17 December: O Sapientia

Today marks the beginning of the O Antiphons, the special antiphons used at Vespers in the final days of Advent. So in lieu of the saint of the day, how about churches bearing the dedication of the corresponding Messianic title of the evenings' antiphon?

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter, suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.   O Wisdom, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly, Come, and teach us the way of prudence.

Forgoing the obvious, here are photographs of the remains of Hagia Sophia, Nicaea (now Iznik) which hosted the meetings of the Council of Nicaea. It makes an appropriate selection as the antiphon would speaks to a church council's need for prudence and for Wisdom from the mouth of the Most High to order all things.