Pilatus again questioned him, saying,
"Have you no answers? Look how much you are accused of."
But Yeshua still said nothing.
Pilatus was amazed.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth ;
like a lamb
that is led to slaughter,
and like a sheep
that before his shearers
is silent.
I don't think anyone today needs to be convinced of the lack of quiet or silence. But what about the power of quiet or silence? What about the inner strength of the silent suffering servant in Isaiah? Icons not only represent the contemplative artistic genius of the Eastern churches, they also convey a theology which is depthless, ageless and inexhaustible.
At first, icons may seem distant, awkward, stylized, even primitive. In truth, they are another language, the voice of a silent world. If you give them some time, I can promise you their graces will invade you, and you will love them.
Unlike so many images today which are violent beyond belief, or which attempt to seduce, control, or hypnotize you to consume something -- anything -- the icon appears as a rather shy, respectful friend who takes a long time to get to know, and who once known, will be with you forever.
This relationship with an icon is often described as that of a window or door to Heaven. Because of the extremely stylized form, you are allowed to imagine, to speak, to listen -- indeed a dialogue, even if it is only looking at one another, is the goal. Here one might ask is there anything more healing than the look of love or return of tenderness? Then what of the reception of the unconditional love of Heaven? The gaze of the Lord, the Mother of God, or one of our brothers and sisters, the saints?
The title of this icon is "Jesus Christ Redeemer Holy Silence." Icons of Holy Silence are found in Greece dating back to the 14th century, but interestingly, they seemed to begin appearing with more urgency in 19th century Russia- this itself is a clue to the importance of this icon, as a prayer for then and now.
Holy Silence ("Hagia Hesychia" in Greek) was commissioned by a friend of mine who found it to be a "picture of unconditional love." This was one of my earliest works, in fact, my sixth. Originally, I did not share my friend's enthusiasm for the image, however, I was drawn to the strangeness of the angelic figure. Gradually, over the month it took to "write" it (the tradition of` iconography insists you "write" an icon as it is sacred theology in visual form), I became aglow with the experience of spending time with Holy Silence.
The first thing to notice about Holy Silence, with a pleasant sense of shock and surprise, is that it pictures a female angel with the letters "IC XC" on either side of the top of the image announcing this is Jesus Christ. Although some icons of Holy Silence are more obviously male, this one appears to me clearly female. This is not unusual, since icons portraying angelic wisdom or "Hagia Sophia" are found dating back also to the 14th century. In the Hebrew Scriptures wisdom is more often female. And in the New Testament, "The Divine Wisdom" (I Cor. 1: 30), became an appellation given to the Son of God by Byzantine theologians.
Behind her lovely flowing hair, in the aureole or halo is an eight pointed star: six, points for the days of Creation, one for the day God rested, and the final point for the "Day of Eternity" to come.
The colors of red and blue signify the divine and human nature of Christ. The eighth point of the star is hidden, but artistically echoed in the 'V" shape of the thin deacon's stole which wraps round the shoulders and the chest. Perhaps the inclusion of the stole is signaling the deacon's vocation to preach the Gospel, but sometimes in silence too. This opens up for medititation another Scripture passage directly linked with this icon:
I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry out or shout or make his voice heard in the street. Isaiah 42
Christ's hands are folded just below the stole in a "winged" position of graceful repose in prayer. They also invite calm or silence which at first, may feel quite empty. This is why the icon becomes a companion, sitting with you in the waiting. Even the background, I noticed while I was painting, is a subtle falling from dark to light green. Then the wings repeat the same color going from light to dark. All this quiet harmony is very touching the more you gaze.
The Greek letters in the lower border say "Hagia Hesychia" (Holy Silence). One could go forever into the notion of Hesychastic prayer in the East, but I think this is enough for now to open the door to Holy Silence for you.
~Father William Hart McNichols
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