The Symbol of Femininity in Ecclesiastical Thought: An Examination of the Mystical Views of Saint Hildegard von Bingen From theology to nature

Subject Areas : Christianity

Akram Band Ali Shemshaki ¹ , masood Ahmadi Afzadi ² , zahra ebrahimi ³ , zahra hosinie hamied ⁴

1 -
2 - azad university north tehran branch
3 - Azad University, Tehran North Branch
4 - azad university north tehran branch

Received: 2025-05-13 Accepted : 2025-08-27 Published : 2025-09-27

Keywords: Keywords: Hildegard von Bingen, femininity, symbolism, ecclesiastical thought, tehology , nature,

Abstract :

Abstract 

Saint Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179), a medieval mystic and symbol and vision  offered a remarkable insight and unique perspective on femininity. She gained spiritual authority and influence in a male-dominated medieval world. Her feminine visionary experience became a means of discovering the mysteries of the Bible and understanding God, the universe, and humanity within the framework of feminist theology. This study aims to examine the mystical symbols and symbolic theory in her works, analyzing concepts such as light, greenness (viriditas), wisdom (Sophia), motherhood, cosmology, music, medicine, and the application of Hildegard's thought  Enviromental and therapeutic ethics in the contemporary world. Hildegard viewed femininity not merely as a physical trait but as a spiritual and divine element in the order of creation. Her thought represents a convergence of Christian mysticism and feminine theology. The results of this study will contribute to the mystical discourse on the symbol of femininity and explore the intellectual and spiritual legacy that bridges ancient traditions with modern perspectives on humanity, spirituality, and nature in the history of Christian mysticism.

References:

