Hagia.Sofia.(Sophia)
Isidor of Militos and Anthemius of Tralles were members of the circle of the school of Philosophy of Alexandria where Ammonium taught.
The academia of Plato in Athens shut in 529 A.D. only 3 years before the construction of this marvelous building began.
But in Alexandria (my homeland), the school of philosophy was the center of the Hellenic world and science.
The governor of Constantinople, Focas and a close friend to the emperor Justin invited the two architects to Constantinople. He was one of the minds close to the school of Alexandria that continued the teachings of Pythagoras, Plato, Aristotle and ancient mysteries.
Focas, unfortunately, was persecuted for being a Pagan in 545 A.D. and put his life to an end, we are told.
We realize once more that the Hellenic Spirit, foreign and pagan for the Christians, becomes the base of the Christian identity.
This beautiful building was designed and built by a circle of people who believed you could reach the divine through science.
But what is the divine for these people of this school of thought?It was the light in a metaphysical and literal way, therefore, attention concerning the attributes of the light prevailed.
The ability of light has to reflect and change requires a great understanding of mathematics and geometry.
The notion of three dimensions was later referred to as ”Kallihoros “of Hagia. Sophia by Paul Silentarius was the description used in the 6-century A.D.to describe the space under the dome, where the sound does not evaporate during the Liturgy!
As the sound ascends up to the dome, it returns and pours down like golden rain to the people attending.
The intoner recites and Hagia. Sofia responds that this mystic divine synergy enveloped all in one.
Sophia, meaning Wisdom. But Wisdom is divine, we can feel, see, and hear this with all our senses in Hagia.Sofia.
We communicate in this sacred space that emits the presence of the divine. We, as Christians and non-Christians, focused on the Iconographical aspect of the Byzantine, overlooking the non-visual aspect of faith.
Understanding the divine as light and sound, free of shape, escaping human interference, reflecting the energy of divine creation.Hagia.Sophia represents the nonmaterial aspects of the divine allowing the faithful to participate while chanting, reflecting and being with God.
Today, in modern concert halls, the resonance lasts 2-4 seconds, but in Hagia. Sophia 11-12 seconds. By doing so one experiences the sound beyond the limits of language instead,d we experience the presence of the divine engulfed in a nontangible liquid sound. (as described by Homer)
For all of us, either philosophers, mathematicians or simply faithful or agnostic, only through stillness can we witness the immaterial aspects of the divine through science.
Sofia -wisdom -science is required to find our way out of this dark storm.
For my friends across the Aegean, for their hospitality when visiting their city, and for their friendship, thank you.
