The Icon of Holy Silence/Wisdom

Above: Icon of Christ "Holy Silence"

This post will be regarding the two images of Christ condemned by the Nikonian church and widely used by Old Believers, the icon of Holy Wisdom (София Премудрость Божия) and Holy Silence (Спас «Благое молчание»). 

The first we will discuss is the icon of Holy Wisdom.

The Icon of Holy Wisdom

This icon first appeared in Novgorod in the 15th century. Note that the angel is entirely red (To denote it as Holy Wisdom) and that Christ is present above it. This is very important to the canonicity and non-canonicity of the icon.

We can see that the empty throne (Sometimes used to symbolize the Father or the Holy Spirit) is present at the top of the icon. The Theotokos and St. John the Baptist stand flanking Holy Wisdom.

So, let's begin. This icon is alarming. When I used to see one, I crossed myself, prayed an Our Father, and closed the tab. I thought it a Gnostic icon, asserting a fourth hypostasis - Sophia, and Sophia not being the same as Jesus Christ. 

But is it Gnostic? Is it uncanonical? Maybe not. At the Quinsext council, we see a hint about this icon:

Quinsext Council Canon 82:

In certain reproductions of venerable images, the Forerunner is pictured pointing to the lamb with his finger. This representation was adopted as a symbol of grace. It was a hidden figure of that true Lamb who is Christ our God, shown to us according to the Law. Having thus welcomed these ancient figures and shadows as symbols of the truth transmitted to the Church, we prefer today grace and truth themselves, as a fulfilment of the Law. Therefore, in order to expose to the sight of all, at least with the help of painting, that which is perfect, we decree that henceforth Christ our God be represented in His human form, and not in the form of the ancient lamb. We understand this to be the elevation of the humility of God the Word, and we are led to remembering His life in the flesh, His passion, His saving death and, thus, deliverance which took place for the world.

So this seems like an issue, doesn't it? Christ must not be allowed to be showed in his "preincarnational form", or as Sophia, another name for Christ. 

However, according to Nicodemos the Hagiorite (Who is a Nikonian, but has good argumentation)

 Note that according to this Canon painters ought not to depict, either in the Cross of Christ or in any other holy icons the four animals alone which prefigured in the old law the four Evangelists, but, instead, greatly preferring the truth, let them depict the four Evangelists with respect to the human character.  I said the four animals alone because if the four Evangelists are painted with a human character, and together with them the animals which prefigured them are also depicted, this, it seems to me, would involve no sin.

This canon of the Sixth Ec. C. is mentioned also the the Seventh Ec. C. in its sixth act and in its fourth; and also by Adrian, in his first letter to Tarasius; and through the reading of this Canon Ellas, the Presbyter of the Church of the Blachernae, though formerly an iconoclast (or iconomach), was corrected (page 789 of the Collection of the Councils. See also in the Prolegomena of this same Council). That explains also why the Seventh Ec. C. (Letter to Alexandria, p. 905 of the second volume) says for the Mother of God to be painted rather as a girl (i.e., as a damsel), and not as an ark and a rod and candlestick and all the other things that used to be types of her. If, however, if with the Mother of God be depicted also the things that served to prefigure her, it would not, methinks, involve any sin .

So we can see, when we look carefully at the canons, painters may depict symbolic representations WITH what they symbolize. And Sophia is clearly a symbol, another name for Christ. So this icon is firmly canonical and venerable.

The Icon of Holy Silence

But look! You might say. The other icon we are discussing - that of Holy Silence - is a symbol, and doesn't have Christ. Therefore it is an uncanonical Russian innovation! 

But this icon isn't a symbol. It's a depiction, a different way of painting Christ our God.

Let's take a closer look.

If you can't read faded old Russian icon inscriptions, this says IC XC. It is stating that this is a depiction of Jesus Christ, not a symbol.

And take a look at the halo:

That is a cruciform halo. This is not a symbolic depiction, but a depiction of Christ. So why is He being depicted this way? Why as an angel? Why as Holy Silence.

It comes from a certain passage in St. John's Apocalypse.

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. (John 21:25).

So who kept St. John the Theologian in this Holy Silence? Christ. And we see a depiction of Holy Silence here, as well.

So painters realized the power of a depiction of Christ that emphasized peace and Holy Silence.

So why did Old Believers grow attached to this icon? And why did the Nikonian church condemn it?

The icon of Holy Silence, an Orthodox icon, grew close to the hearts of the Orthodox as it demonstrated silence - nonviolent suffering and martyrdom at the hands of the Nikonians. It also demonstrated silent prayer, something close to the monasteries of the north, like Solovetsky Monastery, who practiced hesychasm.

Above: St. Nikanor of Solovetsky, an Old Believer, undergoing martyrdom.

It was soon banned by Nikonians who saw how much Old Believers loved it. This only caused a greater attachment.

So these icons are Orthodox and venerable. Thanks for reading!