Purulent is the stage name of one of the most scandalous participants ...
On September 30, 2016, Bishop Seraphim of Belevsky and Aleksinsky led the festive divine service in the church in honor of the mts. Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sophia (Novogurovsky settlement, Aleksinsky district). His Grace was co-served by the rector of the church, Priest John Cheskidov. Through prayer behind the ambo, Vladyka celebrated the holiday in front of the mtsts icon. Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sophia, after which he sprinkled everyone with holy water, congratulated the rector and parishioners of the church on the feast day.
"Sophia, the most honest sacred branches, Faith, and Hope, and Love appeared, wisdom has seized Hellenic grace: both those who suffered and who appeared victorious, the imperishable crown of all Vladyka is bound up"
(Kontakion, voice 1)
September 30 is the day when the Church honors the memory of the martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia. The holy martyrs lived in Italy during the reign of the emperor Hadrian. They came from a wealthy and pious family. Sophia, a mother of three daughters, raised her children in faith, hope and love for others.
Once, during the stay of the saints in Rome, they were detained by the soldiers of the emperor, who heard rumors about their piety and virtues. The emperor was amazed at the firmness of the faith of such young virgins and ordered them to be brought to him separately, thinking that in this way they would not imitate each other and would not dare to rebuff him.
The first to appear before him was the twelve-year-old Vera. She confidently responded to Hadrian's speeches, denouncing his wickedness and evil designs against Christians. The angry emperor ordered to undress the girl and scourge mercilessly. Then her nipples were cut off, and milk flowed from the wounds instead of blood. Other torments to which Vera was subjected, also did not break her, protected by the power of God. After torture, Saint Vera was beheaded.
Then the emperor ordered to call Hope, who was ten years old. She was as firm in confessing Christ as the true God as her sister. She was scourged, then thrown into a burning furnace, but the flame went out, for the love for the Lord that burned in the soul of Hope was stronger than any sensual flame. After many torments, she also died by the sword.
Adrian, very angry, called on Love, who was only nine years old. But this child also showed the same courage as the sisters. She was hung on a rack and stretched so much that the joints of her legs and arms began to break. Then the girl was thrown into a blazing furnace, but an angel saved her from the fire. After that, holy Love was beheaded with a sword.
Their mother rejoiced in spirit, seeing the deeds of her daughters who reached the heavenly abodes, but her human heart was so exhausted by suffering that a few days later Saint Sophia departed to the Lord at the grave of her children.
Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia courageously confessed Christ before the torturers and showed that they are the overcomers of death. We will ask them to strengthen us on the path of life with their prayers.
Holy Mother Sophia and holy martyrs Faith, Hope, Love, pray to God for us!
The Orthodox holiday, the day of saints Hope, Faith, Sophia and Love is celebrated in Russia on September 30. The history of the holiday is heavy and sad. Even during the reign of Hadrian, mother Sophia lived in the Roman Empire with her three daughters. The woman and girls did not hide their faith in Christ. On a denunciation, the emperor ordered to deliver them to Rome. Saint Sophia and the girls, realizing what followed, prayed and asked the Lord Jesus Christ to give them strength, courage, and worthily accept all the torments.
At first, they tried to force all four to give up the Orthodox faith, then the young virgins were subjected to terrible torture in turn, and this despite the fact that the girls were 9-12 years old. Sophia was forced to watch everything that happened. It is difficult to imagine what a woman felt when she saw how her daughters were being tormented. But despite all the suffering, not one of the daughters renounced faith in the Lord. After the mother was allowed to bury the bodies of her girls, after spending three days over their graves, she died. The church canonized them among the holy martyrs, whose relics have been in Alsace since 777. On this day, congratulations to all the girls, women who bear the names of these saints. What can you wish for on this day besides patience, stamina, courage? Of course, hope, faith and love.
When the rains are knocking on your doors
There is no strength to gather and go forward,
May the Angel of Faith dwell nearby,
Your soul does not give offense.
When phrases and clothes do not warm,
There is a cold in my heart - as if in February,
May the Angel of Hope warm you,
Will put you to sleep on an affectionate wing.
When, tired, you are angry with everything in the world,
And anger rages on fire in blood
Take your time - pray to God,
The Angel of Holy Love will come to you.
