Day of Remembrance of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia (30/09)

Every year on September 30, according to the new style, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Day of Remembrance of the holy martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia.

In the 2nd century, during the reign of Emperor Hadrian (117—138), the pious widow Sophia (Sophia means wisdom) lived in Rome. She had three daughters, Faith, Hope and Love, who bore the names of the three main Christian virtues. Being a deeply religious Christian, Sofia raised her daughters in love for God, teaching them not to become attached to earthly goods.

The rumor that this family belonged to Christianity reached the emperor, and he wished to personally see the three sisters and the mother who raised them. All four appeared before the emperor and fearlessly confessed faith in Christ, who rose from the dead and gave eternal life to all those who believe in Him.

Surprised by the courage of the young Christian women, the emperor sent them to a pagan woman, whom he ordered to convince them to renounce their faith. However, all the arguments and eloquence of the pagan mentor turned out to be in vain, and the Christian sisters, flaming with faith, did not change their beliefs. Then they were brought again to Emperor Hadrian, and he began to insistently demand that they sacrifice to the pagan gods. But the girls indignantly rejected his order.

Then the angry Adrian ordered the children to be subjected to various tortures. Saint Sophia was not subjected to bodily torment, but she was doomed to even greater mental torment from separation from tortured children. The sufferer buried the honest remains of her daughters and did not leave their grave for two days. On the third day, the Lord sent her a quiet death and accepted her long-suffering soul into the heavenly abodes. Saint Sophia, having suffered great mental anguish for Christ, together with her daughters, was canonized by the Church.

They suffered in 137. The eldest, Vera, was 12 years old then, the second, Nadezhda, was — 10, and the youngest, Lyubov, was only 9 years old. Thus, the three girls and their mother showed that for people strengthened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, the lack of bodily strength does not at all serve as an obstacle to the manifestation of fortitude and courage. Since 777, the relics of the holy martyrs have rested in Alsace, in the church of Echo.

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