Dear Reader, reflecting on Christ's descent into Hell at any time is not an easy subject... and like our own suffering we may prefer to ignore it, or deny the significance of it. Yet the world is full of suffering people, and surely we need to look carefully at what Christ did for us, in order to see and understand what Christ has fulfilled in His death and resurrction. What are we denying of His Divinity, in only regarding His human work?
The image below is of a wall size icon of 'The Resurrection' in the Orthodox Church in Walsall, England. I was asked to design and paint this to include the First World War memorial boards containing the names of soldiers who had lived in the immediate vicinity of the church, and died in service. In order to 'illustrate' the Hell, the Darkness, the Death, from which Christ has the power to bring resurrection, it was suggested I use as a basis for the iconography actual images from the First World War battlefields. As I painted these, praying and sensing the 'death' they embodied, I realised they had much wider significance.
The following reflections draw on the fullness of Christ's humanity and what He surrendered to death on the cross, but also the understanding that comes from having accepted Christ's invitation to Love God with all my heart. This has given me awareness of how I didn't love God, because of the mini-deaths I had suffered as a child, and through prayer, the miracle of resurrection through Christ. His promises are not empty words - or for some prophecy of a future happening. We need to seek to love God with all we are, even Christ crucified, within, and in others, in order that we become vessels of the Holy Spirit, waiting in Love and prayer for the Second Coming of Christ. And meanwhile being obedient to the Holy Spirit of unity, justice, and compassion.
Image 1 shows the barren-ness of lives when people have lost their identity, their true purpose, integrity, and their link with others and apparently with life and God. We see the gun that has been used to kill others, and killing the God-made image and soul of the user meanwhile. We see the trees broken, stunted or lifeless in empty starkness - yet even then still able to reflect the light of Christ because of His descent into hell and the hope of God's promises.
And through arrest, the trial, His silence, and crucifixion of Christ we see Christ surrendering all human 'position', purpose and 'rights' to death on the Cross.
Image 1 -(Bottom L of the Areas of Hell)
Image 2 shows the devastation of a bomb destroyed 'dug-out'. This is the sort of psychological devastation that happens when the trust we have put in any sort of man-made shelter, and community purpose, gets destroyed by either a natural or man-made disaster. We can only function from some point of security, and these men had clearly been 'functioning' in their battle zone, until it was blown apart. We see this devastation when people are separated from homes by flood, or other natural disaster, but particularly by man-made violence and desire to destroy. Hatred divides and destroys and blows apart human hearts and lives, as surely as material devastation.
And the hatred of the Cross, the 'self-righteousness' of those who wanted Christ crucified, tore apart all the beauty and love of Christ's mission and purpose on earth. Those who had cried out, 'Hosanna', were a day later calling 'Crucify Him'. There was no security left for Him on earth. Only His trust in the Father gave Him grace to forgive those who had killed Him.
Image 2 (top L of the areas of hell).
Image 3 shows the devastated landscape of war zones. You could look on our current experience of empty city centres, work places, even swimming pools or cinemas, as examples because of the effects of Covid lockdowns. This barrenness where once we saw beauty, living people, purpose being lived out, shuts down our sense of 'life' as we knew/know it. We also see images of earthquakes, floods and natural disasters making life impossible. We know things have to change - but we have little control over it. Yet even in this landscape we see the Light of Christ reflected and we have some hope.
And Christ Himself, as He followed the Path of Sorrows carrying the Cross, found little in the 'landscape' to give Him courage. He was humanly sustained only by the obedience of Simon, who carried His cross, the comfort of the women, His mother and 'Veronica', who wiped His face, and the women who wept for Him. And these He told to weep for themselves, not Him - not an admonition I am sure, but a recognition of the daily crucifixions that many women suffer for the sake of Love. All else fed back to Him the image of death, isolation, and abandonment, even apparently by God. Yet Christ was still Divine and still trusting in the Father's purposes for His Life. This is what we too must hold on to.
Image 3 (top R of the Areas of Hell)
Image 4 below - shows the effects of bomb craters. Literally they leave empty 'black holes' in the landscape and the soul...when something happens to blow life apart. I spent a period of time praying for the souls of the soldiers whose young lives were ended before their natural time. One Saturday I sensed my reluctance to persevere in prayer feeling that I had prayed much about their suffering etc....and when I prayed about what more needed prayer, I was shown that in the ending of their lives, all the dreams and hopes and plans they had had in their hearts, had died. The prayer I was led to was an acknowledgement of these and a releasing of them to God's love.
We too have to acknowledge any areas of our lives where all hope, vision, will for God, died and was buried...and because nothing apparently remains above the surface, the light of Christ cannot readily shine. I pray for all suffering from trauma of any kind, and thus PTSD. And yet as the icon shows, through Divine interference, His angel can speak the Word of life into dark, hardened and broken hearts, and hope can be reborn in Love, through the death and Resurrection of Christ. He forgave those who killed Him.
And Christ? - Though He died in the human body, and was buried...the empty tomb witnesses to his descent into hell, and on the 3rd day His Resurrection. Those who saw Him and talked with Him, and were taught by Him, witness to this truth. But more than that. The hopes and dreams and purposes of Christ did not die with Him. Through the Holy Spirit sent to the disciples and women at Pentecost, the desire of God to make disciples of all people, still lives. Are we willing to believe in the Resurrected Lord, His life and image in us, through birth, baptism, or receiving the Word? Are we willing to know the purification of death, and the new life in Resurrection....living and loving for God?
Image 4 (Bottom R of the whole)
I hope this rather brief 'descent into Hell' outlining the suffering of many fills you with Hope rather than despair. St Silouan (a 20thC saint) was suffering at one time because He could not bow down to Christ as the devil kept getting in the way..He was praying about this and crying out to God for help. He heard subsequently, 'Keep your mind in Hell...but don't despair'. This was needed in order to overcome some hidden pride. I was given St Silouan as one of my protecting saints when I came into the Orthodox Church.
I soon discovered why when I started to face the darkness within me, and the pride that hid the many deaths was revealed. I discovered that in not hanging on to my understanding of Life where my pride lay, I became trusting enough to face the darkness of the hell I had lived in various ways. Daily I was strengthened in trust in Christ to overcome. Step by step, prayer by prayer, daily I found I was living resurrection in humility and love, trusting in my Inner Being to guide me, and provide in prayer for my needs!!
In giving my life to Jesus Christ, 30 years ago, I little understood anything except my need and my emptiness within. On the outside I was a tall tree in a Polytechnic, with years of successful teaching behind me. I now know, that if I had known then, Who I know now, I could have taken early retirement, and simply carried on with the external examining work which I did with 'an easy yoke and light burden'. But I didn't and I had to follow the 'Via Dolorosa' (the Path of Sorrows) or the Dark Night of the Soul, in order to know Who lives within me. Only Love can set us free, only service created by the Father, through the love of the Holy Spirit can help build the Kingdom and restore Life. Only Unity in Christ can build the Church. No claim to superiority, or self-righteousness, no ethnic root, nor oppression, suppression, nor denial of the deaths metred out by 'guardians of the law' build or cleanse the Church. Only death and resurrection in Christ and self-giving in Christ's Love will build the kingdom. Father forgive us all for not believing in the work and love of Your Son. Come Lord Jesus. Come Holy Spirit of unity, love and grace.