May they save you from any element
Three Angels and their mother - Sophia!
Three names. Beautiful, simple.
Words that help people live.
Sophia once named children,
We must thank her!
For giving Vera to people.
And that everyone always lives with Nadezhda.
And if there is Love, then there will be happiness!
And let it come to every house!
I congratulate you on a bright holiday. May love never pass, there will always be faith in the best with you, and even in the most difficult moments may hope not leave you!
I wish you not to lose faith,
Let hope be near
Do not dare to betray love
And you will have everything as it should.
Sophia let wisdom send
And let the heart not worry about sadness.
The bad will go away forever
And the Angel will help you in everything.
May they always help you
Hope, Faith and Love,
Protect from evil and troubles,
Giving you joy again and again!
May Faith strengthen your heart,
Hope will light up the soul
Well, Love will not let you get burned
And he will thank you with happiness!
To all Verunka and Nadyunka,
Lyubam, Dormouse-laughing
We want to be in openwork
With money and with a figure,
With worthy men
And in torn stockings.
With a prestigious job,
Surrounded by care
And with hair, with makeup,
Annually so that voyages
For fashionable outfits
And not a bit of resentment.
So that you are wise forever
And flawlessly beautiful
To believe in yourself
All hoping and loving.
In life you bear the name of the holy virgin,
One of the Trinity of Holy Sisters.
She endured terrible torment,
But with firmness she stood her ground.
Be proud of the name you were given
And do not deny your words.
Let them help you in life
All three: Hope, Faith and Love.
May the angels, three kind sisters,
They protect you with invisible power,
Fulfill all cherished dreams
They shower your house with goodness and happiness.
Sophia's mother will take all troubles away,
Hope, Faith and Love from now on
Will give you an unprecedented takeoff in life
And they will guard you like a shrine!
If you are called Sophia,
Vera, Nadia il Love,
Then today to congratulations
Get your ears ready.
On a birthday day I wish
Happiness of gentle rays
Kindness, human warmth
And pleasant little things.
Despite the fact that it's autumn
Let spring live in my heart
And let the Angel guard
Your path is long years.
Let the angels from you
They will take away bad weather.
Good health,
Friends, smiles, happiness!
Let them bring joy again
Angelic holiness
Faith, Hope, Sofia, Love -
They are unbiased.
Swim in the sea of \u200b\u200bkindness
To know all the joy of life
Smiling at everyone, shine!
Congratulations on this bright day,
Let us remind you of faith again,
Let's light candles in the shower
Good, hope and love -
We all live for love
And we keep faith in our hearts.
In the hope for the best, we go
We sincerely dream of light
To Saint Sophia and the Three Sisters
Pay the speeches of prayer,
Learn and grow from them.
September 30 is the day of remembrance of the holy martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sophia. They suffered in 137, during the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire during the reign of Hadrian. The eldest, Vera, was then 12 years old, the second, Nadezhda, was 10, and the youngest, Lyubov, was only 9 years old. The girls, along with their mother, were brought to trial for confessing their faith in Christ and not hiding it. The emperor called them in turn to himself and offered to offer sacrifice to the idol, the girls refused and glorified the name of Christ. Both Saint Sophia and her daughters understood what would follow, but they did not renounce Christ and endured martyrdom. The freedom of choice remained with them forever.
Fr. Vitaly served the liturgy that day. During the sermon, he talked about the concept of freedom - one of the most important in human life. It is very difficult for a person to acquire freedom, but with a great desire and faith in God, it is possible. The example of the holy martyrs proves this and shows what real Christian freedom is.
The Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Galatians is also called the Epistle of Freedom, since the apostle examines the state of freedom given to man by God from different angles. The Epistle of the Apostle, of course, was written in a certain historical context and on a specific occasion, but it remains relevant today. After the summer holidays, the rector of the temple resumed. And just started to study " Epistles to the Galatians of St. apostle paul
".
"Salvation cannot be earned, it cannot be achieved by any human effort, it can only be accepted. By accepting the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, people become sons of God and from slaves to free, in order to use their freedom to serve one another. " In the second part of the letter, Paul gives specific advice and urges not to accept freedom as self-will.
