For information about other Sophias, see the article Sophia (name).
Novgorod icon (XVI century, Tretyakov Gallery)
Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia
(Greek αγία Σοφία και οι κόρες της Πίστις, Ἐλπίς, Ἀγάπη Saint Sophia and her daughters Pistis, Elpis, Agape; lat. Fides, Spes, Caritas) - Christian saints, venerated as martyrs. Lived in the 2nd century in Rome (d. 137). The memory is celebrated in the Orthodox Church on September 17 (according to the Julian calendar).
There is no information about Saint Sophia and her daughters in the most ancient martyrologies, and the first evidence of their veneration dates back to the 7th century. According to Bollandists, these martyrs are personifications of Christian virtues, and not real individuals[1].
Biography
Sophia, a widow from Milan, arrived in Rome and stayed with a rich lady named Thessamnia. According to legend, Faith (Greek: Πίστις), Hope (Greek: Ἐλπίς) and Love (Greek: Ἀγάπη)[2] were raised by their mother in Christian piety. When Emperor Hadrian found out about this, he tried to seduce them from the Christian path and force them to worship the goddess Diana - first with the promise of rich gifts, and then with threats. But they firmly confessed their faith in Christ. The emperor ordered Sophia's daughters to be subjected to severe torture, but they miraculously survived it and died only by being beheaded or hacked to death.
On the day of death, Vera was 12 years old, Nadezhda - 10 and Lyubov - 9. The Emperor gave the tortured bodies of his daughters to Sophia, she buried them with honors and died three days later.
The original Greek names of the daughters - Pistis, Elpis and Agape - were translated into Old Slavonic (Old Slavic Vera, Nadezhda, Lyuba), and only the name of their mother Sophia (“Wisdom”) was left without translation.
Icon by Karp Zolotarev (1685)
Martyr Vera of Rome, young woman
Audio:
Kontakion 1
To the chosen servants of the Lord Almighty, Faith, Hope and Love, and the wise Mother Sophia, we tenderly offer you songs of praise. But you, because you have boldness towards Christ God, pray for us, so that we may be delivered from sins and sorrows, so that we may cry out to you with gratitude:
Rejoice, Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, together with Sophia, your wisdom matter.
Ikos 1
The angels in Heaven rejoice, your virtuous life is visible, even in the reading of the Divine Scriptures, in labor, fasting, prayer and alms; May the living images of the three theological virtues appear, by whose names they are named. We, marveling at your mother’s wisdom and your perfect prudence, reverently say to you:
Rejoice, like-minded sisters, three of your namesake virtues; Rejoice, having entered the stage of perfection in obedience to your God-wise mother.
Rejoice, like three branches of paradise, growing in evil Rome; Rejoice, Sophia, who named your daughters the names of the virtues that you taught them to do.
Rejoice, Vero, by faith you help us to see the invisible as if it were visible; Rejoice, thou clothed with incorruption.
Rejoice, Hope, the hope of our suffering in the vale of sorrow that weakens and the right hand that points to the things above; Rejoice, you who have inherited the Kingdom of Heaven.
Rejoice, Lyuba, who reveals to us the bliss of immortal life through Divine love; Rejoice, illuminated by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, Sophia, who is wisdom, who raised your daughters to wisdom; Rejoice, you who strengthen us in the virtues of faith, hope and love.
Rejoice, Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, together with Sophia, your wisdom matter.
Kontakion 2
Seeing the wise servant Sophia, who came to call her and her daughters to King Hadrian, and having recognized the guilt of her calling, she joined her children in prayer, asking for God’s help. After prayer, holding hands by the hand like a woven crown, we walk together, singing to Christ God: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
The saints naturally had an undoubting mind, when they were quickly brought into the royal chambers, Tsar Adrian appeared with a bright face, cheerful hair and a courageous heart. King, it is in vain that your honest face is undaunted and that you have seen the wisdom of Sophia, postpone your judgment for another time and send you to a certain noble wife, who has been with her for three days, your mother wise with inspired words You teach you day and night. Moreover, to please you, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, three blameless lambs of Christ, who have gathered together the crown of virtues; Rejoice, three virtuous sisters, who have shown firm faith, undoubted hope and unfeigned love for the Lord God.
Rejoice, thou who did not spare your beauty and youth, for the sake of His kindness greater than the sons of men; Rejoice, Sophia, your beloved child who taught the feat of martyrdom for Christ.
