Icon "Wisdom of God Sophia": what are they praying for?

The icon of the "Wisdom of Sophia" is considered very rare, so it is almost impossible to meet in many churches, but there is a certain number of temples where it takes its place of honor.

Who is in the center on the icon "Wisdom of God Sophia"?

The icon "The Wisdom of God Sophia" is nothing more than the reincarnation of the Mother of God, showing all of Her wisdom. Wisdom is Christ Himself, who, by sacrificing himself, was able to save all mankind. On the icon you can see not only Sophia, but also Christ himself, next to him is John the Baptist, who was always close to Christ all His earthly life. Also on the icon you can see the disciples of Christ, who carefully listen to His teachings. It is written in the book of Solomon. The image on the icon once again reminds all believers why the Son of God came to this earth and from whom He was born.

The icon "Sophia of the Wisdom of God" of Kiev helps to overcome many troubles. It depicts a temple in which the Mother of God stands in a beautiful chiton and with a covered head. Hands stretched forward. Under the icon there is an inscription: "Wisdom, create a house for yourself and establish the pillars of the seven". It also has God the Father and the Holy Spirit. On both sides, the Mother of God is surrounded by seven archangels.

How do the archangels look on the icon?

The icon of the Mother of God "Sophia the Wisdom of God" includes images of archangels who were always close to the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Archangels are drawn with wings, and each of them holds a certain sign of holiness. Archangel Michael is on the right side, he has a fiery sword in his hands. Uriel holds the zipper, which is lowered down. Raphael has an apavastra of the world around him. On the left side are also the faces of the archangels. The first to the left is Gabriel, who holds the flower of a loose lily in his hands. Selafil holds the rosary. Jehudiel is depicted with the royal crown, and Varahiel has flowers in his hands and is on a white board.

All of them are located above the head of the Mother of God, which stands on a cloud. Under It is a church with secret records from the Old Testament. Also on the icon there is a pulpit consisting of seven steps. Each of them is signed. A believer can read these words:

1. Vera.
2. Hope.
3. Love.
4. Humility before the Lord.
5. Nobility.
6. Glory.
7. Purity of thoughts.

It is believed that such an icon should be in every house, since it is responsible for well-being in the family.

When they pray before the icon of "Sophia the Wisdom of the Mother of God"?

Clergymen say that you can pray before the icon at any time, you need to do it when the soul of a person demands. In each house there must necessarily be a holy corner where the image stands, the lamp is lit and candles are lit.

If in your house there is an icon "Wisdom of God Sophia", then it is safe to say that there will be no disputes in it, it will happen in the family to avoid various troubles, a favorable ground will be created for full trust to every person who crosses the threshold of the house and will come With pure thoughts.

Few people know the strength of the icon "Sophia the Wisdom of God", about which the believers pray to her, but all who have ever confronted her, know for sure that all the requests that are uttered before her in prayer, remain heard by the Lord God.

Where is the oldest icon "Sophia the Wisdom of God" and what does it mean?

Copies of icons for today there are many, but one of the most ancient is in Kiev, in the famous St. Sophia Cathedral. This image has come a long way since it was once brought from the Church of Justinian in Byzantium.

The icon "Sophia the Wisdom of God", located here, has a slightly different meaning, since it is a kind of road between the earthly and heavenly worlds. In addition to the archangels, our forefathers are depicted in the heavens. On the seven steps are the biblical heroes. So, on the fourth step is Moses with tablets with the inscription calling to honor the Word of God. After Moses, Aaron and David are also depicted. To the left stand the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.

What other icons are there? The Wisdom of God Sophia?

It should be noted that the Kiev image is not the only one of its kind, there is also the icon "Sophia the Wisdom of God of Novgorod", which has its own distinctive characteristics. It depicts the Savior, before which stands the Mother of God and John the Baptist in prayer.

The main figure on the icon is the Lord Almighty, on which the king's clothes are worn, and behind him are fire wings. The Lord is on the throne, which rests on seven pillars, around the blue background, symbolizing the heavens with the stars.

The Novgorod icon is considered miraculous, but there are records in history when people really could cure with it. Every year on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary near the Kiev and Novgorod icons thousands of believers gather, who ask for help in solving problems.

What to say and ask before the icon?

In the holy scripture it is said that the Lord God hears all the prayers that a person utters, that is why before the icon "Sophia the Wisdom of God" a special prayer is pronounced, which must be known and read correctly. It is addressed to the Mother of God and the Lord God Himself. Everyone who prays before the icon must clearly understand that Wisdom is the fullness of the knowledge that a person has about God.

The icon enables a person to ask the Lord God to give Wisdom in order to make the right decision in various matters. It is also believed that it can help resolve conflicts not only within the family, but also in work. When you say a prayer, a person can feel how the decision comes by itself, but you should learn to hear God's hints and listen to his teaching.

Before the icon you can ask for health and happiness to every Orthodox Christian who fulfills all the commandments and seeks to know the teachings of God, to receive from Him a piece of wisdom and understanding.

The Interpretation of the Prayer Before the Icon

If the icon "Sophia the Wisdom of God" is in the church, the prayer should be pronounced corresponding. It is important to remember that it is read in such a way that the believer understands perfectly what is at stake. We will explain some words in prayer before this icon. "Incomprehensible and All-Wise Wisdom" implies that a person does not fully understand all the Wisdom God has given him, and can not use it correctly, as Jesus himself commanded us.

"With one word save" - here it is necessary to understand that only faith in God can save all mankind. At the same time, there are words in prayer that indicate that even the most sinful person can earn forgiveness if he believes in God. "The mind of the unreasonable fill, and buiiyago umudryaeshi" is to be understood as the fact that the Lord God himself is trying to teach the people on earth and to instill in their souls the aera, as well as the wisdom that He possessed himself.

From the history of the writing of the icon

The icon "The Wisdom of God Sophia" was originally written as an explanation of the fact that God can exist in three persons: God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Some historians argue that the name Sophia was chosen not in vain, since it is most appropriate to the name of this icon. For example, Sofia most of all personifies Wisdom, so it is indicated in the Holy Scriptures. If you translate the word Sofia from Greek to French, it will designate the Trinity.

The icon of Sophia appeared in the temple of Constantinople, but to this day it never reached. Archaeologists have long excavated to find exactly this image, but, unfortunately, virtually nothing is known about the sources of iconography. Many believers still argue why Sofia is depicted as a female figure, because it means nothing else than the Wisdom of God?

But the answer to this question remains a secret. Among the many options most of all Orthodox Christians are worshiped with the icon "Wisdom of God Sophia", Kiev and Novgorod.

The role of icons in the spiritual life of Christians

Athanasius of Alexandria said that in the image of Wisdom, not only the Mother of God can act, but all other manifestations of spiritual life. For example, it can be a church, a saint or even just a human soul, because in everyone in whom God lives, there is this Wisdom.

Archbishop Ignatius of Voronezh said that Wisdom and the Temple of Sophia are in heaven, namely on the Divine Throne, where there are angels and God. But at the same time Ignatius claimed that Wisdom is present everywhere, in all the worlds, visible and invisible, in the souls of people, churches and in heaven, by the same account as on earth.

Understanding this can be so difficult for a person that all the secrets and secrets of the spiritual life can be revealed only before the icon of Wisdom. Therefore, millions of pilgrims annually rush to that temple and cathedral, where exactly this image is located.