- کتاب مقدس
- اِوِلین، اُندر هیل، عارفان مسیحی، 1392، مترجمان محمودیان، حمید، مؤیدی، احمدرضا. قم: انتشارات ادیان و مذاهب
-بوک، گیزلا، زنان در تاریخ وسطی، 1398، ترجمه و توضیح: بازرگانی گیلانی، بهاءالدین. تهران: نشر علم
-پازوکی، شهرام، حکمت مسیحی. 1395. تهران: مؤسسه پژوهشی حکمت و فلسفه ایران
- دورانت، ویل، عصر ایمان، 1366، مترجمان ابوطالب صارمی، ابوالقاسم پاینده، ابوالقاسم طاهری. تهران: سازمان انتشارات و آموزش انقلاب اسلامی
-فانینگ، استیون، عارفان مسیحی، 1384، ترجمه فریدالدین رادمهر. تهران: انتشارات نیلوفر
-کونگ، هانس، زن در مسیحیت، 1389، مترجمان مقدم، طیبه، بخشنده، حمید. قم: انتشارات ادیان و مذاهب
- مظاهری، حبیب. شخصیت زن در قرآن کریم و عهدین. 1392. تهران: انتشارات مؤسسه بوستان کتاب
- مک گراث، آلیستر، الهیات مسیحی.1393. ترجمه حدادی بهروز. قم: انتشارات دانشگاه ادیان و مذاهب
- یونگ ، کارل گوستاو ، انسان و سمبولهایش . 1964. ترجمه صارمی ابوطالب .1352. تهران : انتشارات امیرکبیر
مقالات کشفی، سیده سارا، علمی، قربان، گذشته، ناصر. « بررسی مقایسه‌ای انگاره مکاشفه در عرفان روزبهان بقلی و هیلدگارد بینگنی». مجله ادبیات عرفانی. پاییزو زمستان 1399
علیخانی، اسماعیل. « هیلدگارد بینگن در یک نگاه». سامانه نشریات موسسه آموزشی و پژوهشی امام خمینی، شماره مجله 101. 1389
Hildegard of Bingen’. Voice of the Living Light and Her World. 1998. Edited by Barbara Newman. UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA PRESS Berkeley ,Los Angeles , London - Hildegard of Bingen’ . Hildegard’s Healing Plants. 2001. Translated by Bruce W. Hozeski. Beacon Press
Boston - Hildegard of Bingen, Symphonia: A Critical Edition of the Symphonia armonie celestium revelationum, ed.
and trans. Barbara Newman, 2nd ed. (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1998), pp. 148–150. -Hildegard of Bingen. (1998). Physica: Natural Healing through the Healing Power of Nature. Translated by Priscilla Throop. Healing Arts Press.
-
-Hildegard of Bingen. (2006). Causae et Curae. Translated by Margaret Berger. Boydell Press. - Cirlot Victoria. HILDEGARD VON BINGEN and the visionary tradition of the West (Spanish). 2005. Herder publication
-
Flanagan, S. (2012). Hildegard of Bingen: A Visionary Life (2nd ed.). Routledge. - fella Audrey. Hildegarde de Bingen body and soul in God. Editions Points, February 2015 This digital
document was produced by Nord Compo. - Jacob F.J. “life and vision of Hildegard von Bingen”. translation epilogue notes: Victoria cirlot printed in
spania 1997 - Sheryl A. Hildegard of Bingen Essential writings and chants of Christian mystic _ Annotated & Explained
by Dr. sherry l A. Kujawa –Holbrook’ Skylight paths publishing. woodstook ‘vermont. - Hildegard. Book of Divine Works. 1170 and 1173. Edited &introduced Matthew Fox.printed & bound in the
united state. Bear & company.1987 - Hildegard ‘Saint.Scivias. 1149. translated by clomba Hart and Bishop; introduction by Barbara Newman;
preface by caroline Walker Bynum. published by paulist press. 1990 - HILDEGARD OF BINGEN. The Book of the Rewards of Life. (Liber Vitae Meritorum).1994. translated by
Bruce W. Hozeski. Oxford University Press. New York Oxford - Hildegard , Bingen “ Heling Plants’’. From Her Medieval classic physica. translated by Hozeki , Bruce w.
2001 by Beacon Press books. - Schaus ‘Margaret.» Woman and gender in medieval europe an en cyclopedia. «2006.by Routledge taylor
&Francis Group ‘LLC - Gardiner ‘Michael. Hildegard von Bingen Ordo Virtutum a Musical and Metaphysical Analysis. 2019. First published by Routledge2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN, New York, NY 10017Routledge is
an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business. - Silvas’ Anna. Jutta and Hildegard: The Biographical Sources medieval women: texts and contexts. 1998. Publication: Tyrnhout. Brepols
-
Strehlow, W. (2013). Hildegard Medicine: Remedies and Recipes. Healing Arts Press. - monks Gottfried and Theoderi. The Life of the Holy Hildegard.1995. Translated from Latin to Germanwith commentary byAdelgundis Filhrkotter, O.S.B. Translated from German to Englishy James McGrathEnglish text edited by Mary Palmquist, with the assistance of John Kulas, O.S.B.
- Hildegard ‘Saint.Scivias. 1149. translated by clomba Hart and Bishop; introduction by Barbara Newman; preface by caroline Walker Bynum. published by paulist press. 1990 - . Newman. Barbara, Sister of Wisdom: St. Hildegard’s Theology of the Feminine.1997. publisher:
University of California Press -
Newman , B. Voice of the living light: Hildegard of Bingen and her world -
Maddock F . Hildegard of Bingen : the woman of her age. Newyork. Doubledy 2001 - Strehlow W. The nutritional therapy Hildegard von Bingen.Recipes ‘ cures ‘ diets. MensSana Bei knaur.
2009 ; eBook edition 2012 -
Fierro N. Hildegard of Bingen: symphony of the Harmony of Heaven.hildegard. org. 19 mar. 2010 - Newman B. Hildegard of Bingen: Vision and Validation. published by: Cambridge University press on behalf of the American society of church History. 2011
- Newman ,Barbara. Hildegard life and Time. “ In voice of the Living Light: Hildegard of Bingen and her world edited Barbara Newman. Seven part : Medical Writer, ‘Behold the Human creature ‘. Eliza Glaze , Florance 1998
-Hertzka, G., & Strehlow, W. (1997). The Secrets of Hildegard of Bingen: Natural Remedies from a Medieval Abbess. Element Books.
Articles -
Hudson ،G “a God our mother” the feminine cosmology of Julian of Norwich and Hildegard of bingen. 1990