Baba’s Art School – 101: #24 - "A VISUAL DOOR INTO A SACRED SILENCE "

“You can’t begin too soon to encourage an appreciation of art! And each artwork has a story.”

A VISUAL DOOR INTO A SACRED SILENCE - by Paul G. Chandler

Baba showing his three grandchildren Coptic icons by Egyptian iconographer Magdy William

As I will soon be leading the first CARAVAN tour to Egypt, with 30 people from the USA going, I thought it was a good time to give my grandchildren a close-up experience of two Coptic icons, which reflect deeply on the spirituality of the historic Coptic Orthodox Church, Egypt’s indigenous Christian community, who are referred to as Copts. On the tour, we will be visiting St. Anthony’s Monastery, the oldest monastery in the world, founded by Anthony himself in the fourth century. The Coptic Orthodox Church constitutes 8-10% of Egypt’s population today. It traces its heritage back to the first century, and plays an important role in enabling different faith traditions in Egypt to coexist in harmony.

L to R:

St. Anthony the Great, Coptic icon (Magdy William)

St. Macarius the Great, Coptic icon (Magdy William)

These two icons depict Anthony the Great and Macarius the Great, Coptic monks from the third and fourth centuries who are revered as Coptic saints. These icons are written by Magdy William, who is considered one of the world’s premier Coptic iconographers. He is among the distinguished body of iconographers that studied under the late Dr. Isaac Fanous, the founder of the school of modern Coptic icon writing and the initiator of the modern renaissance in Coptic art. Magdy has been instrumental in beautifying numerous churches throughout Egypt and around the world, and has held solo exhibitions of his icons in the Middle East, Europe and Australia. His studio is located along the Nile in southern Cairo at the Coptic Orthodox Church of St. George. Those going on CARAVAN's tours to Egypt will have an opportunity of meeting him.

Coptic iconographer Magdy William in his studio on the Nile

CARAVAN held an exhibition in Cairo of his work in 2012 titled “The Eternal Eye.” Curated by CARAVAN board member Jessica Wright, the exhibition showcased 50 contemporary Coptic icons of his that we commissioned, with the objective of fostering greater understanding of this ancient spiritual tradition.

Coptic icons have ties to ancient Pharaonic and Hellenic visual culture, and subsequently even influenced Islamic art. They are distinguished by their naïve style, with clear lines and strong coloring. Illustrated in a serene style, this deliberate artistic technique has the goal of creating images that inspire deeper devotion. Each icon is infused with symbolic meaning. Copts do not worship these icons. Rather, the icons serve to remind the viewer of the spiritual person or event depicted. They are seen as tools to aid in connecting with the divine.

Coptic icons are written on wooden panels. Iconographers prepare the panels with gesso, a white background made of lime and glue. Multiple thin layers are applied to achieve a hard but porous surface that is then sanded. The iconographer then gilds it, and paints the image with tempera, a fast-drying paint medium of pigments mixed with egg yolk.  

Coptic iconography was at its peak during the 4th-7th centuries. However, by the second half of the 19th century, Coptic iconography had all but disappeared. Thanks to Dr. Isaac Fanous, the founder of the Neo-Coptic School of Iconography, a renaissance of Coptic iconography began in the 1950s and 1960s, and continues today through his students like Magdy William, who have likewise taught others, enabling this historic and beautiful art form to continue to thrive.

These two icons that I showed my grandchildren depict key figures in Egypt’s movement between the third and fifth centuries known as the Desert Fathers and Desert Mothers; Egyptian Christians who left their villages and moved to the desert in search of solitude. By entering into the Egyptian desert, they sought to participate in what they saw as divine silence. There they focused on prayer and self-discipline to cultivate a deeper connection with the Divine Creator. Their spiritual practices and recorded sayings have influenced mystical spirituality in both the East and West.

Anthony the Great (A.D. 251 – 356) is often referred to as the "Father of Monasticism" and has been revered since his death as a saint. Anthony was among the first known to go into the wilderness to live in seclusion. He spent the last 45 years of his life in a cave within a desert mountain known as Mount Colzim, located between the Nile and the Red Sea. This is where the Monastery of Saint Anthony, considered the oldest monastery in the world, is located.

St, Anthony's Monastery in Egypt

Macarius the Great (A.D. 300 – 391) was a former camel trader who became a monastic disciple of Anthony the Great, and was present at the great monk’s death. Macarius was known for his wisdom, humility, and spiritual depth. Focused on interior spirituality, he wrote, “The chief task of the monk (whom he referred to as an ‘athlete’) is to enter into his heart.” He founded a large monastic community in Scetis in the Nitrian Desert (an area now known as Wadi El Natrun). It is an important spiritual center for the Coptic Orthodox Church today. There are numerous stories of the miraculous associated with his name. For example, it was said of Macarius that one day when he was going up to a river from Scetis with a load of baskets, he sat down, overcome with weariness and began to say to himself, “My God, you know very well that I cannot go any further.” And immediately he found himself at the river.

“The chief task of the [monk] is to enter into his heart.”

-St. Macarius the Great

Anthony and Macarius encountered each other several times. One of my favorite sayings by Anthony the Great, seems to have great relevance for us today in the contemporary crisis that our world finds itself in.

"A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, ‘You are mad; you are not like us.'" 

Perhaps we should all reflect on that for a little while!

P.S. All three of my grandchildren were captivated by the bright goldleaf on these icons, and couldn’t help but reach out to touch it. They were also taken by the monks’ beards and intrigued by their “tiny mouths.”

NOTE: All are welcome to join a CARAVAN Tour to Egypt! For more information or to sign up, visit: www.oncaravan.org/tours/egypt