Divine Wisdom | Gladsome Lights

AND IT WAS HERE — IT WAS AUTUMN

And it was here — it was autumn —
When I told Her: “Divine Flower,
I feel Your touch! But why have you hidden Yourself
From my sight since I was a boy?”

At the very moment these thoughts moved through my mind —
Instantly, golden azure filled the room,
And she shone before me once again —
But just Her face — Her face.

At that instant lasting bliss was born in me!
Once more my soul went blind to mundane matters.
If I gave a sober hearing to Her, I know not what I heard;
Her words were incomprehensible, talk fit for a fool.

-Vladimir Solovyov (or Soloviev) (1853 – 1900) Russia
Translated by Ivan M. Granger

Vladimir Solovyov loved Sophia, that is, Divine Wisdom. He philosophized about her throughout his life; I think this is probably a poem to that Sophia.

Solovyov was an influential person in the late 19th century and into the 20th, and is thought to be a source for some of his friend Fyodor Dostoevsky’s characters, Ivan and/or Alyosha, in The Brothers Karamozov; he gave a eulogy at Dostoevsky’s funeral. His ideas definitely were stimulating to Tolstoy, and to many other thinkers, and he continues to be controversial in the 21st century. This article: “Holy Wisdom,” explains why his ideas about Sophia have generally not been accepted by the Orthodox Church.

Wikipedia quotes David Bentley Hart, another controversial philosopher, from his forward to Solovyov’s Justification of the Good,

“In truth, the divine Sophia is first and foremost a biblical figure, and ‘Sophiology’ was born of an honest attempt to interpret intelligibly the role ascribed to her in the Wisdom literature of the Old Testament, in such a way as to complement the Logos Christology of the Fourth Gospel, while still not neglecting the ‘autonomy’ of creation within its very dependency upon the Logos.”

The Orthodox icon of Holy Wisdom often shows a “fiery angel” seated on a throne, with the Theotokos and St. Cosmas on either side, as in the example below. There is so much to ponder about Wisdom in the Bible. Even one of these verses I chose might provide for plenty of profitable contemplation:

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
and with all thy getting get understanding.
Proverbs 4:6-7

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits,
without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
James 3:17

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
who gives to all generously and without reproach,
and it will be given to him.

James 1:5