The Descent of Holy Sophia
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"Wisdom reacheth from one end of the world to the other; mightily and sweetly doth she order all things. In that she is conversant with God, she hath magnified her nobility; yea, the Lord of all things Himself loved her. For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a lover of His works. If riches be a possession to be desired in this life, what is richer than wisdom, that worketh all things? And if prudence work, who of all that are is a more cunning worker than she? If a man love righteousness, her labours are virtues; for she teacheth temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude, than which men can have nothing more profitable in their life. By means of her I shall obtain immortality, for she is the mother of fair love, and of patience and perseverance, and of holy hope. Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crown of joy." (From the Book of the Wisdom of Solomon.) |
One of the High Holy Days of the Gnostic Church for it is the glorious Feast Day of the Descent (Nativity) of the Holy Sophia. The Period between Sophia’s Descent on August 15 and Her Ascent on September 8th is truly a special time placed aside in our Church to celebrate the Holy Mother and all Her sacred and bountiful gifts.
The readings on this special day remind us of the Holy Wisdom of God as the feminine redemptive presence in the World and of the very loving presence of God which is His Shekinah. As it says in the Book of the Wisdom of Solomon: “By means of her I shall obtain immortality, for she is the Mother of fair Love, and of patience and of perseverance, and of holy hope. Thou shall put Her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put Her about thee as a crown of joy.”
What a wonderful message of positive spirituality. A spirituality that embraces the joy inherent in the world and the potential of all human beings to reach the abodes of the eternal. A spirituality which embraces the Divine Feminine.
We are also reminded at this time that the Holy Sophia overshadowed the two principle feminine figures of the Gospel stories, the Holy Mother of the receptacle of Christ (Jesus) Mary, and the Consort of that incarnation of the Christ Mary Magdalene. As it says in the Gospel of Phillip: “The Sophia whom they call barren is the mother of all Angels. And the consort of Christ is Mary Magdalen.”
But more important perhaps than this Gospel commemoration is the realisation for us as Gnostics that the Descent of the Mother was not only for the benefit of the historical Jesus but also for the benefit of our very souls. The Holy Sophia is Mother and Consort to our own Divine Spark and Christic Presence. We are called to take joy in Her and in this sacred relationship and all the illumination and sustenance She has to offer us on our path of Return and Reintegration. We are therefore called to nurture this relationship.
For Our Church this special period of the Holy Sophia between Aug. 15 and Sept. 8th is also a period of intense commemoration as two of Our Primats and two of our Beloved Bishops all passed away during this period: Primat Hérard, Primat Cokinis and Monseigneur Chambellant and Bishop John Cole. Primat Hérard and Primat Cokinis were particularly devoted to the Holy Mother and the Black Madonna. Most recently Primat Cokinis’ funeral service was held on the Eve of the Descent of the Holy Sophia.
Therefore, let us, as one United Gnostic Community and Church, pray the Holy Sophia together so that we may all experience the sweet joys of Her Divine Embrace and Wisdom. Let us also take this time, in this Her Current Age, to remember all those Women and Men who were dedicated to the modern revival of Her cult.
May the Holy Queen reign over us, guard us and sustain our very souls.
Hail Sophia full of Light,
The Lord Christ is with Thee,
Blessed art thou amongst all the Aeons
And blessed are the fruits of thy womb,
Holy Sophia, Mother of all Angels,
Pray for us now and at the hour of our transformations.
Amen.
The readings on this special day remind us of the Holy Wisdom of God as the feminine redemptive presence in the World and of the very loving presence of God which is His Shekinah. As it says in the Book of the Wisdom of Solomon: “By means of her I shall obtain immortality, for she is the Mother of fair Love, and of patience and of perseverance, and of holy hope. Thou shall put Her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put Her about thee as a crown of joy.”
What a wonderful message of positive spirituality. A spirituality that embraces the joy inherent in the world and the potential of all human beings to reach the abodes of the eternal. A spirituality which embraces the Divine Feminine.
We are also reminded at this time that the Holy Sophia overshadowed the two principle feminine figures of the Gospel stories, the Holy Mother of the receptacle of Christ (Jesus) Mary, and the Consort of that incarnation of the Christ Mary Magdalene. As it says in the Gospel of Phillip: “The Sophia whom they call barren is the mother of all Angels. And the consort of Christ is Mary Magdalen.”
But more important perhaps than this Gospel commemoration is the realisation for us as Gnostics that the Descent of the Mother was not only for the benefit of the historical Jesus but also for the benefit of our very souls. The Holy Sophia is Mother and Consort to our own Divine Spark and Christic Presence. We are called to take joy in Her and in this sacred relationship and all the illumination and sustenance She has to offer us on our path of Return and Reintegration. We are therefore called to nurture this relationship.
For Our Church this special period of the Holy Sophia between Aug. 15 and Sept. 8th is also a period of intense commemoration as two of Our Primats and two of our Beloved Bishops all passed away during this period: Primat Hérard, Primat Cokinis and Monseigneur Chambellant and Bishop John Cole. Primat Hérard and Primat Cokinis were particularly devoted to the Holy Mother and the Black Madonna. Most recently Primat Cokinis’ funeral service was held on the Eve of the Descent of the Holy Sophia.
Therefore, let us, as one United Gnostic Community and Church, pray the Holy Sophia together so that we may all experience the sweet joys of Her Divine Embrace and Wisdom. Let us also take this time, in this Her Current Age, to remember all those Women and Men who were dedicated to the modern revival of Her cult.
May the Holy Queen reign over us, guard us and sustain our very souls.
Hail Sophia full of Light,
The Lord Christ is with Thee,
Blessed art thou amongst all the Aeons
And blessed are the fruits of thy womb,
Holy Sophia, Mother of all Angels,
Pray for us now and at the hour of our transformations.
Amen.