For learning to live in Faith, Hope and Love,
For protection amid trials and sorrows
KONTAKION I
To you, the chosen handmaids of the Lord Almighty, Faith, Hope and Love, and the wise Sophia, their mother, we offer hymns of praise with compunction. As you have boldness before Christ God, pray for us, that we may be delivered from sins and tribulations, that in thanksgiving we may cry out to you:
Rejoice: Faith, Hope and Love, with your all-wise mother, Sophia!
IKOS I
The Angels rejoice: in Heaven, beholding the virtuous life, which you spent in the reading of the Divine Scriptures, and in labors, fasting, praying and the giving of alms, unceasingly taught by your mother, that you might be shown to be living images of the three theological virtues for which you were named. And marveling at the wisdom of your mother and at your perfect good understanding, with reverence we say to you:
Rejoice: Sisters, one in mind, namesakes of the three virtues.
Rejoice: You in obedience to your divinely wise mother did enter the stages of perfection!
Rejoice: You like three branches of paradise spring forth in pagan Rome.
Rejoice: Sophia, having given your daughter’s the names of the virtues, taught them to fulfill their names indeed!
Rejoice: Faith, through faith helps us to see what is invisible as though it were visible.
Rejoice: You were clothed in incorruption!
Rejoice: Hope, through hope did ease our sufferings in this vale of sorrow, and with your right hand did point the way to the highest;
Rejoice: You have inherited the kingdom of Heaven!
Rejoice: Love, through divine love opened unto us the blessedness of life immortal;
Rejoice: You were illumined by the grace of the Holy Spirit!
Rejoice: Sophia, whose name signifies wisdom, and who raised your daughters all wisely;
Rejoice: Faith, Hope and Love, with your all-wise mother, Sophia!
KONTAKION II
Beholding the servant who had come to summon her and her daughters before the Emperor Hadrian, and knowing the reason for this summons, the wise Sophia stood in prayer with her children, asking the help of God; and after praying, they joined hands like a plaited wreath, and went forth together, chanting unto Christ God: Alleluia!
IKOS II
You were possessed of unwavering resolve, Saints; for when you were brought into the imperial palace, you stood before the Emperor Hadrian with a radiant countenance, your eyes full of gladness and your heart full of courage. And the Emperor, seeing that your honorable faces were unmarred by fear and perceiving the wisdom of Sophia, postponed your trial for a time, and sent you to a certain noblewoman, with whom you abode for three days, your all wise mother instructing you with divinely inspired words day and night. Wherefore, blessing you, we cry out thus:
Rejoice: You three unblemished ewe-lambs, who combined within you the crown of the virtues;
Rejoice: You three virtuous sisters, who showed forth firm faith, unwavering hope and unfeigned love for the Lord God!
Rejoice: You spared not your beauty and youth for the sake of Him Who in beauty surpass all the children of man;
Rejoice: Sophia, you lead your beloved children to the struggle of martyrdom for Christ!
Rejoice: Faith, by martyrdom for Christ did confess your faith;
Rejoice: You with your mighty faith uplifted your sisters!
Rejoice: Hope, who set a firm hope in Christ;
Rejoice: You, with unfailing hope, did strengthen your sisters!
Rejoice: Love, through torments you endured for Christ and showed forth your real love;
Rejoice: You encircled your sisters with the fire of Love!
Rejoice: Sophia, you exhorted your sweet children to spurn glory, riches and all the delights of this corrupt world;
Rejoice: You fervently taught your good daughters to stand up for Christ and to die for Him!
Rejoice: Faith, Hope and Love, with your all-wise mother, Sophia!
KONTAKION III
Overshadowed by divine power in the struggles of martyrdom were the martyrs, who indeed manifested the virtues for which they were named; and they chant unto God: Alleluia!
IKOS III
Possessing within themselves a pillar of faith, wings of hope, and the fire of love, heeding the words of their mother to their delight, the Holy martyrs made each other steadfast in longsuffering and went forth with joy, desiring honorable martyrdom for Christ. And worshipping Him as our God, we honor them with such exclamations as these:
Rejoice: You did not in the least, regret being deprived of this transitory life for the sake of life eternal;
Rejoice: to honor Christ you gave your flesh over to torture!
Rejoice: You offered three priceless vessels, of faith, hope, and love, as a gift to God;
Rejoice: Sophia, for in your surpassing love for your daughters you desired with all your heart that they should inherit the kingdom of God!
Rejoice: Faith, you illumine our souls with Faith;
Rejoice: You bear us up the calm haven!