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"Vera reveals to us what is true, and from sincere faith love is born, because the one who truly believes in God will never agree to withdraw from love".
(Saint John Chrysostom)
"Hope on God - a lever that overturns despair, frees the soul from despondency and fear, and, step by step, strengthens the spiritual strength of a person, awakening holy optimism in him".
(Venerable Paisios Svyatorets)
"Love is longsuffering, merciful, love does not envy, love is not exalted, is not proud, does not rage, does not seek its own, does not get irritated, does not think evil, does not rejoice in untruth, but rejoices at the truth: it covers everything, believes everything, hopes everything, endures everything. Love never ends".
(From the Epistle to the Corinthians of the Holy Apostle Paul)
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"We magnify you, holy martyrs, Vero, Nadezhda, Love and Sophia, and we honor your holy sufferings, even for Christ we have endured e'ste. "
Prayer to the Martyrs.
Memory of Sts. martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia occurs September 30th (September 17, old style). This is one of the most remarkable days in the Christian church calendar, when one of the most touching life narratives is remembered, which speaks of the unyielding courage of three still very young Christian virgins and their holy mother.
Troparion, voice 1.
The lambs of the verbal to the Lamb and the Shepherd were brought by torment, the flow to Christ has passed away and the faith has been observed. In the same day, with a joyful soul, we celebrate your holy memory in greatness, magnifying Christ.
Kontakion, voice 1.
The lambs of language, the Lamb and the Shepherd will be honored to talk. Fire the fierce one and betray the torments quickly, and appear as an angel of equal honor. Thus, we celebrate all your sacred memory in the joy of the heart of the virgin of God.
Sedalen.
Sophia, an honest sacred summer, Vera, and Nadezhda, and Lyuba appeared, the wisdom of the goddess of Hellenic grace. Suffering and triumphant, appearing, the crowns incorruptible from all the Lords were entangled.
Library of the Russian Faith
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Sts. martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Love and their mother Sophia. Icons
Since the holy martyrs lived in the second century, the veneration of their image has a long history. They are depicted frontally, behind the backs of short daughters is St. Sofia. As a rule, everyone is holding crosses in their hands - this is a symbol of the Savior's great sacrifice. It also means martyrdom.
Often the icon "Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia" looks very colorful - the girls wear robes of different colors (red, white, azure, sometimes green and yellow are used). Most often, young girls do not have a head covering on themselves, which is very rare in the iconographic tradition of the female image in Christianity. The style of depicting faces depends on the time of the icon and the school to which the icon painter belonged. But the family is always together, as a worthy role model.
In the traditional images of the Byzantine school, the holy adolescents are holding eight-pointed Orthodox crosses in their hands, their mother is standing, prayerfully raising her hands to heaven - she asks for God's help. The faces of the saints are calm, their heads are bowed, as if in agreement with the will of God, who has prepared trials for His children.
There is also an icon with stamps depicting scenes from the life: one of them is St. Sophia and her children study the Holy Scriptures, on the other - they appear before the ruler, then they have a conversation with a pagan priestess. Then there are scenes of torture of each of the sisters, then - the burial. In the center is the classic frontal image of the whole family. This icon is also considered "family", as an example of a strong, friendly and pious Christian family. In front of her, they most often pray for family well-being and the health of their household members.
Folk traditions on the day of sts. martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia
This holiday is called "Ecumenical Woman's Name Day", because Angel Day falls here at once for four different birthday girls: Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and Sofia. "Babi's name day" in the old days was celebrated for three days. These days, they glorified maternal wisdom (Sophia) and female virtues - faith, hope and love. On this day, the woman was allowed to cry about her hard lot, as well as to remember her relatives and friends in tearful prayer. However, crying is not crying, but you still have to stand behind the stove. After crying, the women began to cook in order to please the male household with birthday pies and pretzels on their birthday.
Temples in honor of Sts. martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia
In honor of Sts. martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia, the side-altar of the Cathedral of the Smolensk Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow was consecrated. Smolensk Cathedral was built in 1524-1525. According to other sources, the cathedral was rebuilt in stone between 1533 and 1551. The revered Smolensk Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (a copy of the mid-15th century) is in the cathedral. The Novodevichy Convent is jointly run by the Russian Orthodox Church and the State Historical Museum.
