September 16, 2009
HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN ALEXIOS` REFLECTIONS ON ST. SOPHIA AND HER DAUGHTERS
My dearly beloved,

“And now exulting in the vision of His most radiant countenance, together with thy holy daughters, do thou enlighten us, that we may be preserved in the virtues of faith, hope, and love and be deemed worthy to glorify and stand in the presence of the most holy, uncreated, and life-bestowing Trinity, unto the ages of ages. Amen.”
The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints,
compiled by St. Demetrius of Rostov

The Holy Martyrs Saint Sophia was a pious Christian widow in Italy who named her daughters for the three Christian virtues: Faith, Hope and Love, and raised them to love the Lord Jesus Christ. St Sophia and her daughters did not hide their faith, but openly confessed it before everyone. Naturally in those times, this brought them to the attention of the authorities. Even when they were threatened with torture and death, they still maintained their faith. After undergoing brutal and unspeakable torments, while their mother was forced to watch, the young girls were beheaded, still steadfast in their love for Christ.
In a similar way, in today’s society it often seems as if our children, especially our daughters, are being somehow forced or coerced to renounce our Orthodox Christian values in one way or another. Often temptations and dangers may be subtle or difficult to discern, but the reality is that if we do not resist the “sirens” of modern day society, our children can be lured to their spiritual and physical destruction. So St. Sophia and her daughters are examples for us to resist the snares and temptations that surround us and proclaim as St. Sophia did, “I am a Christian and in that honorable name I rejoice!”
Paternally yours with love in Christ,

+ALEXIOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta