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| Hagia Sophia, Church of the Holy Wisdom of God, 532-537 CE, Istanbul, Turkey. Image: Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net |
The Wisdom texts are full of stories of the benefits of finding and knowing Sophia. These benefits include: happiness, friendship with God, spiritual guidance, redemption and immortality. Emperor Justinian knew the value of Holy Wisdom or Sophia when he built one of the greatest churches in Christendom in the 6th century. He named his Byzantine masterpiece Hagia Sophia or the Church of the Holy Wisdom of God. Justinian is recorded as looking upon the completed Hagia Sophia and saying, "Solomon, I have surpassed thee!"
Centuries before Justinian, "Solomon" wrote, “When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her, for companionship with her has no bitterness, and life with her has no pain, but gladness and joy” (WS 8:16). Wisdom is viewed as a very important commodity that will improve all other aspects of existence. Proverbs reminds the reader that, “Wisdom is the principle thing: therefore, get wisdom,... ” (Proverbs 4:7). "Solomon" also writes: “Those who get her gifts obtain friendship with God, commended for the gifts that come from instruction” (WS 7:14). “In every generation she passes into holy souls, and makes them friends of God, and prophets.” (WS 7:27)
Another benefit of knowing Sophia, is spiritual guidance. In the Manichean Gnostic text The Hymn of the Pearl, the protagonist’s mother, who is known as the “Queen of Heaven,” and his Father, the “King of Kings”, instruct him on a mission to obtain a pearl. The pearl is symbolic of finding and liberating one's soul. At one point the son falls into a deep sleep and forgets his mission to find the pearl. His parents then send a message to him that reads:
“Awake and rise from your sleep ….
Remember you are a son of Kings and see the slavery of your life.
Remember the pearl for which you went into Egypt!
Remember your robe of glory and your splendid mantel which you may wear.
When your name is named in the book of life.” (HP 311)
A robe of glory and immortality are named as gifts of Divine Wisdom or Sophia throughout Wisdom literature. A crown is also mentioned quite frequently. The word crown is the literal meaning of Kether, the highest sephira on the Tree of Life. The gifts of Sophia are the direct result of a spiritual process that automatically leads to a Crown or Kether. “Solomon” said, “But the righteous live forever, and their reward is with the Lord;.…Therefore they will receive a glorious crown and a beautiful diadem from the hand of the Lord” (WS 5: 15-16). Of the man who obtained wisdom it is said, “He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing, and will acquire an everlasting name” (Sirach 15:6). Immortality is above all, the most important gift of Sophia or Divine Wisdom.
Centuries before Justinian, "Solomon" wrote, “When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her, for companionship with her has no bitterness, and life with her has no pain, but gladness and joy” (WS 8:16). Wisdom is viewed as a very important commodity that will improve all other aspects of existence. Proverbs reminds the reader that, “Wisdom is the principle thing: therefore, get wisdom,... ” (Proverbs 4:7). "Solomon" also writes: “Those who get her gifts obtain friendship with God, commended for the gifts that come from instruction” (WS 7:14). “In every generation she passes into holy souls, and makes them friends of God, and prophets.” (WS 7:27)
Another benefit of knowing Sophia, is spiritual guidance. In the Manichean Gnostic text The Hymn of the Pearl, the protagonist’s mother, who is known as the “Queen of Heaven,” and his Father, the “King of Kings”, instruct him on a mission to obtain a pearl. The pearl is symbolic of finding and liberating one's soul. At one point the son falls into a deep sleep and forgets his mission to find the pearl. His parents then send a message to him that reads:
“Awake and rise from your sleep ….
Remember you are a son of Kings and see the slavery of your life.
Remember the pearl for which you went into Egypt!
Remember your robe of glory and your splendid mantel which you may wear.
When your name is named in the book of life.” (HP 311)
A robe of glory and immortality are named as gifts of Divine Wisdom or Sophia throughout Wisdom literature. A crown is also mentioned quite frequently. The word crown is the literal meaning of Kether, the highest sephira on the Tree of Life. The gifts of Sophia are the direct result of a spiritual process that automatically leads to a Crown or Kether. “Solomon” said, “But the righteous live forever, and their reward is with the Lord;.…Therefore they will receive a glorious crown and a beautiful diadem from the hand of the Lord” (WS 5: 15-16). Of the man who obtained wisdom it is said, “He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing, and will acquire an everlasting name” (Sirach 15:6). Immortality is above all, the most important gift of Sophia or Divine Wisdom.