Cathedral of the Smolensk Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow The Russian Ancient Orthodox Church in 2015 began construction in the village of Moty, Shelekhovsky District, Irkutsk Region. While the site is fenced off, a wooden cross has been installed and a small gatehouse has been placed. The temple is supposed to be made of wood.
The site of the future RDC church in the name of St. martyrs of Faith, Hope, Love in the village. Moty of the Irkutsk region Psychic teaching
Faith, Hope and Love are the three same-named initial virtues on which the spiritual striving for perfection and salvation of the soul is built.
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
“If I speak with human and angelic tongues, but have no love, then I- tinkling copper or tinkling cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and I know all the secrets, and I have all knowledge and all faith, so that I can move mountains, but I have no love,- then I am nothing. And if I distribute all my possessions and give my body to be burned, but I have no love,- it doesn't do me any good. Love is longsuffering, merciful, love does not envy, love is not exalted, is not proud, does not rage, does not seek its own, does not get irritated, does not think evil, does not rejoice in untruth, but rejoices in the truth; covers everything, believes everything, hopes everything, endures everything. Love never fails, although prophecies will cease, and tongues will cease, and knowledge will be abolished. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; when the perfect comes, then that which will partly cease. When I was a baby, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; but when he became a husband, he left the baby. Now we see, as it were through a dim glass, fortuitously, then face to face; now I know in part, and then I will know as I am known. And now these three abide: faith, hope, love; but love is the greatest of them. " (1 Corinthians 13: 1-13).
During the reign of Emperor Hadrian, there lived in Rome a widow, an Italian by the name of Sophia, which means wisdom. She was a Christian, and according to her name, she led her life prudently - according to the wisdom that the Apostle James praises, saying: "The wisdom that comes down from above is, first, pure, then peaceful, modest, obedient, full of mercy and good fruits" (James 3:17). This wise Sophia, living in an honest marriage, gave birth to three daughters, whom she named names corresponding to the three Christian virtues: the first daughter she named Faith, the second - Hope, and the third - Love. And what else could have come from Christian wisdom, if not God-pleasing virtues? Soon after the birth of her third daughter, Sofia lost her husband. Left as a widow, she continued to live godly, pleasing God with prayer, fasting and charity; She raised her daughters in the way that a wise mother can do it: she tried to teach them to show in life those Christian virtues whose names they bore.
As the children grew, so did their virtues. They already knew the prophetic and apostolic books well, were accustomed to listening to the teachings of their mentors, diligently engaged in reading, were diligent in prayer and in household chores. Obeying their holy and divinely wise mother, they prospered in everything and ascended from strength to strength. And since they were extremely beautiful and sensible, everyone soon began to pay attention to them.
The rumor about their wisdom and beauty spread throughout Rome. The governor of the region Antiochus heard about them and wished to see them. As soon as he saw them, he was immediately convinced that they were Christians; for they did not want to hide their faith in Christ, did not doubt the hope in Him and did not faint in their love for Him, but openly glorified Christ the Lord in front of everyone, abhorring the godless pagan idols.
Antiochus informed King Adrian of all this, and he did not hesitate to immediately send his servants so that they would bring the girls to him. Fulfilling the royal command, the servants went to the house of Sophia, and when they came to her, they saw that she was teaching her daughters. The servants announced to her that the king was calling her along with his daughters. Realizing for what purpose the king was calling them, they all turned to God with this prayer:
Almighty God, do with us according to Your holy will; do not leave us, but send us Your holy help, so that our hearts do not fear the proud tormentor, so that we do not fear his terrible torment, and do not be horrified by death; let nothing tear us away from You our God.
After making a prayer and worshiping the Lord God, all four - mother and daughters, taking each other's hands like a woven wreath, went to the king and, often looking to heaven. with heartfelt sighing and secret prayer, they handed themselves over to the help of the One who commanded not to be afraid "Killing the body, but not being able to kill the soul" (Matthew 10:28). When they approached the royal palace, they made the sign of the cross over themselves, saying:
Help us, O God, our Savior, to glorify for the sake of Your holy Name.
