They perform a complex funeral ceremony for Jon Arryn, involving marching in a circle around his body as it lies in state while carrying vessels filled with burning incense, and periodically turning to bow towards the body. Silent Sisters dress and prepare the bodies of Lord Jon Arryn and, later, Ser Hugh of the Vale for burial. Two Silent Sisters prepare the body of Ser Hugh for burial. To signify their holy status, they wear elaborate back braces displaying the Seven Pointed Star, the symbol of the Faith of the Seven.
Silent Sisters wear cowls that cover their heads, and veils that cover their entire face except for their eyes. Much more than septons or septas, the Silent Sisters are held to be particularly consecrated and inviolate. While technically all clergy of the Seven take oaths of celibacy, the Silent Sisters are held to be even more devoted to chastity and purity, with their vow of silence removing them from worldly interaction. The Silent Sisters are not considered to be septas (female priests): they are a separate, all-female monastic order. They are called the 'Silent' Sisters because they have sworn vows of silence. The Silent Sisters are responsible for dressing and preparing dead bodies for funeral rites.
The Silent Sisters are a religious order of women in the Faith of the Seven, sworn to the service of the Stranger, the aspect of the Seven that represents death. ' You've done good work, Sisters.' ―Eddard Stark
