Sunny Sophia

Road through Cretan mountains

As much as I’d like to deny it, there’s been a decidedly autumnal feel in the air this weekend…  I've been thinking about the lovely summer that now seems past, and in particular about the wonderful week I spent in Crete with my friend Cath. 

We were both in need of a break and some R&R and that week definitely delivered...  We basked in the sun, enjoyed swimming, reading and far too much of the wonderful Greek cuisine.  We hired a car one day and despite lack of road signs and my horrible sense of direction, managed to negotiate our way from one end of the island to the other.  Along the way we passed through mountains, olive groves and canyons and the detours (unplanned and occasionally tense!) presented us with some beautiful interludes.  We bought fabulous olive oil and honey from a roadside stall enterprisingly positioned at a beauty spot, discovered a cliff top café serving the most delicious salads and best of all, stumbled upon the cave of Agia Sophia. 

Icon of Agia Sophia 

The unplanned stop was made out of sheer nosiness when we saw a number of cars parked on a road in the middle of nowhere.  We followed stone steps up the mountain side and after a hot climb, found ourselves in a gratifyingly cool cave.  The cave has various legends and historical stories associated with it, and has been dedicated to Sophia, the Wisdom of God, for centuries.  In amongst the impressive stalactites and stalagmites are dozens of icons and candles.  One icon in particular really spoke to me.  At the time I could recognise it as the Divine feminine but it wasn't an icon I had ever seen before and I couldn't explain the three female figures at the feet of what I now know to be Sophia. 

On a Sunday visit to Chania, we met a delightful elderly woman, Caterina, who had a shop selling religious artefacts near the church.  I described the icon to her and after some rummaging she produced a beautiful copy and explained that the large figure was indeed Sophia and the three smaller ones represent Love, Peace and Help.  The detour and the meeting with Caterina felt Providential – the power of the Divine feminine and the love, peace and help on offer from Her such a gift.  My Sophia icon is now treasured and I feel sure She has much to teach me!