They were brought into the palace, and they appeared before the king, who proudly sat on his throne. Seeing the king, they gave him a proper honor, but they stood before him without any fear, without any change in face, with courage in heart, and looked at everyone with a cheerful gaze, as if they were summoned to a feast; with such joy they appeared to the king to torture for their Lord.
Seeing their noble, bright and fearless faces, the king began to ask what kind they were, what their names were and what their faith was. Being wise, the mother answered so prudently that everyone present, listening to her answers, marveled at her such intelligence. Briefly mentioning her origin and name, Sophia began to talk about Christ, whose origin no one can explain, but whose name every generation should worship. She openly confessed her faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and, calling herself His servant, glorified His Name.
I am a Christian, she said, that is a precious name that I can boast of.
At the same time, she said that she also betrothed her daughters to Christ, so that they would preserve their imperishable purity for the imperishable Bridegroom - the Son of God.
Then the king, seeing before him such a wise woman, but not wishing to enter into a long conversation with her and judge her, postponed this matter until another time. He sent Sophia with her daughters to a noble woman named Palladia, instructing her to watch them, and three days later present them to him for trial.
Living in the house of Palladia and having at her disposal a lot of time to teach her daughters, Sophia confirmed them in faith day and night, teaching with words inspired by God.
My beloved daughters, - she said, - now is the time of your feat, now the day has come of your indignation to the immortal Bridegroom, now, in accordance with your names, you must show firm faith, undoubted hope, unhypocritical and eternal love. The hour of your triumph has come, when you will be married with a martyr's crown to your dear Bridegroom and with great joy you will enter His blessed palace. My daughters, for the sake of this honor of Christ, do not spare your young flesh; do not regret your beauty and youth, for the sake of the Reddest kindness more than the sons of men, and for the sake of eternal life do not grieve that you will lose this temporary life. For your heavenly Beloved, Jesus Christ, is eternal health, untold beauty and endless life. And when your bodies for His sake are tortured to death, He will clothe them with incorruption and make your wounds as bright as the stars in the sky. When your beauty is taken away from you through torment for Him, He will adorn you with heavenly beauty, which the human eye has never seen. When you lose your temporary life, laying down souls for His Lord, He will reward you with endless life, in which He will glorify you forever before His heavenly Father and before His holy angels, and all heavenly powers will call you brides and confessors of Christ. All the monks will praise you, the wise virgins will rejoice in you and will accept you into their fellowship. My dear daughters! do not let yourself be seduced by the charms of the enemy: for, as I think, the king will lavish affection on you and promise you great gifts, offering you glory, wealth and honor, all the beauty and sweetness of this perishable and vain world; but you do not desire anything of the kind, for all this is like smoke disappears, like dust is scattered by the wind, and like flowers and grass dries up and turns to earth. Do not be afraid when you see fierce torment, for, having suffered a little, you will defeat the enemy and triumph forever. I believe in my God Jesus Christ, I believe that He will not leave you suffering in His name, for He Himself said: “Can a woman forget her sucking child, so that she does not have pity on the son of her womb? but if she also forgot, then I will not forget you " (Is.49: 15), He will persistently abide with you in all your torments, beholding your deeds, strengthening your weaknesses and preparing an imperishable crown for you as a reward. Oh, my beautiful daughters! remember my illnesses at your birth, remember my labors in which I nurtured you, remember my words with which I taught you the fear of God, and comfort your mother in her old age with your kind and courageous confession of faith in Christ. For me there will be triumph and joy, and honor, and glory among all believers, if I deserve to be called the mother of martyrs, if I see your valiant patience for Christ, firm confession of His Holy Name and death for Him. Then my soul will rejoice, and my spirit will rejoice, and my old age will be strengthened. Then you too will truly be my daughters, if, having listened to the instructions of your mother, you stand for your Lord to the blood and die for Him with zeal.
Having listened to this instruction of their mother with affection, the girls felt sweetness in their hearts and rejoiced in spirit, waiting for the time of torment as the wedding hour. For, being holy branches from a holy root, they wished with all their souls what their wise mother Sophia instructed them to do. They took to heart all her words and prepared themselves for the feat of martyrdom, as if they were gathering in a bright palace, shielding themselves with faith, strengthened by hope, and kindling in themselves the fire of love for the Lord. Encouraging and affirming each other, they promised their mother all her soulful advices to carry out with the help of Christ in reality.
