‘Hagia Sophia’ (Divine Wisdom), Istanbul The ‘Great Church’ or ‘Magna Ecclesia’ of Divine Wisdom was built by order of Constantine the Great on the site of a pagan temple. It was Constantius II who inaugurated ‘Hagia Sophia’ on 15 February 360. In 537, it was rebuilt by order of Emperor Justinian and later oversaw Russias conversion to Christianity in the 10th century. As the legend goes, a pagan prince ruled Kiev in the Ukraine in 988 and was unable to decide whether to convert to Judaism, Islam or Christianity. In the end he did decide for latter, as his messengers whom he sent to the Hagia Sophia exulted when coming back from the cathedral: ‘We felt as if in Heaven’ (Czeslaw Miloszs Introduction to Solovievs War, Progress, and the End of History). In 1453, when Constantinople was conquered by the Ottomans, the chruch was converted into the grand mosque of the Muslim sultans. In 1935 Ataturk turned it into the museum of the Turkish Republic. Because of its varied and rich history in combination with its beautiful design it is now one of the most significant monuments in the world. Sophia was a central figure in the Eastern Orthodox Church and became associated or sometimes identified with the Virgin Mary. She is portrayed as a majestic angelic being wearing a crown and holding a scepter while seated on a throne. Falling rays (stars) of divine wisdom fall from her to the earthly kingdom. She has not been forgotten in Russia and in the Ukraine and retains her rightful place in both religion and philosophy. Vladimir Soloviev (1853-1900), one of Russias greatest philosophers, is known for his adoration of Sophia. He is the founder of the Sophiology movement in Russia. When he was nine years old, She, Sophia, first appeared to him in a vision during a Russian Orthodox church service. In the years 1877-1878 Soloviev discussed Sophia for the first time in his ‘Lectures on Godmanhood’ (Lectures on Divine Humanity) in St. Petersburg. His lectures were very popular and were attended by both orthodox believers and secular people. He donated the earnings he received towards a fund for the restoration of the ‘True Cross’ on top of the Hagia Sophia. It is still a mystery where the True Cross is - perhaps it is hidden somewhere in the Hagia Sophia. #Paganism #Chistianity #Sophia #Istanbul ritmanlibrary/2013/09/hermetic-holiday-tips/ Free Download - Hermetically Open Guide, click here: bit.ly/HermeticallyOpen
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 13:00:00 +0000
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