Incarnations of Light: The Sophia in Mary, Mother of God, and Mary Magdalene
Great Hymn to Holy Sophia and her Incarnations
Awake, O souls entwined in the divine dance,
To the hymn of the two Marys, joined in holy trance,
One the mother, bearing the Divine, pure and blessed,
The other a follower, through unwavering love, proved the best.
Mary mother, Sophia embodied in faithful sight,
Shining with celestial beauty, God's love burning bright,
Upon thee descended the Holy Spirit's might,
To cradle the Word, and to the world bring Light.
Sing we now of the fallen and exalted Sophia,
Manifest in the Marys, wisdom's magna copia,
Through trials, triumphs, their flames burn clearer,
In Mary mother and Magdalene, Sophia draws nearer.
Mary Magdalene, Sophia's spark within thee,
Fallen, then raised, by love set free,
From your tears, grace flows like the endless sea,
In redemption's song, you found life's eternal decree.
The Proverbs speak in whispers, soft and wise,
Of Wisdom, of Sophia, before human eyes,
She was there when the earth began its rise,
Her understanding stretches across the skies.
Sing we again of the fallen and exalted Sophia,
In the journey of the Marys, Wisdom's panacea,
The Divine dance of Feminine and Masculine, in silence clearer,
In Mother and Magdalene, in all of us, Sophia draws nearer.
In the hush of night and the dawn's soft glow,
In the winds of change and the river's flow,
Mother, Magdalene, in us you sow,
Seeds of wisdom, so we may grow.
Sing we once more of fallen and exalted Sophia,
Through the veil of mystery, we see her ever clearer,
In the mirror of Marys, in their love so dearer,
A hymn to Sophia, may it make our vision clearer.
Now in farewell, we salute thee, Sophia divine,
In Mary mother, Mary Magdalene, thy wisdom doth shine,
In the heart’s holy temple, in the sacred and the mundane,
Sophia, thy wisdom, forever may it reign.
In the undulating tapestry of early Christianity, there are many texts that stand as a provocative testament to the different spiritual threads woven together to form what we presently understand as Christian theology.
The perspective of this article aims to weave together different traditions, which will provide a lens that reframes elements of traditional Christian teaching in a spiritualist, mystical light, and it is particularly enlightening when applied to interpret the role and significance of two pivotal biblical figures: Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene.
The mystical concepts and practices of Gnosticism, an ancient and mystical belief system, provide a nuanced understanding of divine nature, spiritual journey, and arguably, the forms through which divine energy flows into the world. Among the myriad of gnostic characters, Sophia (arguably the most endearing) holds a pivotal place. As co-creator in the divine Pleroma—the spiritual realm devoid of matter—the embodiment of 'wisdom' or 'Sophia' is intriguingly identified in the exalted Queen of Heaven (The Theotokos), and in the fallen, yet redeemed, figure of Mary Magdalene.
The Pistis Sophia, a prime Gnostic text, serves as the foundational basis here. The book tackles the complexities of cosmology, redemption, and the moral struggles faced by Sophia as she endeavours to return to the divine light of the Pleroma from which she fell. Similarly, both Mary, mother of God, and Mary Magdalene, are presented in tradition as women who transcended their earthly challenges to ascend toward divinity, triumphant.
In Sethian view, Barbelo represents a supreme divine figure—often portrayed as a 'mother', the first thought, or even a portion of the ineffable ultimate divine source. This prism lends itself to interpreting the embodiment of the divine in a new light of the Divine Unity.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus, in the Christian tradition, is significantly identified as Theotokos ('the God-bearer') in Christian Orthodox traditions. This parallels deeply with the gnostic perception of Sophia as one who brings forth divinity. Mary’s humility, obedience, and unprecedented role in carrying spiritual essence mirror Sophia's longing for the divine light. In essence, she embodies the Sophia, who was pure wisdom made flesh.
Mary, mother of Jeusus could be seen as an earthly manifestation of the heavenly figure mentioned in Sethian texts, who is named: Barbelo. They both act as divine vessels, birthing manifestations of the godhead into existence. As Barbelo is associated with the conception and birth of spiritual beings, so too is Mary with the person of Jesus—bearing divine light into the corporeal realm.
On the other hand, an examination of Mary Magdalene presents an intriguing study in spiritual redemption, reminiscent of the poignant tale of Sophia. Much like Sophia's fall from grace and subsequent quest for redemption, Mary Magdalene's narrative often emphasizes her past life of sin before her salvation and dedication to Jesus' teachings.
In certain gnostic representations, such as those in 'The Gospel of Mary' and 'The Gospel of Philip', Mary Magdalene is deemed not just a disciple, but as conceivably the foremost among them, possessing profound spiritual wisdom and understanding, reflecting the Sophia incarnate.
On the other end of the spectrum lies a Sethian perspective on the figure of Mary Magdalene, who has been relegated to the fringes of mainstream Christian discourse. In Sethian texts, Magdalene surfaces as a figure of great importance, a beacon of spiritual enlightenment standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the disciples.
She could be perceived as an aspect of the fallen Barbelo, she has often been portrayed as a whore, yet it is Mary Magdalene, who appears to understand. In the Gospel of Luke, it is Mary who sits silently at the feet of her Rabbi, Jesus. Silently contemplating his teachings, unlike Martha, who is occupied with the daily routines of life. Just as the fallen aspect of Barbelo is redeemed through the salvific work of the saviour; Mary Magdalene is depicted as receiving direct revelation from Jesus and sharing it with His followers. She becomes a lamp that illuminates the spiritual path back to the Totality. Her redemption is realized through faithfully following Christ throughout his ministry. It is Mary Magdalene who becomes the apostle to the apostles.
The parallels between Sophia and these two significant Marian figures potentially suggest how ancient Gnostic lore has survived and evolved through the ages, which has become interwoven in Christian Mariology. Sophia's dual incarnation symbolizes the encompassing nature of divine wisdom - bringing forth divinity like the Theotokos on one side and embodying redemption and insightful interaction with the divine, like Mary Magdalene, on the other. Through this unique viewpoint, one can gain renewed appreciation for the integral roles these two Marys have within the Gnostic framework and, potentially, even within orthodox Christianity.
Sophia, personified in these two historical figures of the early Jesus movement, serves both as an embodiment of spiritual potential and the power of redemption. Her story illuminates the path from darkness to enlightenment, doubt to belief, and chaos to divine order, reverberating through time and faith, echoing in the souls of these two iconic figures. Their embodiment of the Sophia provides insight into the ceaseless seeking for divine gnosis and underlines the essential role of 'woman' as more than earthly mothers and companions, but as vessels of timeless spiritual wisdom.
Looking at these women through the lens of Sophia incarnated, it can stir thought-provoking conversations—an enriching exercise in tracing the shifting silhouettes of spiritual understanding across time.