Sophia is the Greek word for Wisdom. She appears in the Old and New Testaments as a mother, a bride, and a child. She is present at creation. She helps Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Scripture calls her divine, eternal, and all powerful. She is everywhere present, and knows all things.
Solomon loved her and asked her to rule with him. The Emperor Justinian built his masterpiece for her, the "Hagia Sophia." In Jerusalem, crusaders erected their church in her honor, the "Church of Holy Wisdom." Bulgaria named its capital for her, Sofia.
The Jews wrote a vast wisdom literature about her. The Catholic Church canonized the Book of Wisdom about her in the Old Testament. The Orthodox liturgy calls upon her before each gospel is read aloud, "Sophia!"
Our Lord Jesus said he and his cousin John the Baptist were both her children.
For thousands of years she has been studied, sought after, honored, and called upon. By her, kings reign, and princes rule.
Yet, to this day, she remains mysterious, elusive, and many have not heard of her.
Who is this glorious enigma, hidden in plain sight? Who is this resounding whisper, echoing throughout the world, across millennia?
Who are you, Sophia?
Our search begins...in the beginning.
About the Author: Neil Weber holds degrees from Princeton University and Institutum Sapientiae, in Philosophy and Theology respectively. He received seven years of religious formation in the Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross, and currently enjoys family life with his wife Christina and their four children.