Rejoice, Vero, who confessed your faith through torment for Christ; Rejoice, your sisters who have built up strong faith.
Rejoice, Hope, who placed firm hope in Christ; Rejoice, you who strengthened your sisters with unflagging hope.
Rejoice, Lyuby, who through torment for Christ demonstrated your effective love; Rejoice, you who protected your sisters with fire of love.
Rejoice, Sophia, your sweet child, who admonished you to despise glory and wealth and all the sweetness of this corruptible world; Rejoice, your good daughters who zealously taught to die for the Lord and die for Him.
Rejoice, Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, together with Sophia, your wisdom matter.
Kontakion 3
The martyrs were overshadowed by the power of Divine, even the virtues of their names were revealed in their martyr labors, chanting to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
The holy martyr has within herself a pillar of faith, a wing of hope and the fire of love, who listens in sweetness to the words of her mother, united to each other in long-suffering, affirming and joyfully walking, willing honest martyrdom, even for Christ. We worship you as our God, and we honor you with our chin:
Rejoice, you who did not grieve in the least at the deprivation of this temporary life of eternal life for the sake of life; Rejoice, for the sake of Christ’s honor you gave your flesh to torment.
Rejoice, you who brought three valuable vessels of faith, hope and love to God as a gift; Rejoice, Sophia, for for the sake of great love for your daughters, you desired with all your heart that they might inherit the Kingdom of God.
Rejoice, Vero, who illuminates our souls with faith; Rejoice, you who lift us up to a quiet haven.
Rejoice, Hope, who quickens our hearts with the sweetness of hope; Rejoice, you who rescue us from the abyss of despair.
Rejoice, Lyuba, who turns our suffering and sorrow into joy; Rejoice, turning our petrified hearts into tenderness.
Rejoice, Sophia, who instructs us with wisdom for good; Rejoice, you who enlighten the darkened eye of our souls.
Rejoice, Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, together with Sophia, your wisdom matter.
Kontakion 4
A storm of tormenting rage attacked you, Saint Vero, but did not shake you. Who will be able to move the invincible faith, the strongest adamant, who taught the faithful to sing with you to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Hearing the wise mother of her daughters before the king, fearlessly confessing Christ and saying, as they only desire, even to suffer and endure the bitter torment of the sweet for the sake of Jesus Jesus Christ, rejoicing as a lord and praying to God to strengthen me in the torments that lie ahead. This is a praiseworthy will; let us sing to the first daughter of the wise mother:
Rejoice, Vero, you who sweetly accepted the merciless beating of the Sweetest One for the sake of Jesus; Rejoice, your trimmed breast, like two crowns of purity, sacrificed to the Lord.
Rejoice, for from your ulcer you flowed with milk instead of blood; Rejoice, for you were placed on a red-hot iron.
Rejoice, for you were thrown into the boiling pot; you were not burned in the least, nor were you harmed; Rejoice, you who calm the flames of our passions with heavenly coolness.
Rejoice, you who extinguish the fire of our torment in illness; Rejoice, you who mark us with the sign of faith in the midst of adversity.
Rejoice, covering us with the shield of faith in battle with the enemy; Rejoice, you joyfully bowed your honorable head for the Head of the Church, Christ God.
Rejoice, for with the stain of your blood, like a scarlet garment, you appeared to the hair of your Immortal Bridegroom; Rejoice, you who have come to the desired land and beheld the beloved Savior and Lord.
Rejoice, Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, together with Sophia, your wisdom matter.
Kontakion 5
The God-created stars were likened to nature, Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, clinging with all their hearts to the one eternal Life and indescribable Beauty, Jesus Christ, who soon walked in death Pray for Him and enjoy His Divine vision, singing to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Having seen the good-victorious sisters, Holy Faith, she joyfully suffered for Christ, and they themselves wanted to lay down their souls for Him: the king began to test Holy Hope, and seeing that she and her sister were of one mind I'm alive, I'll go to torment, but I won't have time for anything. We, the Holy Hope about the wisdom of her, pleasingly sing and glorify her:
Rejoice, Nadezhda, who was cruelly beaten, but who has not lost her bright hope in the Lord; Rejoice, you who endured your torment without complaint in silence.
Rejoice, you who also give us strong patience; Rejoice, for when you were in a fiery, unburnt furnace, you sent forth praise to God.
Rejoice, for you taught us to praise God in our suffering; Rejoice, for you were polished with iron nails.
