a bitter conflict within the empire, which became known as the Iconoclast Controversy. The conflict rapidly assumed political dimensions, since the western provinces adopted an "iconodule" stance in favour of icons, whereas those in the east espoused Leo's iconoclast views.

In the initial phase of the Iconoclast Controversy, the iconodule faction seems to have had the upper hand on Crete, just as in most other western provinces; forces on the island almost certainly participated in the uprising against Leo III in 727. Over the decades to follow, iconoclast emperors unleashed a wave of persecution against the iconodules. The best known Cretan to fall victim to such persecution was Andrew en Krisei, who was born at Kastro in the early 8^th century and martyred in Constantinople on 20^th October 767.