Orthodox Icon of St. Sophia

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September 17th
Troparion of St. Sophia and her 3 daughters (Tone 5)
Thou didst blossom in the courts of the Lord as a fruitful olive tree, O holy Martyr Sophia; in thy contest thou didst offer to Christ the sweet fruit of thy womb, Love, Hope and Faith. With them intercede for us all.

St. Sophia was a widow with three daughters living in Rome in the time of Emperor Hadrian. Her daughters were Faith (age 12), Hope (age 10) & Love (age 9). The four of them were brought before Hadrian and commanded to sacrifice to the goddess Artemis. They stood steadfast with their arms entwined and instead gave glory to Jesus Christ. One by one the pagan officers took Sophia's daughters and tortured them, beat them, stabbed them, threw them into fire and boiling pitch, finally beheading them. All the while St. Sophia was urging them to hold firm to their faith in hope of the life to come. She then took the bodies of her precious daughter Saints and buried them outside of town. She stayed by their graves and prayed day and night for three days, then gave her soul to God, joining her daughters in the heavenly fellowship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This Icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas. The icon is from St. George's Antiochian Orthodox Church in Altoona, PA.

Order # inp-85