Changes in the Concept of Sophia and the Specificity of the Icon of the Virgin Mary

This article analyzes changes in the concept of Sophia and the specificity of the icon of the Virgin Mary. The specific research subject is the Icon of the Virgin Mary, which was a typical religious painting until the Middle Ages. We compare the ideological concept of Sophia and the meaning of the icon of the Virgin Mary. In Chapter 1, We look at the change of the concept and definition of Sofia, and aspects of the acceptance of Sophia in Russia. In the Christian tradition, Sophia has been transformed into the divine administration or the divine wisdom of faith or the wisdom of Jesus Christ's love for the lowly and poor. The main medium for Russians to accept Sophia was pictorial images such as icons and frescoes. In Chapter 2, We examine the characteristics and practical aspects of each type of icon of the Virgin Mary. Through this process, we see the ontological meaning of the icon of the Virgin Mary in the Christian worldview. Unlike Sophia, the Virgin Mary did not have an independent status as a painting image. Therefore the pictorial image of the Virgin Mary has meaning as a tool that plays a role in emphasizing the personality of Jesus Christ. During this process, the icon of the Virgin Mary changed and produced various variants.