Mary-Sophia: The Eternal Feminine in Visions of St. Hildegard ~ Sophia Amon

Excerpt From Sophia-Maria by Fr. Thomas Schipflinger pg. 144-145

The figure of a woman, crowned with a man's head, holds in her hands and carries in her womb a circle in which a man stands, who is the object of rays streaming forth from symbolic animals and nature figures. What is the meaning of this mysterious picture, which St. Hildegard received according to an Old Testament manner of conception? The head above the head of the woman signifies Yahweh, the Creator; and the woman's figure below shows Wisdom Sophia, who is His Amon (Hebrew: “Beloved, Darling, Confidant, or Co-creator,” see Prov. 8:30), the first of created beings, Darling and the one who stands by His side during creation and the world's preservation (see Prov. 8:22–30).

Sophia encircles the world, which is represented by symbolic animals and nature figures, and She carries it in Her womb. At the world's midpoint stands the human being. Various vital energies emanating from Sophia stream out to the human being standing in the middle through the symbolic figures.

Under and with Yahweh, Sophia is the Cosmiarcha (Greek: Kosmos—cosmos; Arche—beginning), the Co-Creator and Mother of the cosmos. In Her motherly concern She is also the world's Eubiarcha (Greek: eu—“well” Bios—“life” Arche—“beginning”)— Fount of salvation and Mother of a thoroughly whole life—especially for the human being, which is indicated by the human being depicted within Her womb.

(This image attached to this blog post) is an extraordinarily expressive image of unfathomably deep cosmological and anthropological symbolism. One of its essential statements is that nature and humanity form an organic unity with Sophia. Sophia is Mother and Soul of this unity, the Mother and Soul of the World, the “Cosmiarcha.” She is, however, also the “Eubiarcha,” especially for humanity. The following Biblical verses help bring this to expression:

She spans the world in power from end to end, and gently orders all things (Wisd. 8,1).

Do not forsake her (Wisdom), and she will watch over you (Prov. 4,6).

From me come advice and ability; understanding and power are mine. . . . In my hands are riches and honour, boundless wealth and prosperity (Prov. 8,14,18).

For whoever finds me finds me finds life and wins favour with the LORD, but whoever fails to find me deprives himself (Prov. 8,35–36).

This fascinating picture contains a wealth of deep and cosmic symbolism about life, whose full interpretation is unfortunately not possible within the present framework.