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Several Saints are known under the name of Saint Sophia – Sophia of Suzdal, Sophia of Slutsk, Sophia of Egypt, Sophia of Thrace, Sophia the Martyr… However, the most famous and revered of them is Saint Sophia of Rome, who, since the 12th century, has been mentioned along with her three daughters – Pistis, Elpis, Agape, that is, if translated from Greek – Vera (Faith), Nadezhda (Hope) and Lyubov (Charity).
There is no information about Saint Sophia and her daughters in the oldest martyrology, but it is known that Sophia lived during the reign of Emperor Hadrian (117–138), and in 137, having become a widow, she moved to Rome with her daughters, staying with a wealthy relative named Thessamnia. According to legend, the woman brought up the girls in a pious spirit, reading them collections of sermons, apostolic books and the lives of the Saints. The girls were diligent and patient. Moreover, they were very pretty.
Soon the rumor about those Christians spread throughout the city, and, naturally, they were taken to the local prefect Antiochus. Having become convinced that they openly glorified the Creator and rejected idols, he sent them to the ruler. However, before Emperor Adrian, Sophia, as well as her daughters, reasonably and fearlessly answered all the asked questions, surprising those present with earnest faith and hope in the Savior. Even the emperor was struck by the wisdom of the righteous woman and surprised by the courage of the young Christians. Nevertheless, he sent them to Palladia and ordered her to put them on the right track. However, all the arguments and speeches of the pagan tutor turned out to be in vain, the sisters did not change their belief. Then they were again brought to the emperor Adrian, and he began to insist that they would bring the victim to pagan gods. The girls ignored his order and did not change their belief. Adrian tried to convince them, offering them wealth and fame, but they remained steadfast.
Then the emperor ordered that the daughters of Sophia be subjected to cruel tortures, but they miraculously endured them… and died only after being beheaded. On the day of her death, Vera was 12 years old, Nadezhda – 10 and Lyubov – 9. The emperor did not subject Sophia to bodily torments, but doomed her to even stronger spiritual torments – to watching the torments of her children… The martyr buried the remains of her daughters with honors and stayed praying by their grave for two days. On the third day, the Lord sent her a quiet end and took her long-suffering soul to her heavenly abode.
On earth, Sophia, having endured a great deal of mental anguish for Christ, together with her daughters, was canonized by the Church.
By the way, many theologians, and even simple mortals, considered and still consider these martyrs to be the personification of Christian virtues, and not real personalities. Sophia is translated from Greek as “skill”, “knowledge”, “wisdom” and personifies “the wisdom of God”. To this day, the idea of Sophia as the “the wisdom of God”, having received special development in Byzantium and in Russia, remains a basic virtue – “prudence”. It is a very useful property of the human mind, characterized by a high degree of mastering all kinds of knowledge and the subconscious experience, which is expressed in the ability to appropriately apply it in society, taking into account a specific situation. Moreover, in the ability to competently apply knowledge, e. g. in the ability of finding solutions to various problems, including life, which is based on one’s own and others’ experience…
In the mythology Sophia – Wisdom corresponds to Mimir, Kvasir, Tyr, Bragi, Metis, Nabu, Seshat, Mnemosyne, Merodach… In Buddhism and Hinduism, it corresponds to Ganesha, Prajna, Prajnaparamita, Bodhichitta, Akshobya, Paramita, Heart Sutra, Manjushri, Nagas, and Dhyani Buddhas… In Islam, it corresponds to Lukman, the House of Wisdom… In Judaism, the concept of “wisdom” is part of the tripartite concept, “…and I filled him with the Spirit of God, wisdom (hóchma), understanding, knowledge and all kinds of art” … And there are also such personalities as the seven wise men and Solomon…
However, most often wisdom is defined as a virtue acquired in the process of studying the world or as “omniscience”. According to Immanuel Kant, wisdom is the highest level of human moral perfection; it is not “contagious”, it cannot be suggested, “everyone must extract it from himself”.
It follows that wisdom is a superlative degree from wisdom (that is, all together – intelligence, ability, talent, wisdom and experience in life) …
Therefore, it turns out that the wisdom of life is in its competent continuation, in its development…, in dreaming dreams, in feeling feelings, in wishing wishes, in living life…
However, the main wisdom is that SOPHIA is the mother of FAITH, HOPE and CHARITY!
Saint Sophia is an example of selflessness, sacrifice, courage and love, and therefore sincere prayer to her instills peace, tranquility and serenity in the soul, teaches to rely on the will of the Almighty in everything, gives patience and meekness, and relieves wicked desires, negative experiences, doubts and bad habits.
The Holy Martyr is also the patroness of:
- family, marriage and parents;
- prevents misunderstandings and quarrels;
- blocks the way to evil, ill-wishers, dangers, illnesses and any other problems;
- enlightens children, improves their health and fosters a commitment to true values.
