22x15cm
Egg tempera
Gold leaf 22k on background
2023.
Commemoration day: 4 June
Our venerable Mother Sophia was born in the province of Ainos
in southeastern Thrace , and was the daughter of pious Christian parents.
When she was of age, her parents arranged for her to be married.
She and her husband had six children. Though she was occupied with worldly
cares and responsibilities, she still kept the commandments of God and lived a virtuous life.
She loved to attend the Church services, and so she progressed in virtue.
After sickness carried off Sophia's husband and all her children in succession,
she did not despair, but became even more devoted to God. Within a period of twenty years,
she adopted one hundred children, and raised them to love God. Because of this,
she is sometimes called Saint Sophia the Mother of Orphans.
She sold her property and gave the proceeds to the poor and to widows.
She led an austere life, eating nothing but bread and water.
She preferred to do without the necessities of life herself rather than
allow any poor person to leave her home empty-handed.
The Psalms of the Prophet-King David were always on her lips, and tears flowed
continuously from her eyes.
Because of her humility and her love for the poor, God blessed her in the following way.
In her home there was a container of wine which she reserved for the poor.
She noticed that no matter how much she took from the container, it remained full.
However, as soon as she told someone about the miracle and glorified God, the container
became empty. Saint Sophia became sorrowful, believing that the wine had failed
because of her unworthiness. Therefore, she increased her ascetical labors until her health
suffered.
Sensing that the end of her life was near, she received the monastic tonsure.
From that time, she devoted herself completely to the worship of God.
Saint Sophia reposed peacefully at the age of fifty-three. It is not known when she lived.
She died 53 years old.
Troparion — Tone 8
By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile, /
and your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance. /
By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe! /
O our holy mother Sophia, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!
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Η Οσία Σοφία καταγόταν από την Αίνο της Θράκης και ήταν θυγατέρα επισήμων και πλουσίων
γονέων. Παντρεύτηκε και έγινε μητέρα έξι παιδιών, που είχε το θλιβερό ατύχημα να τα χάσει όλα. Βρήκε λοιπόν παρηγοριά στη θλίψη της, προστατεύοντας ορφανά και χήρες.
Έκανε συνεχείς ελεημοσύνες, προσευχές, νηστείες και κάθε τι που ανακούφιζε τον πλησίον.
Στα τέλη της ζωής της εκάρη Μοναχή και αφιέρωσε τη ζωή της στη λατρεία του Θεού.
Απεβίωσε ειρηνικά, σε ηλικία 53 ετών.