Rejoice: Hope, you enliven our hearts with the sweetness of hope;
Rejoice: You draw us forth from the depths of despair;
Rejoice: Love, you turn our sufferings and sorrows into joy;
Rejoice: You bring our hardened hearts to compunction!
Rejoice: Sophia, with wisdom you guide us to the good;
Rejoice: You who enlighten the darkened eyes of our souls!
Rejoice: Faith, Hope and Love, with your all-wise mother, Sophia!
KONTAKION IV
The tempest of the tyrant’s ire smote you, Holy Faith, yet he did not shake you; for who can move the invincible faith, harder than diamonds, wherewith you have taught the faithful to chant with you unto God: Alleluia!
IKOS IV
Hearing her daughter's confess Christ fearlessly before the Emperor, and say that they desire Him alone, that they might suffer and endure bitter torments for the sake of Jesus Christ, most sweet, the wise mother rejoiced exceedingly and prayed to God, that He strengthen them in the tortures, which lay before them. Wherefore praising their resolve, we chant this to the eldest daughter of the wise mother:
Rejoice: Faith, who sweetly accepted unmerciful beatings for the sake of Jesus most sweet;
Rejoice: You were offered unto the Lord as a sacrifice your severed breasts, as though they were two pure lilies!
Rejoice: For instead of blood, milk flowed from your wounds;
Rejoice: For you were set upon a forked iron rod!
Rejoice: When cast into a boiling cauldron you were in no wise burned, nor did you suffer any harm;
Rejoice: You still the flame of our passions with Heavenly coolness!
Rejoice: You quenched the fire of our torments amid our ailments;
Rejoice: You, amid perils did sign us with the sign of faith!
Rejoice: You cover us with the shield of faith amid battle with our enemy;
Rejoice: You joyfully bowed your precious head beneath the sword for Christ God, the Head of the Church!
Rejoice: For arrayed in the stains of your blood, as in purple vesture, you did appear before the eyes of your immortal Bridegroom;
Rejoice: You reached the desired end and have beheld your beloved Savior and Lord!
Rejoice: Faith, Hope and Love, with your all-wise mother, Sophia!
KONTAKION V
You were like unto the God given stars, Faith, Hope and Love; for, pleading with all your heart to Jesus Christ, the only eternal life and ineffable beauty, you hastened to die for Him and to delight in the divine vision of Him, chanting onto Him: Alleluia!
IKOS V
Her right victorious sisters, seeing the Holy Faith joyfully suffering for Christ, themselves desired to lay down their life for Him. And when the Emperor began to examine the Holy Hope and perceived that she was of like mind with her sister, he gave her over to tortures; yet this did not benefit him. But we, blessing the Holy Hope for her understanding, hymn and glorify her:
Rejoice: Hope, who was cruelly beaten, yet did not lose your all-radiant hope in the Lord;
Rejoice: You in silence endured your torments without complaint!
Rejoice: You will give us mighty endurance;
Rejoice: For, unconsumed in the burning furnace, you send up praise unto God!
Rejoice: For you teach us also to praise God amid suffering;
Rejoice: For you were lacerated with iron claws!
Rejoice: You with rays of hope illumine us amid our tribulations;
Rejoice: For a wondrous fragrance issued forth from your wounds!
Rejoice: You immutably preserve unshaken hope in the Lord Jesus;
Rejoice: You destroyed hopelessness and powerlessness in our hearts!
Rejoice: You, for Christ joyfully accepted beheading by the sword;
Rejoice: Bright daystar who reveals everlasting peace to us, who are oppressed by the earthly griefs!
Rejoice: Faith, Hope and Love, with your all-wise mother, Sophia!
KONTAKION VI
You were like unto the God-bearing preachers and apostles, o divinely wise sisters; for by your virtues to all the faithful you preached faith, hope and love for the Lord, the Master of all, chanting onto Him: Alleluia!
IKOS VI
You shine forth like the sun, Holy Love; for who could stand up for his Lord like love, for it is written: love is strong as death; many waters cannot quench love, neither can rivers drown it. And we now beseech you, Holy Love, who burns with the flame of seraphic love for the Lord: restore our hardened and withered hearts; and kindle within us, in whom love has failed, the light of love, that, loving the Lord and all our neighbors, we may praise you as our intercessor:
Rejoice: Love, for the many waters of the deceptions of the world did not extinguish your love for Christ;
Rejoice: For having rejected all the blandishments and gifts of the Emperor you laid down your life for the Lord!
Rejoice: Rivers of misfortunes and sufferings did not drown your love;
Rejoice: You were stretched out on the wheel, beaten with staves, pierced with awls and cast into a fiery furnace!
