The Thirtieth Day of the Blessed Month of Tubah
Tubah 30
Martyrdom of Saints Pistis, Helpis, Agape
and Their Mother Sophia
On this day, the holy and blessed virgins, Pistis,
Helpis, Agape, and their mother, Sophia, were martyred. St. Sophia was
from a rich and noble family in Antioch. When she had these three girls,
she called them Pistis, which means faith, Helpis, which means hope, and
Agape, which means love. When they grew up, she went with them to Rome
to teach them the worship of God and His fear. Emperor Hadrianus (Hadrian),
the infidel, heard about them and he summoned them before him. Their mother
preached to them, and encouraged them to be steadfast in the faith of the
Lord Jesus Christ, saying to them, "Let not your determination grow faint
or weak, and let not the glory of the world entice you, lest you lose the
eternal glory. Be patient and persevere until you meet your Bridegroom,
the Christ, with Whom you will enter into the everlasting joy." The oldest
sister was 12 years old, the second was 10 years old and the youngest was
9 years old. When they came before the Emperor, he asked the oldest to
worship the idols, promising her that he would marry her to one of the
great men in his kingdom, and that he would bestow on her many delights
and pleasures, but she refused. He ordered her to be beaten with hammers,
mutilating her breasts, and to place her in a cauldron of boiling water
over the fire. The Lord was with her, saved her, and He granted her strength
and peace, and everyone was astonished and glorified God. Then the Emperor
commanded that she be beheaded.
Then they brought the second daughter before the
Emperor. He also beat her severely and also placed her in the boiling water,
then they brought her out and beheaded her. With the youngest daughter,
her mother feared that she would weaken, so she encouraged and strengthened
her. When the Emperor ordered her placed in the pressing wheel (Hinbazin),
she cried to Christ, and He sent His angel who broke it. The Emperor then
ordered her to be thrown into the fire. She prayed and made the sign of
the cross on her face. Then she threw herself in it. All those who were
present saw three men in white robes surrounding her, and the fiery furnace
was as cold as the dew. They marvelled, and many believed in the Lord Christ,
and they were all beheaded. The Emperor ordered afterwards that her sides
be pierced with hot rods, but the Lord strengthened her and she did not
feel the pain. Finally, she was beheaded. Their mother carried their bodies
outside the city, sat and wept, and asked them to ask the Lord Christ to
take her soul also. The Lord granted her wish and her spirit went immediately
to her Creator. Some believers came and carried the bodies and buried them
with great honors. Emperor Hadrian was struck with small pox in his eyes,
and he became blind. The worms grew in his body and he died a dreadful
death, and God avenged the death of these saintly virgins.
May Their prayers be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.