Faith, hope and love are the three main Christian virtues. They are an allegory of the Holy Trinity and are mentioned in many sacred texts and works of art. In jewelry, this triad is embodied in the form of a pendant with the image of a cross, an anchor and a heart. According to archaeological excavations, the symbol is almost as old as Christianity - more than 2000 years old.
The beginning of the story of the widow Sophia
To understand the meaning inherent in the images of holy virgins, one should turn to their lives. Symbols come from time immemorial, but are still relevant in modern times, in which material values often prevail over spiritual ones.
The story tells of a deeply religious widow, Sophia. She lived in the second century, when Emperor Hadrian, an ardent persecutor of Christians, reigned. The girl’s name itself was translated as “wisdom”, and it contained the destiny given by the Almighty. Since childhood, Sophia spent all her time among the pagans, but with her heart she was able to comprehend the teachings of Christ.
While married, the woman gave birth to three girls from her husband. She decided to name them after Christian virtues. When the youngest daughter was born, her husband soon died. Having been widowed, pious Sophia devoted herself to raising her children. From an early age, girls consciously gave alms, realizing that they were fulfilling the commandments of Christ, who called for love and compassion for others. The mother and daughters spent all their days in prayer, fasting and reading the Word of God.
Spiritual path
The years passed, the girls grew up and became more and more strong in the virtues that their mother laid in their names. This was facilitated by homework, classes with teachers, and reading books that were written by the ancient prophets and holy apostles. The girls followed the path of spiritual growth, guided by the instructions of their wise mother.
Over time, rumors about their intelligence and beauty spread throughout Rome. They also reached Antiochus, a fanatical pagan and commander of the region. He wanted to meet and talk with them. From the first seconds of the conversation, it became clear that true Christians were standing in front of him. What angered him most was the fact that they openly preached the teachings of Jesus and did not even try to hide it.
Before the Roman Emperor
Antiochus could not contain his rage and went to the ruler Hadrian to talk about the daring followers of Christ. Servants were immediately sent with orders to bring Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sophia to the palace.
Leaving the house, the widow and daughters realized what awaited them ahead. They turned to the Lord in prayer, asking them to strengthen their hearts, to give them courage and strength, so as not to flinch before the executioners. Standing before the throne of the angry Roman ruler, they mentally addressed the Heavenly King. This is what gave strength to look at Adrian with a majestic and calm gaze.
Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia (symbolism of icons)
Day of Saints Faith, Hope, Love and Sophia
On September 30, the Russian Orthodox Church honored the memory of the holy martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sophia.
Since ancient times, churches have been named in honor of the holy martyrs in Rus'. In the capital of Tatarstan, two churches were consecrated in honor of these saints of God: the cemetery church in honor of the holy martyrs in the Kirov region and the Sofia Gate Church of the Kazan Mother of God Monastery.
On the day of remembrance of the martyrs, Archbishop Anastasy of Kazan and Tatarstan visited the Elabuga Kazan-Bogoroditsky Convent, where he led the all-night vigil and Divine Liturgy. At the end of the service, the ruling bishop congratulated the abbess of the monastery, Abbess Vera (Shevchenko), on her name day, reports the department for language development and interaction with public organizations of the Kazan Executive Committee.
The holy martyrs Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia suffered in Rome around 137 under Emperor Hadrian. Saint Sophia, a strong Christian, managed to raise her daughters in ardent love for the Lord Jesus Christ. The rumor about the good behavior, intelligence and beauty of the girls reached the emperor, who wished to see them, having learned that they were Christians.
The holy virgins, understanding for what purpose the emperor was calling them, turned with fervent prayer to the Lord, asking him to strengthen their spiritual and physical strength in suffering. Their selfless mother joyfully blessed them for their martyrdom, urging her daughters not to be afraid of short-term torments and to stand firmly for their faith in Christ the Savior.
Adrian called on all three sisters in turn and gently persuaded them to sacrifice to the goddess Artemis. The young maidens (Vera was 12, Nadezhda – 10 and Lyubov – 9 years old) remained adamant. Having received a firm refusal from everyone, the emperor ordered to cruelly torture first the eldest - Vera, then - Nadezhda and the youngest - Lyubov. Their mother, Saint Sophia, seeing the torture of her daughters, showed extraordinary courage and found the strength to convince them to endure suffering. And the holy virgins joyfully accepted their crown of martyrdom.
Saint Sophia was allowed to take the bodies of her daughters to bury them. For the great torment of her mother, who endured the suffering and death of her daughters, without hesitation betraying them to the will of God, Saint Sophia was honored to be glorified as a great martyr. The relics of the holy martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and Sophia have rested in Alsace, in the Church of Escho, since 777.
Thus, three girls and their mother showed that for people strengthened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, lack of bodily strength does not in the least serve as an obstacle to the manifestation of spiritual strength and courage.
“Maybe I can be moved from within by the God who lives in my chest...”
Interrogation of pious virgins
The emperor was struck by the fearlessness and nobility of those who came. He began to ask them who they were and to whose family they belonged. Mother Sophia answered first, since she was the eldest and full of wisdom, in accordance with the Divine name. She told about herself, her daughters and moved on to why they were brought to the palace.