When the third day came, they were brought before the wicked king for judgment. Thinking that they could easily obey his seductive words, the king began to speak to them like this:
Children! Seeing your beauty and sparing your youth, I advise you as a father: bow to the gods, the rulers of the universe; and if you listen to me and do what you are commanded, then I will call you my children. I will call upon the rulers and rulers and all my advisers, and in their presence I will declare you my daughters, and you will enjoy praise and honor from all. And if you do not listen and do not obey my command, then you will cause yourself great harm, and you will grieve your mother's old age, and you yourself will perish at a time when you could have had the most fun, living carelessly and merrily. For I will give you up to a cruel death, and, having shattered the members of your body, I will throw them to the dogs to devour, and you will be trampled by all. So, for your own good, listen to me: for I love you and not only do I not want to ruin your beauty and deprive you of this life, but I would like to become a father to you.
But the holy virgins answered him unanimously and unanimously:
Our Father is God who lives in heaven. He provides for us and our life and has mercy on our souls; we want to be loved by Him and we want to be called His true children. Worshiping Him and keeping His commands and commandments, we spit on your gods, but we are not afraid of your threat, for we only desire that, to suffer and endure bitter torments for the sake of the sweetest Jesus Christ, our God.
Hearing such an answer from them, the king asked mother Sophia, what were the names of her daughters and how old they were.
Saint Sophia answered:
The name of my first daughter is Vera, and she is twelve years old; the second - Hope - has ten years, and the third - Love, which is only nine years old.
The king was very surprised that at such a young age they have courage and intelligence and can respond to him in this way. He began again to force each of them to his wickedness and first turned to his elder sister Vera, saying:
Make a sacrifice to the great goddess Artemis.
But Vera refused. Then the king ordered to strip her to a naga and beat her. The torturers, striking her without mercy, said:
Devour the great goddess Artemis.
But she silently endured suffering, as if they were beating not on her body, but on someone else's. Unable to achieve any success, the tormentor commanded to cut off her girl's breasts. But milk flowed from the wounds instead of blood. All who looked at the torment of Faith marveled at this miracle and the patience of the martyr. And, shaking their heads, secretly reproached the king for his madness and cruelty, saying:
Why did this beautiful girl sin, and why does she suffer so? Oh, woe to the insanity of the king and his brutal cruelty, inhumanly destroying not only the elders, but even small children.
After this, an iron grate was brought and set on a high fire. When she glowed like hot coal, and sparks flew from her, they put the holy maiden Vera on her. For two hours she lay on this lattice and, crying to her Lord, did not burn in the least, which astonished everyone. Then she was put into a cauldron, standing on fire and filled with boiling resin and oil, but she remained unharmed in it, and sitting in it, as if in cool water, sang praises to God. The torturer, not knowing what else to do with her, how he could turn her away from the faith of Christ, sentenced her to beheading with the sword.
Hearing this judgment, Saint Faith was filled with joy and said to her mother:
Pray for me, my mother, so that I can finish my procession, reach the desired end, see my beloved Lord and my Savior and enjoy the contemplation of His Divinity.
And she said to the sisters:
Remember, my dear sisters, to whom we made a vow, to whom we were displeased; you know that we are sealed with the holy cross of our Lord and must serve Him forever; therefore let us endure to the end. One and the same mother gave birth to us, one raised and taught us, therefore, we must accept the same death; as half sisters, we must have one will. Let me be an example for you, so that you both follow me to our Bridegroom calling us.
After that, she kissed her mother, then, embracing her sisters, she also kissed them and went under the sword. The mother, however, did not grieve for her daughter at all, for love for God defeated in her the heart's sorrow and mother's pity for the children. She only lamented and worried about that, lest one of her daughters was afraid of torment and would depart from her Lord.
And she said to Vera:
I gave birth to you, my daughter, and because of you I suffered diseases. But you reward me for this good, dying for the name of Christ and shedding for Him the very blood that you took in my womb. Go to Him, my beloved, and stained with your blood, as if clothed in a purple robe, appear beautiful before the eyes of your Bridegroom, remember your poor mother before him and pray to Him for your sisters, so that He will strengthen them also in the same patience that you show. you.
