The Storm on the Sea

The Storm on the Sea

This Icon tells the biblical story, how Jesus was calming the stormy sea:

"And when he [Jesus]was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves; but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was great calm." (Mt 8,23-26, it is from an old English translation, the only New Testament I have in English.)

The Icon shows Jesus twice: once asleep and once commanding the storm. The disciples' faces show a big anguish. The storm is represented by the little figure standing on the hills and blowing in a kind of horn - it is a playful detail. Jesus says: "Why are you fearful, oh you of little faith?" - Is it not always the same? And when he commands it becomes very silent. If we would do like Jesus, then the storms of the mind silence down. The storm, this little figure, is realized as what it is - is it frightening? An interesting detail re this: only Jesus looks at the small figure, the disciples are too much lost in their fears. So they don't look at the cause but at the effect only, and the storm can't be stilled by them.