Rejoice, you who shine with rays of hope upon us who are in sorrow; Rejoice, for a wonderful fragrance has come from your wounds.
Rejoice, having unshakably preserved your unshakable trust in the Lord Jesus; Rejoice, destroying hopelessness and powerlessness in our hearts.
Rejoice, you who joyfully accepted the sword beating for Christ; Rejoice, clear star, revealing eternal peace to us, oppressed by earthly sorrows.
Rejoice, Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, together with Sophia, your wisdom matter.
Kontakion 6
You are like a God-bearing preacher and apostle, God-wise sisters: with your virtues you will preach to all the faithful faith, hope and love for the Lord, the Lord of all, to Him who sings: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
You have shone, like the sun, Saint Lyuba, who stands for your beloved Lord, just as it is written: “Strong as the death of love, water cannot do much.” extinguish love, and the rivers will not drown it.” We pray to you now, Holy Love, with the seraphic flame of love for the Lord, burning, renewing our petrified and withered hearts, kindle in us, who have become impoverished in love, the light of love, may God be more beloved Ode and all our neighbors, we praise you as our prayer book:
Rejoice, Lyuby, for your love for Christ has not quenched the many delights of the world; Rejoice, for having rejected all the caresses and gifts of the king, you laid down your soul for the Lord.
Rejoice, for your love did not drown the rivers of troubles and suffering; Rejoice, for the Lord Jesus, you were stretched out on wheels, beaten with a rod, pierced with drills and thrown into a fiery furnace.
Rejoice, for in your fierce torment you were strengthened by the power of God; Rejoice, through your blood, love for the sake of your Immortal Bridegroom, Christ, poured out, inspiring love in our cold hearts.
Rejoice, who has clearly shown us that all sweet torments are endured for the sake of love; Rejoice, you who showed us that everything Divine leads to eternal life.
Rejoice, you who assured us by the very thing that any Divine revelation is immortality; Rejoice, for no torment could separate Love from the love of Christ.
Rejoice, who in torment apostolically prophesied, for neither sorrow, nor distress, nor persecution, nor famine, nor nakedness, nor misfortune, nor sword will separate you from the love of God; Rejoice, love for the sake of Christ, truncated at the head with the sword.
Rejoice, Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, together with Sophia, your wisdom matter.
Kontakion 7
Although you would sooner be separated from your body and be with Christ, holy virgins, when you go to beheading with the sword, you kiss each other and your mother Sophia in an embrace, loving us in a friendly way teaching, and let us all sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
The Lord showed a new miracle, when He sent His help to those who suffered for the confession of His name only to young virgins: by faith, hope and love we are strengthened and exalted in former valor Venne his exploits have passed away. We, in one mind and unanimity until the end of our lives, pray to you, that you may also grant us unanimity in doing good deeds, tenderly magnifying you:
Rejoice, Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, we have walked together through torment to the gates of heaven; Rejoice, you who entered into the bright palace of your beloved Bridegroom with a voice of joy.
Rejoice, for Jesus Christ enlightened, like the stars in heaven, the wounds on your bodies; Rejoice, Sophia, who looked valiantly at the torment of your children.
Rejoice, for with heavenly beauty, which the eye cannot see, the Lord adorned your kindness, taken away by torment; Rejoice, you who have received crowns of reward.
Rejoice, like three stars, illuminated by the Sun of truth; Rejoice, Sophia, in the courageous confession of your daughters in the name of Christ, you have found great consolation.
Rejoice, dispelling the darkness of our doubts; Rejoice, you who strengthen us who are depressed by mental and physical suffering.
Rejoice, you who adorn our hearts with the beauty of love; Rejoice, Sophia, strength and consolation for those who are exhausted in troubles and needs.
Rejoice, Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, together with Sophia, your wisdom matter.
Kontakion 8
Strange and incomprehensible to us who are weak, lost in worldly indulgences, we see a thing like Saint Sophia, who sees her beloved children with fierce and bitter torment and death, without any sorrow, but rejoiced greatly in spirit, singing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
All wise Sophia was in the highest, always with sweet words and wise admonitions for her daughters to struggle. And if from nature bows down to tears, Abiye, from the love of Christ, turns to joy, sadness of the heart and motherly pain for the children, victory in it for the love of God. The great thing is that you love your daughters, and most of all, you desire the Kingdom of Heaven. For this reason, marveling at the wisdom and greatness of your love for your daughters and glorifying you, we cry:
Rejoice, Sophia, for your soul rejoiced at the blessed death of your daughters, who boldly confessed the holy name of the Lord; Rejoice, in the martyrdom of your children you received honor and glory.