Rejoice: For amid your cruel tortures you were strengthened by the power of God;
Rejoice: You instill love in our cold hearts by your blood, which was shed out of love for Christ, your immortal Bridegroom!
Rejoice: You have manifestly shown us that all torments may be sweetly endured for the sake of love;
Rejoice: You have revealed to us that divine love leads to life everlasting!
Rejoice: in your case, you have assured us that divine love is a revelation of immortality;
Rejoice: For no manner of torture could separate love from the love of Christ;
Rejoice: You, amid torments did like the apostles, declare that neither tribulation, nor distress, nor persecution, nor famine, nor nakedness, nor peril, nor the sword, could separate you from the love of God;
Rejoice: You who were beheaded by the sword for the sake of Christ’s love!
Rejoice: Faith, Hope and Love, with your all-wise mother, Sophia!
KONTAKION VII
Desiring to depart the body with all speed and to be with Christ, the Holy virgins, when they went forth to be beheaded, kissed one another, embracing each other and Sophia, their mother, teaching us the love of friendship that we may all chant unto God together: Alleluia!
IKOS VII
A new wonder the Lord shown forth when He sent His help upon the young virgins who were suffering so greatly in confessing His name; for, strengthened and uplifted by faith, hope and love, they finished their struggle with courage. And we beseech them, who remained in oneness of mind and oneness of soul until the end of their lives, that they send down oneness of mind in the doing of good works upon us to magnify them with compunction:
Rejoice: Faith, Hope and Love, who trod the one path of torments to the gates of Heaven;
Rejoice: You entered the all radiant bridal chamber of your all beloved Bridegroom with the voice of rejoicing!
Rejoice: For Jesus Christ made the wounds on your body shine like stars in the Heavens;
Rejoice: Sophia, who courageously watched the torture of your children!
Rejoice: For with heavenly beauty, such as eye has not seen has the Lord adorned your beauty, which tortures had destroyed;
Rejoice: You have received crowns as your reward!
Rejoice: You like three stars were illumined by the Sun of Righteousness;
Rejoice: Sophia found great consolation in your daughter’s valiant confession of the name of Christ!
Rejoice: You dispel the gloom of our doubts;
Rejoice: You strengthen us, you who have become subject to passions of soul and body!
Rejoice: You will adorn our hearts with the beauty of love;
Rejoice: Sophia, you are the might and consolation of those who languish in misfortunes and need!
Rejoice: Faith, Hope and Love, with your all-wise mother, Sophia!
KONTAKION VIII
It’s strange and incomprehensible for us who are weak and muddied in worldly pleasures to envision how the Holy Sophia, watching the cruel and bitter torments and death of her beloved children, was not in anywise distressed, but rejoiced exceedingly in spirit, chanting onto God: Alleluia!
IKOS VIII
Wholly in the highest was the wise Sophia, when with sweet discourse and wise admonition she spurred her daughters on to martyrdom. And even though by nature she was straightway inclined toward tears, they were transformed by the love of Christ into joy, for the love of God overcame within her the grief of heart and maternal pain she felt for her children. Wherefore, loving her children with great love, she desired for them the kingdom of Heaven above all. Therefore, marveling at her wisdom and her great love for her daughters, and glorifying You, we cry aloud:
Rejoice: O Sophia, for your soul exalted in the blessed end of your daughters, who boldly confessed the Holy name of the Lord;
Rejoice: You who received honor and glory when your children receive the crown of martyrdom!
Rejoice: You who were vouchsafed the portion of the martyrs and to dwell with your daughters in the glory of Heaven;
Rejoice: You with tears of joy did bury the precious bodies of your offspring!
Rejoice: You sat by their graves three days and did repose in the Lord in the sleep of death;
Rejoice: You suffered in your heart for Christ, if not in the flesh!
Rejoice: For you offer as a gift to the All-Holy Trinity, your three virtuous daughters, revealing faith, hope and love through them;
Rejoice: For you were saved through the children you bore!
Rejoice: wondrous mother, worthy of goodly remembrance;
Rejoice: You entreated your daughters to shed their blood for Christ!
Rejoice: You give us wisdom, that we may preserve immutable the virtues of faith, hope and love;
Rejoice: You pray for us to the life creating Trinity!
Rejoice: Faith, Hope and Love, with your all-wise mother, Sophia!
KONTAKION IX
All the Angels marveled at your suffering, Holy Martyrs, and celebrating your victory over the devil, and escorting your souls to Heaven, they chanted onto Christ God: Alleluia!
