Thomas Merton and Hagia Sophia
Thomas Merton (1915-1968) in 1960 wrote his "Hagia Sophia". In this prose poem he describes in lyrical language a feminine dimension of God, his Holy Wisdom with which he dwells in creation and in our inner self. This wisdom became human in Jesus Christ through the virgin Mary, and transfo...
| Published in: | Studies in spirituality |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Peeters
2021
|
| In: |
Studies in spirituality
|
| IxTheo Classification: | CB Christian life; spirituality CD Christianity and Culture KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history NBC Doctrine of God |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Thomas Merton (1915-1968) in 1960 wrote his "Hagia Sophia". In this prose poem he describes in lyrical language a feminine dimension of God, his Holy Wisdom with which he dwells in creation and in our inner self. This wisdom became human in Jesus Christ through the virgin Mary, and transforms humanity and creation through the Holy Ghost. In this essay I will investigate the sources Merton used for his concept of "Holy Wisdom". He found them in the Wisdom literature of Israel. But also the concept of theoria fysike of Evagrius Ponticus and Maximus Confessor inspired him. And he was deeply influenced by the Russian Sophiology of Soloviev, Bulgakov, Berdyaev and Evdokimov. Merton had several spiritual experiences and dreams about Hagia Sophia that manifested the deep existential meaning of this concept for his contemplative life. In a letter and in his famous poem he explored the different meanings of this spiritual image of unification of God and manhood. I will end with some suggestions of the relevance of Merton's conception for our spiritual questions of today. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0926-6453 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Studies in spirituality
|
| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.2143/SIS.31.0.3289734 |