The name of Saint Sophia is associated with an international award for contribution to the revival of spirituality, national science and culture.
Saint Sophia is the name of a number of amazingly beautiful buildings – Orthodox churches dedicated to Sophia – «the Wisdom of God»:
Saint Sophia – the Cathedral in Sofia;Saint Sophia – the Cathedral in Ohrid;Saint Sophia – the Cathedral in Vologda;Saint Sophia – the Cathedral in Grodno;Saint Sophia – the Cathedral in Kyiv;Saint Sophia – the Cathedral in Laishevo;Saint Sophia – Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod;Saint Sophia – Cathedral in Polotsk;Saint Sophia – the temple in Thessaloniki;The Hagia Sophia – the Cathedral in Istanbul;Saint Sophia – the Cathedral in Tobolsk;The Hagia Sophia – the temple in Trabzon;Saint Sophia – the Cathedral in Tsarskoye Selo.Saint Sophia is commemorated on 30 September.GOD, GRANT!Music by R. PaulsLyrics by Y. YevtushenkoPerforming T. Gverdtsiteli and A. MalininEquirhythmic translation by Em Rostverg
God, grant the blind will see again,The hunchbacked straighten their backs up.God, grant be just a bit God like,
But one cannot be crucified a bit like.God, grant we won’t to power get,We won’t pretend being false heroes,We will be rich without stealing yet,Of course, if this is not impossible.
God, grant that I be an old handAnd not be swallowed by a mobster,Be neither victim, nor headsman,Nor baron, nor panhandler, also.
God, grant I’ll have less jagged woundsBeing engaged in fierce battles.God, grant I’ll visit different landsWithout losing homeland once though.
God, grant I won’t get a hard kickWith the jackboot of my own kingdom.God, grant that my wife will love meEven if I were badly ruined.
God, grant all liars will shut upWhen hearing Your voice in a child’s cry.God, grant I’ll find Jesus alive,No matter as a man or female.
We carry not a cross – not even bars for it,Bend low and are so deep pathetic,Don’t let us lose remains of the belief,God, grant at least a bit of God in!
God, grant Your love to everyoneSo that no one will feel deprived of…God, grant we will get only that,Which we will not be ashamed of.
God, grant! God, grant! God, grant! God, grant!
DELIVER US, GOD!
Music by O. FeltsmanLyrics by M. RyabininPerforming T. Gverdtsiteli
Equirhythmic translation by Em RostvergDeliver us, God, from unholy slander,Deliver us, God, from stupid counsels,From stinginess of souls, deliver us, God,From tedious and mindless chatters,From greed that looks like all disasters,From words that freeze the skin on a hot day,From choosing wrong tracks and wrong waysDeliver us, God! Deliver us, God!Deliver us, God! Deliver us, God!
Deliver us, God, from arrogance and evil,Deliver us, God, from drunkenness and envy,From sudden mad love and forgotten chances,From blood spilled by severe violence,From friends that do not save in trouble,From those who leave old relatives abandoned,From those who did not help the little ones,Deliver us, God! Deliver us, God!Deliver us, God! Deliver us, God!
Deliver us, God, from fierce hatred,Deliver us, God, from thoughts not sacred,From our castles we build in the sand,From groans about ruined lakes around!Forgive us, God, for moments of the highest bliss,For being far from perfect skills!Give time to take steps on the right road!Deliver us, God! Deliver us, God!Deliver us, God! Deliver us, God!
Deliver us, God! Deliver us, God!Deliver us, God! Deliver us, God!ONLY TIME WILL TELL
I. SlutskyPerforming S. Shustovsky
Equirhythmic translation by Em Rostverg
Don’t make haste, don’t rush after slipping through fingers centennials,
Everything will take place and will happen, believe, in its turn.
Don’t pretend to be wise, do not dodge, just be human on earth,
Don’t skimp on being good; don’t put off your life, live it right now.
Don’t regret anything, do not strive hard for praise and awards,
It’ll flash like a shadow, you won't even have time to blink,
Everything will take place and will happen, believe, if you need it.
Do not bargain with fate, choosing your own path in the world.
Only time will tell.
Only time will put everyone in his place:
Who’s really worth what?Who really means much?Whose words you may trust or not?
If you are asked, answer, please, and don’t argue with crowds.If you are asked for your help, help as if your best dearest friends.If you start singing, please, turn the whole of your soul inside out.And the rest will take place and will happen: there’s no other path…Only time will tell.Only time will put everyone in his place:Who’s really worth what?Who really means much?Whose words you may trust or not?The first has become the last one,The rain has turned into snow.Don’t you make haste to pursue your happiness –The age is deceptive and false.Don’t you make haste to pursue your happiness –The age is deceptive and false.