Rejoice, thou art worthy of the participation of martyrdom and the presence with the daughters in the heavenly glory of Christ God; Rejoice, honorable body of your daughters who buried you with joyful tears.
Rejoice, who sat down at their grave for three days and rested in the sleep of death in the Lord; Rejoice, even if not in the flesh, you at least suffered with your heart for Christ.
Rejoice, for you have shown three virtuous daughters, faith, hope, and love for God, as a gift to the Most Holy Trinity; Rejoice, for for the sake of your children you were saved.
Rejoice, wondrous mother, worthy of good memory; Rejoice, thy daughters, that they may shed their blood for Christ, who prayed.
Rejoice, O thou who maketh us wise, that we may immutably adhere to the virtues of faith, hope and love; Rejoice, the Life-giving Trinity praying for us.
Rejoice, Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, together with Sophia, your wisdom matter.
Kontakion 9
All the Angels marvel at your suffering, holy martyrs, and your victory over the devil is triumphant, and your souls are escorted to Heaven, singing the praises of Christ God: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
With great eloquence, all your sufferings for Christ will not be able to utter, but marveling at such a feat, lifted up in their youth, they remain dumb. We, about the more honorable death of your God, glorify you, magnify you:
Rejoice, Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, who sing praises to God, who ascended to heaven; Rejoice, shield of faith, armor of hope and lamp of love.
Rejoice, enjoying the sight of the bright face of God; Rejoice, Sophia, pious mother instructing their children in the wise education.
Rejoice, you who teach us, that we may seek the Lord, and our soul may live; Rejoice in the warm prayer books that come running to you with faith, hope and love.
Rejoice, you who admonish us, for all the sweetness and charm of this world disappears like smoke, like dust is scattered by the wind and turns to dust; Rejoice, Sophia, loving the Lord God with all your heart.
Rejoice, like three bright springs flowing to the one Source of life; Rejoice, as three incense blossoms bloom on the one most fruitful branch that has vegetated.
Rejoice, like three mirrors, reflecting the boundless beauty of God in yourself; Rejoice, Sophia, like an olive tree, three branches, laden with abundant fruits of the gifts of God, growing.
Rejoice, Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, together with Sophia, your wisdom matter.
Kontakion 10
Wanting to save her souls, the holy martyr, for the love of Christ, the caresses of the Tsar and the riches of this corruptible world, despised and joyfully accepted her martyrdom for Christ, singing to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
The holy martyrs are walls of faith, hope and love to all who come running to them with warm and fervent prayer and cry out to them in sorrow and adversity:
Rejoice, good healer of sinful ulcers; Rejoice, in the darkness of our sorrow the light of hope illuminates us.
Rejoice, in the midst of adversity and sorrow you send us wonderful peace; Rejoice, Sophia, who shows wise care for us who are defeated in the misery.
Rejoice, Vero, raising the cross of salvation before us; Rejoice, you who heal our infirmities through your prayers.
Rejoice, Hope, who gives us the anchor of deliverance; Rejoice, thou who graciously takes away the despondency of our hearts.
Rejoice, Lyuby, by your intercession to the Lord in evil adversity protecting us from unexpected death; Rejoice, you who restore our weary strength to vigor.
Rejoice, Sophia, diligent in prayer for us to God; Rejoice, wise mentor in our good deeds.
Rejoice, Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, together with Sophia, your wisdom matter.
Kontakion 11
This singing is laudable, even if it had been offered by the Lord to you, holy martyrs, it would not have been enough to glorify your virtues and exploits. Moreover, He sends praise to God for everything He shows us in His saints, Therefore we sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
Faith, Hope and Lyuba, together with their mother Sophia, are like the burning lights of heaven before the Lord; we fall to them, praying, that they may enlighten us, darkened by sorrows and from the depths of our hearts calling:
Rejoice, you have made your garments white in the blood of Lambs on earth; Rejoice, eternal intercessor for us.
Rejoice, souls who seek peace in the mercy of God, confirmation and preservation; Rejoice, Sophia, protecting us from the vanity of the world.
Rejoice, Vero, worthy censer, offering incense of praise to God; Rejoice, you who enlighten us sinners with faith.
