St. Sophia and Her Three Daughters
Sophia, whose name means Wisdom, was a pious Christian widow from Italy who named her daughters for the three theological virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love.
Under the Emperor Hadrian (117-138), the family was denounced and brought to Rome for trial, where the girls, aged twelve, ten, and nine, refused to sacrifice to Artemis; each was cruelly tortured and beheaded while their mother encouraged them to endure to the end. Sophia buried her daughters outside the city and, after keeping vigil at their grave for three days, gave up her soul to God, receiving a martyr's crown through her suffering of heart. Their relics have rested at Eschau in Alsace since the year 777.
Your heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, is eternal health, inexpressible beauty and eternal life. When your bodies are slain by torture, He will clothe you in incorruption and the wounds on your bodies will shine in the heavens as stars.
Troparion of Sts. Sophia, Faith, Hope, and Love (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 of Sts. Sophia, Faith, Hope, and Love (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.
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