All Orthodox believers celebrate the Day of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sophia on September 30. On this day, people congratulate each other on the three main virtues on earth and remember the great sacrifice of these saints.
Once a year, Orthodox believers remember the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia. They lived in the second century in the Roman Empire and professed Christianity. For the fact that they did not worship the pagan gods, the king who ruled at that time subjected the daughters of Sophia to terrible torture, and then executed them by chopping off their heads. The mother had to watch the torment of her little daughters. Unable to survive such grief, she died three days after their execution.
For the great sacrifice Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov, who were only 12, 10 and 9 years old at the time of the execution, and their mother Sophia were numbered among the Christian saints. And their names began to personify the main virtues that exist on earth - faith in God, hope for the best and God's help, as well as love without foundation and self-interest for every living being. Sophia, translated from Greek, means "wise" and personifies God's wisdom on earth.
This holiday has been celebrated by Orthodox Christians for many centuries. In ancient Russia, the Day of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sophia was also called the “All-World Woman's Name Day”. And this holiday began with women's crying - in every house, village women shed tears over their miserable fate, mourned the dead or unlucky loved ones, ungrateful husbands or a hard life.
Today, on this holiday, it is customary to remember the great sacrifice of the Holy Martyrs. People congratulate their loved ones with faith, hope and love that exist on earth, as well as those women who were named after these Holy Martyrs.
On September 30, Orthodox believers go to the church, where in the early morning a prayer service is served in honor of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sophia, and light candles in memory of them. Temples on this day are decorated with flowers and look very festive.