After this, St. Faith was truncated into an honest head and departed to its head, Christ God. The mother, embracing her long-suffering body and kissing it, rejoiced and glorified Christ God, who accepted her daughter, Faith in His heavenly palace.
Then the wicked king put another sister Nadezhda before him and said to her:
Dear child! Take my advice: I say this, loving you just like my father - bow to the great Artemis, so as not to perish to you, as your elder sister perished. You saw her terrible torment, you saw her grievous death, do you really want to suffer the same way. Believe me, my child, that I am sorry for your youth; if you had listened to my command, I would have declared you my daughter.
Saint Hope answered:
King! Am I not the sister of the one you killed? Was I not born of the same mother? Was it not the same milk that I was fed, and did I not receive the same baptism as my holy sister? I grew up with her and from the same books and from one instruction of my mother I learned to know God and our Lord Jesus Christ, to believe in Him and worship Him alone. Do not think, tsar, that I should act and think differently, and wish not the same as my sister Vera; no, I want to follow in her footsteps. Do not hesitate and do not try to dissuade me with many words, but better get down to business and you will see my unanimity with my sister.
Hearing such an answer, the king betrayed her to torture.
Having stripped her to the naga, like Vera, the royal servants beat her for a long time without any pity, until they were tired. But she was silent, as if not feeling any pain at all, and only looked at her blessed mother Sophia, who stood here, bravely looking at the sufferings of her daughter and praying to God that He would grant her strong patience.
By order of the lawless king St. Hope was thrown into the fire and, remaining unharmed like the three youths, glorified God. After that, she was hanged and she was whipped with iron claws: her body fell in pieces and blood flowed in a stream, but a wonderful fragrance emanated from her wounds, and on her face, bright and radiant with the grace of the Holy Spirit, there was a smile. St. Nadezhda also shamed the tormentor that he was unable to defeat the patience of such a young girl.
Christ is my help, - she said, - and not only am I not afraid of torment, but I wish it as the sweetness of paradise: so pleasant for me is suffering for Christ. Torment awaits you, tormentor, in fiery hell, together with demons, whom you regard as gods.
Such a speech irritated the tormentor even more, and he gave orders to fill the cauldron with pitch and oil, to set it on fire and throw the saint into it. But when they wanted to throw the saint into a boiling cauldron, he immediately melted like wax, and resin and oil spilled out and scorched everyone around. So the miraculous power of God did not leave St. Hope.
The proud tormentor, seeing all this, did not want to know the true God, for his heart was darkened by the delusion of demonic and pernicious delusion. But, ridiculed by the little girl, he felt great shame. Not wishing to endure such a shame any longer, he finally condemned the saint to beheading with a sword. The young woman, hearing about the approach of her death, happily approached her mother and said:
My mother! May peace be with you, be healthy and remember your daughter.
Her mother, embracing her, kissed her, saying:
My daughter Nadezhda! Blessed are you from the Lord God the Most High because you trust in Him and for His sake you do not regret shedding your blood; go to your sister Vera and with her appear before your Beloved.
Nadezhda also kissed her sister, Love, who looked at her torment, and said to her:
Do not stay here and you, sister, let us stand together before the Holy Trinity.
Having said this, she approached the lifeless body of her sister Vera and, embracing him with love, in the nature of human pity, she wanted to cry, but out of love for Christ she changed her tears to joy. After this, bowing his head, St. Hope was cut off by the sword.
Taking her body, her mother glorified God, rejoicing in the courage of her daughters, and encouraged her youngest daughter to the same patience with her sweet words and wise admonitions.
The torturer summoned the third young woman Love and tried to persuade her, like the first two sisters, to turn her back from the Crucified and bow to Artemis. But the efforts of the seducer were in vain. For who, then, should suffer so firmly for His beloved Lord if not Love, as the Scripture also says: "Love is strong as death ... Big waters cannot extinguish love, and rivers will not flood it" (Song 8: 6-7).
Many waters of worldly temptations did not extinguish in this young woman the fire of love for God, did not drown her rivers of misfortune and suffering; her great love was especially clearly visible from the fact that she was ready to lay down her life for her Beloved, the Lord Jesus Christ, and there is no greater love than to lay down her life for her friends (John 15:13).