Rejoice, Hope, our consolation and refuge in sorrow; Rejoice, radiant messenger of deliverance in our sorrows.
Rejoice, Lyuby, who pours kindness and meekness into our hearts; Rejoice, mystical star, lifting us up from the crampedness of the earth.
Rejoice, Sophia, wise and honorable teacher; Rejoice, God-dear life to those who pray to you, the organizer.
Rejoice, Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, together with Sophia, your wisdom matter.
Kontakion 12
You have been granted the grace of God to receive, pray for us, holy martyrs, the Most Pure Lord Christ, that He may be merciful to us sinners, with faith, hope and love for Him alone, the Lord and Savior to our souls, who humbly sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
We sing of your mighty deeds, filled with faith, hope and love, we honor your precious sufferings, we praise your wondrous patience, we honor your death, for Christ you are Worthyly raised, we magnify your invincible courage, holy martyrs Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, and wise mother Sophia, and glorifying you, we cry out:
Rejoice, like three streams of lightning, shining from the east even to the west with your virtues; Rejoice, vials of faith, hope and love, filling our souls with life-giving drink.
Rejoice, thou who have journeyed three times of light, leading us to the throne of the glory of the Lord; Rejoice, Sophia, praised for your sake by the saints.
Rejoice, Vero, you are the flower of faith, whiter than snow; Rejoice, delight of the afflicted.
Rejoice, Hope, exaltation of oppressed hearts; Rejoice, like a celestial stream, quenching the thirst of grieving souls.
Rejoice, Luby, crowned with peace, joy and goodness; Rejoice, clever lightning of eternity.
Rejoice, Sophia, rod of strength, gentle and wise chastiser of children; Rejoice, most bright ray of knowledge of God, shining upon our souls.
Rejoice, Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, together with Sophia, your wisdom matter.
Kontakion 13
Oh, holy and praiseworthy martyrs Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, and wise mother Sophie, now we accept this little prayer of ours, from all our troubles, illnesses and sorrows through your prayers. You see, having been honored to see the immortal Lord Jesus in the Kingdom of Heaven, we will sing together with you To him: Alleluia.
This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos “Angels in Heaven...” and the 1st kontakion “To the chosen servants...”.
Prayer 1
Oh, holy and praiseworthy martyrs Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, and valiant daughters of the wise mother Sophie! We come to you now with fervent prayer. What else can intercede for us before the Lord, if not faith, hope and love, these three abiding virtues, in whose image they are called, the very things of which are revealed? Pray to the Lord, that in sorrows and misfortunes He may cover us with His indescribable grace, and preserve His glory, like the unsetting sun, that He may be worthy to see. Help us in our humble prayers, may the Lord God forgive our sins and iniquities, and may He have mercy on us sinners, and may Christ God grant us His bounty, to Him we ascribe glory, with the Beginning His Father, and His Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer 2
We glorify, magnify and bless you, holy martyrs Vero, Nadezhda and Lyuba, together with the wise mother Sophia, whom we worship as the image of God’s care. Pray, Saint Vera, the Creator of the visible and invisible, to give us strong, unblemished and indestructible faith. Intercede, holy Hope, before the Lord Jesus for us sinners, so that the hope for good may not be taken away from us and may deliver us from all sorrow and need. Confession, holy Lyuba, to the Spirit of truth, the Comforter, our misfortune and sorrow, may He from above send down heavenly sweetness to our souls. Help us in our troubles, holy martyrs, and together with your wise mother Sophia, pray to the King of kings and the Lord of lords, that He may preserve His holy Church under the protection . With tears of tenderness falling to you, we fervently pray for your warm intercession before God, so that together with you and with all the saints we exalt and glorify the most holy and great name of the Father and of the Holy Spirit of God, the Eternal Lord and Good Creator, now and ever and unto ages centuries. Amen.
Notes
- O. V. L., Gerasimenko N. V.
Faith, Hope, Love and Sophia // Orthodox Encyclopedia. - M.: Church Scientific, 2004. - T. VII: “Warsaw Diocese - Tolerance.” — P. 702-704. — 752 p. — 39,000 copies. — ISBN 5-89572-010-2. - The names correspond to Christian virtues from Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians (13:13)
- Snow as a symbol of chastity
- BBKL Register | Germany | Verlag Traugott Bautz GmbH (German). Verlag T. Bautz GmbH. Date accessed: December 12, 2021.
