Commemorated September 17 (New Calendar) September 30 (Old Calendar)

Saint Sophia was an Italian widow in Rome in the reign of the emperor Hadrian. She named her daughters Faith, Hope, and Love, and raised them openly as Christians. She refused to hide Christ or to let her children sacrifice to Artemis. She was made to watch them tortured and beheaded: Faith at twelve, Hope at ten, Love at nine. She buried them on a high hill, stayed three days at the grave, and reposed there. The Church keeps her as a martyr with them, though the sword was not laid on her body.

The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints – September 17

(Please forgive me for any mispronounciation of words in this reading. God Bless!)

The words of Saint Sophia

“O Almighty God, do with us according to Thy holy will, and forsake us not, but rather grant us Thy holy aid, that our hearts be not frightened by the proud tormentor, that we be not terrified by his fearful tortures nor terrorized by bitter death, and that nothing might separate us from Thee, our God.” (With her daughters, when the emperor’s servants came to take them.)

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“Help us, O God our Saviour, for the sake of the glory of Thy holy name!” (At the palace doors, as they signed themselves with the Cross.)

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“I am a Christian, and in that honorable name I rejoice.” (When Hadrian asked her lineage, names, and faith.)

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“My beloved daughters, the time has now come for you to contend for Christ; the hour has arrived for you to be betrothed unto your immortal Bridegroom. In accordance with your names, may you display firm faith, undoubting hope, and unfeigned and never-failing love.” (Instructing them day and night in the house of Palladia.)

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“My daughters, for the sake of the honor in which you will be held by Christ, Who is more comely than the sons of men, do not spare your flesh. For the sake of life eternal, pity not the bloom of your youth nor hesitate to suffer the deprivation of this fleeting life.” (The same instruction, before they were brought back to the emperor.)

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“My daughter, I bore you and on this account endured suffering. But you will redeem my suffering if you die for Christ’s sake, confessing Him and shedding the blood which you received in my womb. Go to Him, my beloved offspring, stained with your blood, as if clothed in crimson. When you appear most fair before the eyes of your Bridegroom, remember before Him your lowly mother and pray to Him for your sisters.” (Taking Faith’s body after the sword.)

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“My daughter Hope, you are blessed by the Lord God on high in Whom you trust and for Whose sake you have not spared your blood. Go now to your sister Faith, to stand in the presence of our Beloved.” (After Hope was beheaded.)

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“My third offspring, my beloved child: endure to the end! You are travelling along the path which is good, and a crown has already been woven for you. The bridal chamber has been prepared and stands open for you. Remember me, your mother, in the kingdom of your Bridegroom, that He might be merciful to me and not deprive me of an inheritance and portion with you in His holy glory.” (To Love before the last sword.)

The words of others in the reading

“Pray for me, Mother, that I may complete my course and arrive at the end which I desire, to behold my beloved Lord and Saviour.” (Faith, after she heard the sentence of death.)

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“You know, my dear sisters, to Whom we have promised ourselves and to Whom we have been betrothed. Therefore, let us endure unto the end. A single mother has borne us, so let us accept a common death since we are sisters and share a single will.” (Faith, to Hope and Love.)

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“Peace and salvation to you, mother: remember your child!” (Hope, before she went to the sword.)

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“I sing to Thee, and I bless Thy much-hymned name, O Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast loved Thy handmaiden Love! Number me together with my sisters.” (Love, when she was commanded to be beheaded.)

Who stood with her

Her husband died soon after Love’s birth; his name is not kept in this reading. Faith, Hope, and Love were her daughters. Antiochus denounced the household. Palladia, a noblewoman, was charged to watch them and turn them. Believers buried Sophia beside her children.

She taught her daughters the names they already bore, and then stood still while those names were asked for in blood.

We ask her prayers when a parent must keep Christ in a house that is being broken, and when love for a child is used to make us deny Him.

Pray for us

Troparion, Tone 4 “The Church celebrates and rejoices in the feast of the three daughters: Faith, Hope, and Love and their Mother Sophia, named for her wisdom: For in them she gave birth to the three godly virtues. Now they eternally behold their bridegroom, God the Word. Let us rejoice spiritually in their memory and cry: O our three Heavenly Protectors, establish, confirm and strengthen us in Faith, Hope and Love.”

Kontakion, Tone 1 “The holy branches of noble Sophia, Faith, Hope, and Love, confounded Greek sophistry through Grace. They struggled and won the victory and have been granted an incorruptible crown by Christ the Master of all.”

Saint Sophia, pray for us.

Sources

St. Demetrius of Rostov, Lives of the Saints, September 17. https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Dmitrij_Rostovskij/zhitija-svjatykh/796

Orthodox Church in America, Martyr Sophia and her three daughters at Rome. https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/09/17/102638-martyr-sophia-and-her-three-daughters-at-rome

This site is a lamp, not a parish. Listen to the life. Then find a living Orthodox church and ask a priest to pastor you. https://pieceofhumanity.com/find-a-parish/

Other Names

София, Sofie, Sophie