IKOS IX
Even the most eloquent of orators are unable to describe the suffering you endured for Christ, and marveling at the many great struggles you underwent as children, they are utterly at a loss. But we, glorifying God for your honorable end, magnify you:
Rejoice: Faith, hope and Love, who sing praises unto God who has raised you up to the Heaven of Heavens;
Rejoice: shield of faith, breastplate of hope and beacon of love!
Rejoice: You enjoy the sight of the all-radiant countenance of God;
Rejoice: Sophia guides pious mothers in the wise upbringing of their children!
Rejoice: You instruct us to seek the Lord, that our souls may live;
Rejoice: Fervent intercessors for those who with faith have recourse unto you!
Rejoice: You teach us that all pleasures and deceptions of this world will vanish like smoke, will be scattered like dust before the wind, and will return to the earth;
Rejoice: Who loves the Lord with all your heart!
Rejoice: For you entered into the one source of life like three radiant keys;
Rejoice: You sprang forth on a single fruitful branch like three fragrant blossoms!
Rejoice: You reflect in yourselves the infinite beauty of God like three mirrors;
Rejoice: Sophia like an olive tree you put forth three branches laden with the abundant fruits of the gifts of God!
Rejoice: Faith, Hope and Love, with your all-wise mother, Sophia
KONTAKION X
Desiring to save their souls, the Holy Martyrs, for the love of Christ, spurned the blandishments of the emperor and the riches of this corrupt world, and joyfully accepted martyrdom for Christ, chanting to Him: Alleluia!
IKOS X
The Holy Martyrs are revealed as bulwarks of faith, hope and love unto all who have recourse to them that with fervent and earnest supplication, and who cry out to them amid griefs and perils:
Rejoice: Good healers of the wounds of sin;
Rejoice: You with the light of hope illumine us in the darkness of our grief!
Rejoice: You send wondrous rest upon us amid dangers and tribulations;
Rejoice: Sophia shows wise care for us who are cast into evil sufferings!
Rejoice: Faith raised up the cross of salvation before us;
Rejoice: You heal our infirmities in accordance with our prayers!
Rejoice: Hope, who gives us the anchor of deliverance;
Rejoice: You piously remove the despondency of our hearts!
Rejoice: Love, by your mediation before the Lord did protect us from sudden death amid dire peril;
Rejoice: You raise our weakening strength to vigilance!
Rejoice: Sophia, ardent intercessor for us before God;
Rejoice: Faith, Hope and Love, with your all-wise mother, Sophia!
KONTAKION XI
Even if we were to offer you this hymn of praise 10,000 times, Holy Martyrs, it would not suffice to glorify your virtues and struggles; yet sending of praise unto God for all that He reveals unto us in His Saints, we chant onto him: Alleluia!
IKOS XI
Faith, Hope and Love, with their mother, Sophia, are shown to be like lamps burning before the Lord with Heavenly light. Before them, we fall down, praying that they forgive us who are benighted by griefs and who cry out from the depths of our hearts:
Rejoice: You on earth made your robes white in the blood of the Lamb;
Rejoice: Mediators of life everlasting for us!
Rejoice: Confirmation and preservation of souls seeking rest in the loving kindness of God;
Rejoice: Sophia protects us from the vanity of the world!
Rejoice: Faith, your priceless censer offering up the incense of praise unto God;
Rejoice: You enlighten us sinners with Faith!
Rejoice: Hope, our consolation and refuge amid tribulation;
Rejoice: Radiant herald of deliverance amid our grief!
Rejoice: Love, pours innocence and meekness into our hearts;
Rejoice: mystic star, bearing us up from earthly oppression!
Rejoice: Sophia, wise and all honorable rearer of children;
Rejoice: You set in order a divinely wise life for those who pray to you!
Rejoice: Faith, Hope and Love, with your all-wise mother, Sophia!
KONTAKION XII
Holy Martyrs, you were vouchsafed to receive the grace of God, entreat Christ, the Master for us, that He be merciful to us sinners, who humbly, with a hope and love, saying to Him alone, our Lord and Savior: Alleluia!
IKOS XII
We hymn your mighty struggles, which were suffused with faith, hope and love; we honor your surpassing sufferings; we praise your wondrous endurance; we bless the end which you joyously embraced for the sake of Christ; and we magnify your invincible courage, Holy martyrs, Faith, Hope and Love, and Sophia, your wise mother; and glorifying you, we cry out:
Rejoice: You for in your virtues were like three bolts of lightning streaking from the East even unto the West;
Rejoice: Phials of faith, hope and love, nurturing our souls with life-giving sustenance!
