Martyr
Sophia and her three daughters at Rome
Sophia & her three daughters: Faith, Hope, and Love
New Calendar September 17 Old Calendar September 30
Why they are a saint
The Holy Martyrs Saint Sophia and her Daughters Faith, Hope and Love were born in Italy. The Orthodox Church commemorates Sophia and her three daughters at Rome on September 17.
Limited historical information is available about this saint.
Life
Saint Sophia was a pious Christian widow in Italy who named her three daughters for the Christian virtues: Faith, aged twelve, Hope, aged ten, and Love, aged nine. They openly confessed Christ, and after an official named Antiochus denounced them, the emperor Hadrian (117-138) had them brought to Rome.
Each of the girls refused to sacrifice to Artemis. They were tortured, and Sophia was made to watch their sufferings, urging them to endure for Christ. All three were beheaded.
Hadrian allowed Sophia to take her daughters' bodies; she buried them on a high hill outside the city, sat by their graves for three days, and then gave up her soul to the Lord. Though she did not suffer in the flesh, the Church counts her a martyr, for she suffered in her heart.
Sources: OCA Lives of the Saints. Retold in our own words.
Traditional patronage
The cited source names no specific patronage.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take Sophia as a patron when they bear the name Sophia at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on September 17. As a martyr, she is also asked for courage and faithfulness under trial.
Prayer
O holy Sophia and her three daughters at Rome, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.