A widowed mother, Saint Sophia, and her three minor daughters, twelve-year-old Faith (Pistis), ten-year-old Hope (Elpida) and nine-year-old Love (Agape), who celebrate on September 17, were sacrificed for Christ.
Faith told the persecutors of the Church “I do not deny Christ, who loved me and was crucified for my salvation,” and was beheaded.
Hope had the same end, because, even though she was a little child, she boldly confessed: “I build my hopes on the Living God.”
From this blessed family, the youngest daughter, Love, could not be an exception, who, while beheaded, cried out, “I have the love and patience of Christ in front of me.”
Their mother Sophia, who stayed above her daughters’ graves for three days, passed away next to them.
They themselves showed no resistance. Nor did any sorrow go through their mind and heart. Because, they had great spiritual maturity, even though they were very young. Both the mother and the daughters were internally freed from any doubt and confusion, therefore they managed to break the bonds of all external servitude and tyranny.
Christ frees in his own way. To the secular man freedom means absolution from any dependency. Christ wants more than to merely release us from evil; instead He links us to the source of life.