Saint Sophia
Acrylic on Wood Panel
8" x 5.25"

This icon was made for a family who has recently celebrated the baptism of their beautiful baby-girl, Sophie. God grant her, and her parents, many years!

This holy Martyr (died 137 AD) dwelt in Italy. Sophia, whose name means wisdom, was a widow and had three daughters: Faith (age 12), Love (age 10) and Hope (age 9). Living piously, she pleased God by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. She reared her three daughters in a manner befitting a wise mother so that they, being the namesakes of virtues, might in truth acquire those traits, the names of which they bore. (1)

Word spread throughout Rome of the wisdom and beauty of the three sisters, and it reached the Emperor who sent soldiers to bring them before him. Considering their tender years, he was amazed at how steadfast in the faith Sophia’s daughters were, and thinking it was only by supporting one another that they were able to hold their own against him, he put them to the question separately. The guards took Sophia's daughters one by one, from the eldest to the youngest and beat and tortured them to death. Sophia took the bodies of her daughters and buried them outside of the city. She remained by the graves, where she gave back her soul to God after three days.

This icon depicts St. Sophia, shown in blue maphorion, symbol of another everlasting world. Raised left hand is a symbol of steadfastness of faith and a renunciation of the world. The cross held in her right hand has two meanings. Firstly, martyr comes from the Greek for witness, and so these witnesses hold the preeminent symbol of Christianity: the Cross. Secondly, the Cross symbolizes the most perfect sacrifice of life for others, Christ’s own crucifixion. (2)

Apolytikion of Saint Sophia and her daughters Faith, Hope and Agape:
The Church celebrates and rejoices in the feast of the three daughters: Faith, Hope, and Agape 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 Agape.