Ukrainian Orthodoxy		Orthodoxie ukrainienne

Wisdom of God

Question:

The attributes of God are often, but not always, personified.  The Holy Trinity is made up of God the Father, His Word (The Word of God - His Son, Jesus Christ), and His Spirit (The Holy Spirit).  Now the Wisdom of God, named Sophia, is also personified, but slightly differently and in a variety of ways: She is depicted in an icon where the is the Theotokos and the Apostles; She is considered to be Jesus Christ, identical to the Word of God; She has, within the Russian Orthodox Church, sparked controversy when a leading group of theologians near the turn of the prior century believed Sophia to have almost the same uniqueness and individuality as the Word of God, even somewhat differentiated from the Word of God.  I admit I myself may not have gotten all of this "straight", but I feel the significance of Sophia (it has its own name and personification) is important, and so it is helpful to understand this concept and the concept of personification of God's traits more properly.

How should a Ukrainian Orthodox understand Sophia, the Wisdom of God?  What is the tradition of personification of The Lord's traits (the Sacred Heart of Christ is often depicted in some Catholic icons, so does it too carry similar personification weight - meaning and relevance)?

Answer:

Dr. Alexander Roman (e-mail)

There is much that has been written about Sophiology by Orthodox theologians and philosophers.  As you note, it has also been a controversial subject.  Probably the best traditional Orthodox explanation (and also critique of the less than Orthodox positions of some) on this topic is to be found appended in Fr. Michael Pomazansky’s “Orthodox Dogmatic Theology.”

The Western pictures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus are not depictions of Divine Wisdom, but representations alluding to Christ’s love for humankind via His human heart.  There is an analysis of this Roman Catholic devotion (that is also popular in Eastern Catholic circles) in Fr. Pomazansky’s book as well.

Orthodox liturgical prayers refer to Christ as the “Word and Wisdom of God” (Canon of Pascha).  God’s Wisdom is expressed and demonstrated in the creation of the world and in His ongoing providence over His creation.  His Wisdom is also shown in His plan for the salvation of the world and in all that He does and is. 

In Romans 11:33-34, St Paul writes:  “O the depth of the riches both of the Wisdom and knowledge of God!  For who has known the Mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?”    In 1 Corinthians 2:7 he writes, “We speak the Wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden Wisdom, which God ordained before the world to our glory.”

In 1 Corinthians 23-24, Paul affirms:  “We preach Christ crucified . . . Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God.”    “Who of God is made unto us – Wisdom, (1 Corinthians, 1:30). 

As God demonstrates His Wisdom in creating the world, He demonstrates His Wisdom in RE-creating it by means of His salvation through His Son, the Word of God.

There are many iconographic representations of Divine Wisdom in the Eastern Church.  The St Sophia Cathedral of Constantinople is dedicated, of course, to the Wisdom of God, as is the St Sophia Cathedral of Kyiv, built by St Yaroslav the Wise. 

The icon of Sophia in the Kyiv Cathedral is a very mystical one.  It depicts the Mother of God with Christ the Eternal Wisdom in a medallion on her chest with her arms upraised in prayer after the style of the Oranta icons.  The Most Holy Theotokos is flanked by prophets and patriarchs of the Old Testament together with seven pillars and steps that represent the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the plenitude of Divine blessings that are ours through Christ the Divine Wisdom by means of the Holy Spirit.  The Ancient of Days representing God the Father together with the Dove of the Holy Spirit are above the Theotokos.  This icon celebrates the Divine Wisdom of the Creator, Saviour and Sanctifier of the Cosmos.  It points to the Mystery of Divine Wisdom which transcends human understanding as God’s thoughts are not ours!

Other Sophia icons include the Sophia of Novhorod where Christ is flanked by the Theotokos and the Forerunner, the icon of the Dormition and some others.

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