The tormentor, seeing that nothing could be done with caresses, decided to betray Love to suffering, thinking with various torments to distract her from love for Christ, but she answered, according to the Apostle:
- Who will separate us from the love of God: sorrow, or crampedness, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword? (Rom. 8:15).
The torturer ordered, stretching her on a wheel, to beat her with a stick. And it was stretched out so that the limbs of its body were separated from its constituents and, being struck with a stick, it became covered with blood like crimson, which the earth was also drunk with, as if from rain.
Then the stove was fired up. Pointing to her, the tormentor said to the saint:
Maid! just say that the goddess Artemis is great, and I will let you go, and if you don’t say this, then you will immediately burn in this kindled furnace.
But the saint answered:
Great is my God Jesus Christ, Artemis and you will perish with her!
The tormentor, enraged by these words, commanded those present to immediately cast her into the furnace.
But the saint, not waiting for someone to throw her into the furnace, hurried to enter it herself and, being unharmed, walked in the middle of it, as if in a cool place, singing and blessing God, and rejoiced.
At the same time, a flame flew out of the furnace at the infidels surrounding the furnace, and some were burned to ash, while others were scorched and, reaching the king, burned him too, so that he fled far.
In that furnace, other faces shining with light were also visible, who rejoiced together with the martyr. And the name of Christ was exalted, but the wicked were put to shame.
When the oven was extinguished, the martyr, the beautiful bride of Christ, came out of her healthy and cheerful, as from a palace.
Then the tormentors, at the command of the king, instigated her members with iron drills, but God strengthened the saint with His help in these torments, so that she did not die of them either.
Who could endure such torment and not die instantly ?!
However, the beloved Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, strengthened the saint in order to shame the wicked as much as possible, and to give her a great reward, and so that the strong power of God would be glorified in the weak human vessel.
The tormentor, who was ill from the burn, finally ordered to behead the saint with a sword.
When she heard about this, she rejoiced and said:
Lord Jesus Christ, who loved Thy servant Love, I sing and bless Thy name with many songs, for beating me with the sisters, allowing me to endure for Thy name the same as they endured.
Her mother St. Sofia, without ceasing, prayed to God for her youngest daughter, so that He would grant her patience to the end and told her:
My third branch, my beloved child, strive to the end. You are walking a good path and for you a crown has already been woven and the prepared palace has opened, the Bridegroom is already waiting for you, looking from above at your feat, so that when you bow your head under the sword, take your pure and immaculate soul into your arms and rest you with your sisters. Remember me, your mother, in the kingdom of his Bridegroom, so that he will show mercy to me and not deprive me of participating and being with you in His holy glory.
And immediately St. Love was cut with the sword.
The mother, having accepted her body, put it in an expensive coffin along with the bodies of the saints Faith and Hope and, having decorated their bodies as it should, put the coffin on the funeral chariot, took them out of the city some distance and honorably buried her daughters on a high hill, crying from joy. Being at their grave for three days, she fervently prayed to God and herself rested in the Lord. The believers buried her there with their daughters. Thus, she did not lose with them participation in the Kingdom of Heaven and a martyr's wedding, because if not with her body, then with her heart, she also suffered for Christ.
Thus, the wise Sophia ended her life wisely, bringing in the Gift of the Holy Trinity her three virtuous daughters Faith, Hope and Love.
Oh, holy and righteous Sophia! What woman was saved through childbirth in the same way as you, who gave birth to such children, who were furious with the Savior and, having suffered for Him, are now reigning with Him and glorified? Truly you are a mother worthy of wonder and good memory; because, looking at the terrible, grievous torment and death of your beloved children, you not only did not grieve, as is typical of a mother, but, being consoled by the grace of God, you rejoiced more, taught and begged your daughters not to spare temporary life and shed your blood without mercy for Christ the Lord.
Enjoying now the sight of His blessed face together with your holy daughters, send us wisdom so that we, preserving the virtues of faith, hope and love, become worthy to appear as the Most Holy, Uncreated and Life-giving Trinity and glorify Her forever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, voice 1:
Sophia, the honest sacred branches, Faith, and Hope, and Love appeared, wisdom enveloped Hellenic grace: both suffering and victorious, appearing as a crown incorruptible from all the Lords were bound.
