Icon of Faith, Hope, Love. Orthodox icons

Among the variety of Orthodox icons there is one on which the figures of the holy virgins representing the three main Christian virtues are represented. This is an icon of Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia. In their names, the main thing that the Savior brought to the people is concentrated, for which He suffered the suffering of the cross.

The Story of a Pious Widow

In order to understand the meaning of their images, one should turn to the life of these saints of God and try to understand the significance that today has for all adherents of Christianity Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia. These symbols, coming from the depths of centuries, are as relevant in our day as material values often prevail over spiritual ones.

Life tells that in the II century, during the reign of Emperor Hadrian - one of the most ardent persecutors of Christians, lived in Rome, a deeply believing widow Sophia. In her very name, translated as "wisdom", contained the mission given to her by the Most High. Since childhood, spending her life among the Gentiles, she heartedly managed to comprehend the truth of the teaching of Jesus Christ and confessed it with all the heat of the soul.

Being married, she gave birth to three girls, who gave the names of the main Christian virtues. After the birth of her youngest daughter, her husband died, and, after being widowed, a devout woman devoted herself to raising children. Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia spent all their days fasting, praying and reading the Holy Scriptures. From an early age, girls became accustomed to charity, realizing that they were fulfilling the commandment of Jesus, calling for compassion and love for their neighbors.

The path of spiritual growth

Years went by, and as girls grew, they grew more and more in virtues, the names of which were laid in their names. This was facilitated by reading books written by holy apostles and prophets of antiquity, as well as classes with teachers and domestic works. Guided by the precepts of their wise mother, they have guided the path of spiritual achievement.

Well-known to all the icon of Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia represents girls at the age when the rumor of their wisdom and beauty became the property of all of Rome. He also reached the ear of the head of the region - the fanatical pagan Antiochus. Excited by curiosity, he wished to meet with them and talk. However, from the first words of the conversation, it became clear to him that he sees the Christian before him. He was particularly angry that they did not at all try to hide their belonging to the followers of Christ, but, on the contrary, openly preached his teaching.

Before the throne of the ruler of Rome

With difficulty restraining his fury, Antiochus went to the Emperor Hadrian and told him about the impudent Christians. Immediately sent servants with an order to deliver to the palace of Sofia and her children. The order was executed, and the widow and her daughters appeared before the enraged ruler of Rome. Leaving their homes and realizing what awaits them ahead, they offered the Lord a prayer, asking Him to strengthen their hearts and send down strength and courage in order not to flinch in the face of the executioners.

Standing in front of the throne of the earthly ruler, they turned their minds to the Heavenly King. It was this that gave them the strength to look at the emperor in a calm and full of greatness. The icon of Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia gives the viewer the appearance of four women, filled with unearthly power of spirit and ready, purified by torment, to sacrifice themselves to the Creator.

Interrogation with the Emperor

Marveling at the nobility and fearlessness of their faces, Adrian began to question those who came who they are and to what kind they belong. She answered the emperor Sophia, because she was the eldest and, according to her name, was filled with Divine wisdom. Having told about herself and her daughters, she turned to the main topic of the conversation - to what they were brought to the palace for.

Sofia openly and fearlessly informed Adrian about that true faith, in which she grew up herself and raised her daughters. She spoke of Christ, Whom she confessed all her life, Whose doctrine considers the only true. In addition, she stated that she dedicated her daughters to the service of God, so that those imperishable purity would be given to the Heavenly Bridegroom. The greatness of the intrepid ascetics presented at that time is transmitted in full by the icon that was painted subsequently. Sofia, Vera, Hope, Love on her are no longer earthly women, but symbols of holiness.

Resilience to temptations and threats

Hearing her words and not wanting to enter into a dispute with a wise woman, the emperor wished to postpone his decision for three days and sent her and her daughters to a house of a noble Roman woman named Palladia, so that she tried somehow to shake their so hard beliefs. However, he did not succeed in achieving the desired goal, and after the appointed time, the Christians again appeared before him, further strengthened by the prayers and spiritual conversations performed these days.

The terrible ruler began by describing to them a picture of a happy and carefree life that awaits them if they agree to renounce the Christian faith so hated by them and worship the pagan gods. From the description of earthly joys awaiting them in the bosom of paganism, he went on to describe the torment that awaits them in case of refusal. However, neither the temptation of earthly happiness nor the fear of the executioners did not shake their determination.

Readiness to die for the Christian faith

They again answered firmly and steadily that their true God is the Creator of all that exists, and only to Him are they ready to worship and for Him are ready to accept the agony and death so that in the future life they will be united forever with Him. This determination can not shake neither threats nor temptations.

Saying this, the women joined hands, as if forming a wreath, woven in the name of the One and Beginning Lord God. Having exhausted all means of persuasion, Adrian finally ordered the Christians to be handed over to the executioners. However, strengthened by the power of prayer, they were filled with the Grace of God and tormented with words of praise to the Lord on their lips.

The End of the Earth Path

When the three sisters, suffering, went to the Lord, their bodies were given to the mother, who had brought such a precious sacrifice to Jesus Christ. She put them in expensive coffins and, having done everything that should be done over the deceased, buried her daughters outside the city on a high hill. After betraying their remains to the ground, Sophia spent three days in continuous prayer and also rested. Her ashes were buried on a hill near the graves of her daughters.

The icon of Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia appeared in Russia soon after the baptism of Kiev's holy Prince Vladimir. At the same time, the Slavonic translation of their life was made. It is worth dwelling on this in more detail, since one very interesting fact is related to it. The fact is that in the Greek original the names of holy martyrs sound differently and do not have the translation that the compilers of the Slavic life gave them. The only exception was the name of their mother - Sofia. Translators, contrary to tradition, did not begin to make accurate "tracing paper" from their names, but gave them names corresponding to the main Christian virtues.

This is one of the few such cases in the history of Christianity. As a rule, when composing the lives of saints, their names were recorded unchanged. The history of the icon "Faith, Hope, Love and Their Mother Sophia" is also interesting because up to the middle of the 18th century it was not customary in Russia to give the newborns the names of the saints depicted on it, as they were considered purely symbolic symbols of virtues. Despite the fact that they were mentioned in the saints, only during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna, these names entered into general use. In connection with this, the family icon "Faith, Hope, Love and Their Mother Sophia" was also widely disseminated, because many of the bearers of these names appeared, for which these saints became guardian angels. In their honor the holiday was set on September 30.

"Faith, Hope, Love" - an icon whose meaning is expressed in prayer

And in conclusion one more important detail. It is hardly possible to establish with certain accuracy when the prayer "Faith, Hope, Love and Their Mother Sophia" was composed. It contains heartfelt words, addressed primarily to the mother of the young martyrs - Sophia. She is rewarded with praise as a woman who has raised her daughters worthy to "blossom to the Savior". Prayer praise is the petition for sending down to all people wisdom and preserving virtues such as faith, hope and love, because it is on them that this world holds. In these words of prayer the deep meaning of the icon is expressed.