- L'abbatiale Saint Trophime l'ancienne abbaye Sainte Sophie | Commune d'Eschau (French). Date accessed: December 12, 2021.
What do the holy martyrs ask for before the image?
Parishioners who wish to offer prayers to the holy great martyrs can ask, standing in front of their icon:
- children's health;
- healing from women's ailments;
- about replenishing the family;
- about the cure of chronic joint pain.
Note! If necessary, you can ask for help in other events that are more significant to you. The main thing is to do this with pure thoughts, unclouded by malice or hatred.
About the birth of children
During her lifetime, Sophia always treated children with great love, continuing to help families wishing to have offspring even after death. The main thing is to ask for this with all your heart, and the Lord God will definitely hear you.
About children's health
No less effect can be achieved with the help of prayers if there are children in poor health in the family. The only thing that all the rectors of churches ask you to remember is that prayer in front of an icon does not provide miraculous deliverance from all ailments immediately after uttering. Sometimes it takes many months, and even years, before your requests are heard.
If prayer doesn’t help, you just have to be patient and continue to believe in a miracle.
On the healing of women's diseases
The icon of Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia is popular among women who cannot recover from illness for a long time. There are many rumors among parishioners in different regions of our country about getting rid of illness through prayer, after doctors and modern medicine were powerless.
About healing from joint pain
Prayers in front of icons of saints help not only against women’s ailments. By lighting a candle in the temple and reading prayer requests, you can also be healed of other ailments, for example, pain in the joints.
Literature
- O. V. L., Gerasimenko N. V.
Faith, Hope, Love and Sophia // Orthodox Encyclopedia. - M.: Church Scientific, 2004. - T. VII: “Warsaw Diocese - Tolerance.” — P. 702-704. — 752 p. — 39,000 copies. — ISBN 5-89572-010-2. - The suffering of the holy martyrs Faith, Nadezhda and Lyubov, and their mother Sophia // Lives of the saints in Russian, set out according to the guidance of the Chetyih-Menya of St. Demetrius of Rostov: 12 books, 2 books. add. - M.: Moscow. Synod. typ., 1903-1916. — Vol. I: September, Day 17. — P. 325.
History of origin
The story through which we learned about the three sisters and their mother Sophia began at the end of the 2nd century AD. Then still young Sophia married a pagan Roman, who loved his wife so much that he did not insist on changing his religion. Years passed, three wonderful daughters were born, who were raised as diligent, believing Christians.
By a sad coincidence, the girls' father died, leaving them without any protection. These were troubled times when Christians were still subject to persecution and cruel torture if there was no one to stand up for them. This fate did not spare the poor woman and her children, whom the emperor himself called to bow to him. In those years, the Roman government gave preference to pagan gods, and the presence of a Christian family on its lands was considered a challenge to their foundations and traditions.
Despite suspicions of impending intrigues, Sophia and her daughters appeared before the face of the emperor, who ordered the children to renounce their faith. He tempted them with various speeches, offering money, beautiful things and sweets. The girls, despite their young age, turned out to be adamant, which infuriated the ruler.
He ordered the torture of the eldest of the sisters, whose name translated into Slavic meant Vera. The girl steadfastly endured the tortures inflicted on her, and some of them did not even leave marks on her skin. This was perceived as a blessing from God, which infuriated the emperor.
He ordered the eldest girl's head to be cut off, after which he moved on to torture the younger sisters. They turned out to be no less persistent, ending their days on the executioner’s block without ever renouncing Jesus Christ. It was the girls' mother who had the hardest time, since all the torture took place before her eyes. The emperor ordered the woman herself to be released, giving the bodies of the children for burial.
The mother died a couple of days after the funeral, without surviving the grief. For the unshakable steadfastness and courage shown by the young girls in the face of the executioners, they were ranked as saints, dedicating a separate icon to the family.
Iconography and meaning
The icons before which parishioners pray in church when they come to a big holiday or on a weekday look like this:
- The saints are always depicted on the icon together, the four of them.
- The foreground of the icon always depicts the images of girls who suffered martyrdom from the pagan emperor.
- In the background of the icon stands Sophia, gently, motherly, hugging the girls by the shoulders.
- Unlike the mother, the heads of the girls depicted in the icon are not covered with a scarf, which indicates their young age.
- Sophia's clothes are white or gray. This was the customary way to dress for widows who later devoted themselves to serving the Lord.
- In the icons, the girls are dressed in multi-colored clothes that have no special differences or symbolism.