Rejoice: You three luminous paths which lead us to the throne of the Lord of glory;
Rejoice: Sophia, you are praised by the choir of the Saints for the sake of your children!
Rejoice: Faith, flower of faith whiter than snow;
Rejoice: Ease of those who are suffering!
Rejoice: Hope, uplifting the downtrodden hearts;
Rejoice: You are like a torrent of healing and you satisfy the thirst of suffering souls!
Rejoice: wreath of love, woven of peace, joy and goodness;
Rejoice: Noetic ray of eternity!
Rejoice: Sophia, you are a rod of strength, who with meekness and wisdom trained your children;
Rejoice: All radiant beam of the divine knowledge shining upon our hearts!
Rejoice: Faith, Hope and Love, with your all-wise mother, Sophia!
KONTAKION XIII (thrice)
Holy and right laudable martyrs Faith, Hope and Love, and O Sophia, their mother! Accept now this our entreaty, by your supplications deliver us from all misfortune, sickness and tribulation, that counted worthy to behold the immortal Lord Jesus Christ in the kingdom of Heaven, with you we may chant onto Him: Alleluia!Alleluia!Alleluia!
KONTAKION I
To you, the chosen handmaids of the Lord Almighty, Faith, Hope and Love, and the wise Sophia, their mother, we offer you hymns of praise with compunction. As you have boldness before Christ God, pray for us, that we may be delivered from sins and tribulations, that in thanksgiving we may cry out to you:
Rejoice: Faith, Hope and Love, with your all-wise mother, Sophia!
IKOS I
The Angels Rejoice: in Heaven, beholding the virtuous life, which you spent in the reading of the Divine Scriptures, and in labors, fasting, praying and the giving of alms, unceasingly taught by your mother, that you might be shown to be living images of the three theological virtues for which you were named. And marveling at the wisdom of your mother and at your perfect good understanding, with reverence we say to you:
Rejoice: Sisters, one in mind, namesakes of the three virtues.
Rejoice: You in obedience to your divinely wise mother did enter the stages of perfection!
Rejoice: You like three branches of paradise sprang forth in pagan Rome.
Rejoice: Sophia having given your daughter’s the names of the virtues, taught them to fulfill their names in deed!
Rejoice: Faith, who through faith helps us to see, what is invisible as though it were visible.
Rejoice: You were clothed in incorruption!
Rejoice: Hope, through hope did ease our sufferings in this vale of sorrow, and with your right hand point the way to the highest;
Rejoice: You who have inherited the kingdom of Heaven!
Rejoice: Love, through divine love opened unto us the blessedness of life immortal;
Rejoice: You were illumined by the grace of the Holy Spirit!
Rejoice: Sophia, your name signifies wisdom, and who raised your daughters all wisely;
Rejoice: Faith, Hope and Love, with your all-wise mother, Sophia!
Prayer 1
Holy and right laudable martyrs Faith, Hope and Love, and you, Sophia, wise mother of valiant daughters! Unto you we now hasten with earnest entreaty, for what more can intercede for us before the Lord if not faith, hope and love, the three cardinal virtues, whose namesakes you are, and which you demonstrated in deed. Beseech the Lord, that in His ineffable goodness, He protect us amid tribulations and perils, and that He save and preserve us, in that He is good and loves mankind. And now, beholding His Holy glory like a never waning sun, aid us in our humble supplications, that the Lord God may forgive our sins and iniquities, and have mercy upon us, His sinful and unworthy servants. Holy Martyrs, on our behalf we entreat you who are before our Lord Jesus Christ, unto Whom we send up glory, with His unoriginate Father and His all Holy, good and life creating Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer 2
We glorify, magnify and bless you, Faith, Hope and Love, with your wise mother Sophia, who we venerate as a model of divinely wise care. Holy Faith, entreat the Creator of all, that is visible and invisible, that He grant us faith which is mighty, pure and indissoluble. Holy Hope, intercede before the Lord Jesus for us sinners, that He drive not from us our hope for good things, and that He deliver us from all tribulation and need. Holy Love, recount unto the Spirit of Truth, the Comforter, our perils and griefs, that He send down Heavenly glory upon our souls from on high. Help us amid our misfortunes, Holy Martyrs, and with your wise mother Sophia, beseech the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, that He keep all Orthodox Christians safe under His protection. With compunction falling down before you in tears, we earnestly beg your fervent intercession before God, that with you and all the Saints we may supremely exalt and glorify the all Holy and great name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the pre-eternal Master and Benefactor, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Publisher’s note
Prayer from Holy Trinity Monastery. Prepared, edited, and provided by 50 Hour Prayer Committee Orthodox.Mission.Church@gmail.com
