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Martyr Sophia and Her Daughters, and Martyr Theodota · Saints and Scripture

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  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Saints and Scripture Podcast.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today is Thursday, september seventeenth, twenty twenty six.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today we remember two groups of martyrs from the early church, Saint Sophia and her three daughters in Rome and Saint Theodora in Nicaea.
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  SPEAKER_00: Saint Sophia was a Christian widow living in Italy.
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  SPEAKER_00: She had three daughters named Faith, Hope, and Love, after the Christian virtues.
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  SPEAKER_00: Faith was twelve years old, Hope was ten, and love was nine.
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  SPEAKER_00: Sophia raised them all to love Jesus Christ and to openly confess their faith.
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  SPEAKER_00: An official named Antiochus reported them to Emperor Hadrian.
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  SPEAKER_00: The emperor ordered that they be brought to Rome.
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  SPEAKER_00: Before facing the emperor, the mother and her daughters prayed for strength to endure whatever would come.
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  SPEAKER_00: When they appeared before Emperor Hadrian, everyone was surprised by their calm and joyful demeanor.
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  SPEAKER_00: The emperor asked each daughter to offer sacrifice to the goddess Artemis, but they refused.
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  SPEAKER_00: The emperor then ordered them to be tortured.
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  SPEAKER_00: They were burned over an iron grating, thrown into a red hot oven, and placed in boiling tar.
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  SPEAKER_00: Yet the Lord protected them through these trials.
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  SPEAKER_00: The youngest daughter, Love, was tied to a wheel and beaten until her body was covered in wounds.
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  SPEAKER_00: Despite the pain, the daughters praised their heavenly bridegroom and stayed firm in their faith.
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  SPEAKER_00: Saint Sophia was forced to watch her daughters suffer.
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  SPEAKER_00: She encouraged them to endure for Christ.
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  SPEAKER_00: Eventually, all three daughters were beheaded, accepting their death with joy.
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  SPEAKER_00: The emperor allowed Sophia to take their bodies.
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  SPEAKER_00: She buried them on a high hill outside the city and stayed by their graves for three days.
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  SPEAKER_00: Then she peacefully gave her soul to the Lord.
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  SPEAKER_00: Though she did not die from torture, she shared in their suffering and received a martyr's crown.
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  SPEAKER_00: Their relics have rested in El Zasa since the year seven hundred seventy seven.
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  SPEAKER_00: We also remember Saint Theododa, a wealthy woman from Cappadocia who lived during the reign of Emperor Alexander Severus.
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  SPEAKER_00: The governor Simblisius heard that she confessed Christ and summoned her.
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  SPEAKER_00: He tried to persuade her to abandon her faith, but she refused.
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  SPEAKER_00: Theododa was tortured by being suspended and raked with iron hooks, yet she felt no pain.
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  SPEAKER_00: After eight days in prison, she was brought out again for more torture.
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  SPEAKER_00: The governor was amazed to see her almost unharmed and asked who she was.
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  SPEAKER_00: She replied that he was blinded and that she was Theodora.
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  SPEAKER_00: Simblicius ordered her thrown into a red hot furnace.
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  SPEAKER_00: Flames burned those nearby, but Theodota was unharmed.
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  SPEAKER_00: She appeared standing in the fire between two youths in white, praising the Lord.
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  SPEAKER_00: This frightened the pagans, who fell down as if dead.
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  SPEAKER_00: Later, Simblicius tried to burn her on red hot iron, but again she was unharmed.
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  SPEAKER_00: He took her to Nicaea and tried to force her to sacrifice to idols.
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  SPEAKER_00: Through her prayer the idols fell and broke.
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  SPEAKER_00: He then ordered her to be sawed through, but the saw caused no harm.
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  SPEAKER_00: Finally, Theodora was beheaded.
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  SPEAKER_00: Bishop Sophronius of Nicaea buried her body.
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  SPEAKER_00: These stories remind us of the power of faith and the strength given by God to those who trust in him.
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  SPEAKER_00: Let us pray.
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  SPEAKER_00: Lord Jesus Christ, grant us the courage of Saint Sophia and her daughters, and of Saint Theodora.
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  SPEAKER_00: Help us to remain faithful in trials and to trust in your protection.
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  SPEAKER_00: Strengthen our hearts to follow you always.
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  SPEAKER_00: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, of one God.
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  SPEAKER_00: Amen.
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  SPEAKER_00: Lord Jesus Christ, grant us courage and faith like the martyrs we remember today.
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  SPEAKER_00: Help us to trust you in all things and to remain steadfast in our love for you.
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  SPEAKER_00: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, of one God.
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  SPEAKER_00: Amen.