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The great feast Day of the Great Martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sofia: when in 2025, what are the saints known for, the schedule of divine services
At the end of September, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Day of the Great Martyrs — Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia. The celebration is dedicated to the memory of the three daughters, symbolizing the main virtues — faith, hope and love, as well as their mother Sofia, personifying wisdom. On this day, festive divine services are held in all churches, where believers prayerfully celebrate the steadfastness and feat of the holy martyrs, strengthen their faith and spiritual foundations. For more information about the origin of the holiday, the meaning of the celebration and the traditions of worship, see the Izvestia article.
Saints Faith, Hope, Love and their Mother Sofia Day: when in 2025, transitional or not
The Orthodox Church annually celebrates the Day of Remembrance of the Holy Martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sofia on September 30 in the new style (September 17 in the old style). In 2025, this holiday falls on a Tuesday and is not transitional, meaning it is always celebrated on the same calendar day.
According to church regulations, fasting does not apply to this holiday, but believers show special reverence by attending divine services and praying for the help of the saints. In folk traditions, the Day of Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sofia is often called a women's holiday — on this day it is customary to pray for the well-being of the family, children and the health of women.
The essence of the Day of the Great Martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sophia
The Holy Martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sofia lived in Rome in the second century, during the reign of Emperor Hadrian— one of the most cruel persecutors of Christianity. Sofia was a devout Christian, a widow who devoted her life to raising her three daughters in the spirit of virtue. The girls' names — Faith, Hope and Love — reflected the main Christian values on which their mother based their upbringing.
At the time of the persecution of Christians, the family was under the close attention of the authorities. By order of Emperor Hadrian, Christian Sophia and her daughters were brought to the court, where they were called to renounce their faith and sacrifice to pagan gods. Despite their young age — Vera was only 12 years old, Nadezhda was 10, and Lyubov was 9 — the girls refused to renounce their faith. The emperor tried to break their will with promises, flattery, and threats, and even sent a pagan mentor to convince them of the futility of Christianity. But all attempts were unsuccessful.
Then followed the torment. The girls were brutally beaten, burned on a red-hot grill, thrown into a furnace and into a cauldron with boiling pitch, but the Lord, according to legend, protected them, keeping their bodies incorruptible and untouched. Mother Sofia was forced to look at the suffering of her daughters, but she did not leave them and supported them in every possible way, strengthening the girls in faith and courage.
In the end, all three sisters were beheaded. After the execution, Sofia received permission to bury her daughters' bodies and died soon after, spending three days at their graves and giving her soul to the Lord. The memory of the martyrs has been revered in the Christian world since the 16th century as a symbol of unshakeable faith, hope and love. Their names are often mentioned in liturgical texts and prayers, and Sofia herself has become a symbol of maternal love and patience.
The spiritual significance of the September 30 holiday among the Orthodox
The feast of the Great Martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sophia is filled with deep spiritual meaning. These saints embody the three main Christian virtues — faith, hope and love, and their mother Sophia symbolizes wisdom, without which these virtues can lose their true meaning.
Faith is a conscious recognition of God and the desire to live according to His commandments, hope is an inner trust in God's mercy and the support of others, and love is an active manifestation of kindness and mercy to others. However, according to the teaching of the church, these virtues cannot exist without the wisdom that St. Sophia calls for. Wisdom helps a person to distinguish between good and evil, so as not to slip into fanaticism or indifference, to become able to show true love without selfishness and jealousy.
The holiday reminds believers of the need to live according to these higher spiritual principles, strengthening the soul in faith and love, not forgetting the importance of a wise and conscious attitude to life.
The largest churches of the Russian Orthodox Church dedicated to Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sofia
There are several significant temples in the Russian Orthodox Church, consecrated in honor of the holy martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sophia. These shrines serve as centers of worship, places of worship and spiritual enlightenment for believers.
The Church of Faith, Hope, Love and their Mother Sofia in Moscow is one of the oldest and most significant churches in the capital, built in 1771. The church is operational and is part of the Trinity Deanery of the Moscow Diocese.
Church of the Great Martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sofia in Kirov
The Church of Faith, Hope, Love and their Mother Sofia in Belgorod is an important spiritual center of the region, which attracts many believers from neighboring regions. The temple is known for its architecture and rich traditions of worship.
The Church of Faith, Hope, Love and Sofia at the Dmitry Rogachev Moscow State Medical University in Moscow is a unique temple at the scientific medical center, where spiritual care is combined with medical support.
St. Sophia Church in Samara is one of the main Orthodox shrines of the city, preserving the traditions of veneration of the great martyrs and their mother, services and spiritual talks are regularly held here.
The Church of Faith, Hope, Love and their Mother Sophia in St. Petersburg is the spiritual center of the city, where tribute to the memory of the martyrs is expressed in solemn celebrations and educational activities.
In addition to Russia, saints are also venerated in temples in other countries, for example, in Australia — the Church of St. Sophia and her three daughters in Surry Hills, and Kazakhstan - St. Sophia Cathedral in Alma Ata. These temples remind of the great feat of the saints and serve as centers of spiritual growth, uniting Orthodox believers in prayer and memory of eternal values.
Icon depicting Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sofia
There are several variations of the image, but each of them usually depicts Mother Sofia with her three daughters, who are standing next to her in prayer. The composition often conveys a deep spiritual meaning: Sophia is depicted with her hands raised in prayer, symbolizing God's Wisdom, and her daughters are like branches emanating from her, the basic virtues that the Christian soul should possess.
The icon serves not only as an object of veneration, but also as a powerful spiritual support for believers. It is believed that it helps to preserve the fortress of faith, strengthen the family hearth, protect the home and bring peace and harmony to life. Prayers in front of the icon are often aimed at strengthening spiritual and family values, helping in difficulties and finding spiritual peace.
Church service on September 30: What time is the start, how is the service going?
On September 30, the day of commemoration of the great martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sofia, solemn divine services dedicated to these saints are held in Orthodox churches. The beginning of services usually falls in the morning hours — from 07:00 to 09:00, depending on the traditions of a particular church and the schedule of the diocese.
The divine service on this day includes the following parts:
— reading of the hours (morning prayers), which prepare the faithful for further participation in the divine service;
— confession is the sacrament of penance for the purification of the soul, which is performed before the liturgy;
— The Divine Liturgy is the central part of the service, including the reading of the Gospel, Communion and prayers in memory of the martyrs;
— the Akathist, or prayer service to Saints Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sophia, in which believers ask for help, strengthening faith and well-being in the family.
At the end of the liturgy, a procession is often held around the church, which symbolizes a prayer procession as a sign of veneration of the saints. In many churches, candles are lit at the service in honor of the martyrs and special prayers are performed to preserve the light of faith, hope and love in the hearts of believers.
In addition to morning services, in some large churches and monasteries it is possible to hold evening all—night vigils with liturgy and akathists on the eve of the holiday - September 29. These divine services help to prepare spiritually and contemplate the feat of the holy martyrs.
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