The image is essentially a Deisis variant (see icon #82). It depicts Sophia as a winged angelic figure with a flame-red face seated upon a throne within a mandrola. It is an aspect of Christ before the creation, in Eternity: “I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was,” (Proverbs 8:23). Above Wisdom is Christ, also within a mandrola. Still higher the heavens are shown like a scroll (Isaiah 34:4; Revelation 6:14), behind which are angels. The table set in the center of the scroll is an altar called the “throne” in iconography, because in an Orthodox church the altar is considered the throne of Christ. At Wisdom’s right hand stands Mary, Mother of God. On the other side of Wisdom is John the Forerunner. He holds a scroll upon which is written, “Repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” (Matthew 3:2). The gilt inscription along the top border identifies the subject as Sofyea Premudrost Bozhiya (“Sofia Wisdom of God.”) The overall style of this icon is based on the 16th century manner.
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