Sofia Divine Wisdom

Sophia Wisdom of God 'Sophia' is Greek for 'wisdom'. The presented icon shows the eternal Wisdom of God. In the Old Testament, as the Creative Love and the principle of the creation of the world, as well as the breath of God's power and glory, it appeared in the form of a woman (Proverbs 9:1-15). In the Christian tradition of the New Testament, in the apostolic writings, it was identified with Christ the Son of God (1 Corinthians 1:23-24, Colossians 1:15 ff., Hebrews 1:3, John 1:1 ff.). Around the 15th c., in the Balkans, a number of theological-didactic images with complex compositions, rich in symbols and allegorical content appeared. At the end of the 14th c. or at the beginning of the 15th c., these depictions passed from the Balkans to the western lands of Rus and, recreated, spread in Russian Orthodoxy. The Sophia Wisdom of God icon is one such depiction. The earliest Rus depiction known to date comes from Novogrod. It shows the Wisdom of God in the form of Christ, as in the presented icon. The Saviour, as a young Angel with a fiery visage who personifies the Holy Spirit, is wearing royal robes and sitting on a golden throne. His appearance matches the Son of Man from the Book of Revelation (Revelation 1:13-16). Like in the classic portrayal of Deesis (see S.12824MŁ), he is revered by the Mother of God and John the Baptist. The Mother of God holds a second depiction of Christ, placed in a medallion. There, Christ is portrayed as God Incarnate, as in the Panagia images (see S.12625MŁ; S.12826MŁ). In a vertical composition, a third depiction of Christ - Pantocrator the Almighty (see S.12646MŁ; S.12819MŁ) - is shown above the head of Christ-Angel. In the uppermost place of the painting's composition, there is the 'Etimasia' - God's Throne, revered by angels. There, Christ will sit during Parousia, i.e., the Second Coming for the Last Judgement. The Novogrod variant of the portrayal is a depiction of the Word Incarnate and the Holy Spirit, and through the image of the Pantocrator, it indicates the Triune God. The Mother of God and John the Baptist are the Wisdom of the Church. Teresa Bagińska-Żurawska https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9243-3967