New-Martyr Sophia Abbess-Confessor of Kiev
Oil and Gold Leaf on Wood Panel
7.25" x 10.25"

Schema-Abbess Sophia is shown wearing a grey tunic and a white veil (as she can be seen in this photograph). In her left hand she is holding the Gospel, the color of which is reflected within the Saint's halo. With her right hand she is guiding the viewer's eye towards the Book. It is well-known that abbesses are considered the deputies of the Mother of God, so a connection can be drawn between this icon of the Saint and an icon of the Virgin with the playing Child, in which Theotokos is holding Jesus with one hand, and with the other, directing our attention towards her son. The dominant colors within the icon, blue, gold and white are expressing detachment from this world and the soaring of the soul toward God as well as His glory.

Abbess Sophia (born in Moscow, 1873) was from a wealthy family. From young age she was noticed to be blessed with great voice and received her education from the musical conservatory. Though she lived a busy worldly life she would often retrieve and visit churches and monasteries to fast and pray.

Late one winter evening, going through the deserted woods, Sophia encountered a wolf, and her death seemed certain. She made the sign of the cross and prayed. As she prayed the wolf remained, as if listening, then turned around and disappeared among the trees. At the moment of great danger Sophia made a vow to become a nun if she remained alive.

This promise was finally fulfilled when Sophia was 22 years old. She became ill and was suggested to rest in Saint-Trinity monastery, but her health deteriorated so sharply that a spiritual father of the community was called to give her the last rites. She could no longer speak and in her dumb confession she wept on the breast of the kind elder, who comforted and encouraged her. After receiving Communion, she fell asleep. On awaking, to the astonishment of all, she began to speak. A service of thanksgiving was served, and she quickly began to recover. After this miracle there could be no question of her returning to the world. (2)

During her life of monastic service she was a shepherdess of several monastic flocks, including that of the large Protection Convent in Kiev. As a highly experienced directress, Abbess Sophia helped hundreds of women and men in choosing the right path on which to serve God. Beginning in the 1920s and for the rest of her life she endured great difficulties and deprivation in prisons and exile. Everywhere she continued to be a courageous confessor, secretly directing a catacomb group of nuns. Finally, her nuns were deported to the Far East while Abbess Sophia was transferred from one prison to another. Worn out from her labors and weakened by the inhuman prison conditions, in 1941 she became very ill and was released to die as a genuine passion-bearer for monastics of the last times.(3)