The widow fearlessly told the emperor about the faith in which she raised her daughters and grew up herself. She spoke about Jesus, whose teaching she considers true and the only true one. Then the woman declared that Love, Hope and Faith became God's servants in order to bring imperishable purity as a gift to the Heavenly Bridegroom.
Resilience in the face of fear and temptation
The Roman ruler did not want to enter into an argument with the wise woman and said that he would make his decision in three days. He sent his daughters and their mother to the noble woman Palladia, so that she would try to shake their firm convictions. After the designated period, the girls again appeared before Adrian.
He failed to achieve what he wanted, the widow and girls remained unconvinced, further strengthened by the spiritual conversations and prayers they performed during these days. The enraged emperor described to them the carefree and happy life that would come if they abandoned the Christian faith and bowed to man-made pagan gods. Having finished talking about earthly joys, he moved on to threats. The ruler listed all the torments that awaited them in case of refusal.
Neither the temptation of earthly joys nor the fear of executioners could shake the resolve of Christian women. On the icon of Faith, Hope and Love, which was painted later, four women are depicted, filled with unearthly strength of spirit and ready to sacrifice themselves, purified by torment.
Prayer to the icon Vera Nadezhda Love about marriage
Every girl dreams of a beautiful wedding and a loving man. Many mothers come to the temple to ask the icon for a good betrothed for their daughters.
“You, immaculate sufferers, Faith, Hope and Love, we glorify, praise and please you, together with the reasonable mother Sophia, we bow to her as the appearance of prudent guardianship. Pray, immaculate Faith, to the Creator of visible and invisible things, to grant us a strong, unblemished and strong religion. Ask, immaculate Hope, before God the Savior for us sinners, that the anticipation of His goodness may not renounce us, and may free us from any sorrow and necessity. pray, immaculate Love, to the Spirit of truth, the Comforter, of our troubles and sadness, and direct Him above the heavenly pleasure to our hearts.
Therefore, help us in our tragedies, immaculate sufferers, and, together with your reasonable mother Sophia, ask the Almighty Lord to preserve the Immaculate Temple under His roof. Likewise, for all of us, we diligently ask for your warmest intercession before the Lord, so that together with you and with all the sinless we may proclaim and glorify the immaculate and famous name of the Parent and Offspring and the Immaculate Spirit of the Lord, the permanent Ruler and the immaculate Creator, now and always and forever centuries. Amen."
Willingness to endure earthly torments
The women answered again and again steadily and firmly that their true God was the Creator of Being. They noted that they would worship only Him and were even ready to accept all torture and death for His sake alone. Moreover, after this, in the future life they will be able to unite with Him forever. Neither the temptations nor the threats of the emperor could force Christian women to abandon this belief. Saying all these words, Sophia and her daughters joined hands, forming a wreath that was woven in the name of the One God.
Adrian realized that he had already exhausted all his means of persuasion, and ordered the women to be handed over to the executioners. Christian women were strengthened by the power of prayer; they were full of Grace and endured torment, reciting texts from the Word of God.
How to make an amulet to attract love with your own hands at home
You can make an amulet to attract love with your own hands. It is enough to know a few basic rules and choose the appropriate amulet option. First you need to wash your hands, tune in to the task, and “get” into a good mood.
Note! A good talisman cannot be created in a hurry. You need to allocate enough time for this and not rush anywhere.
Useful tips, scroll of wishes
A love amulet can be a scroll with wishes. This will allow you to attract your chosen one and maintain a relationship with him in the future. The main condition is to know what you want. The creation principle is as follows:
- You need to choose a sheet of thick and beautiful paper.
- Write down on it all the qualities that you would like to see in your future husband.
- A sheet of paper must be rolled into a scroll and tied with a red ribbon. You can additionally seal it with wax.
Scroll of Wishes
Next, you need to put the scroll under the bed and wait for your betrothed.
Magic heart or bag of love
From home supplies of herbs and everything else, you can make a bag of wishes that will bring romance, understanding, success and grace. This bag is made as follows:
- You need to sew a small bag from thick red or pink fabric. Additionally, you need to think about the tie system.
- You will need to put dried herbs in it that all family members like. It is advisable to use chamomile, lavender, wormwood, linden.
- A precious or semi-precious stone or gold item should be placed on top of the herbs.
- A red thread must be put inside, which will definitely protect you from the evil eye and negative magical influences.
- A few drops of your favorite essential oil are added on top and the bag is tied.
Note! To improve relationships and protect your family, you need to make such a talisman in a good mood and think only about the best. You can make a heart-shaped bag in the same way.
To save a marriage, find a match or restore connections, you can use a love amulet. There are several options for such talismans. The choice can be made according to personal preferences. It is quite possible to make a talisman with your own hands.
Accepting death for the Christian faith
The torturers received negative answers to all entreaties. Then they began to torture the daughters, and the mother was forced to watch the whole process. In this way the executioners wanted to force her to renounce her faith in Christ.
The first to be doomed to torment was Vera (Pistis, to take the Greek name). She did not say a word during the torture, but only promised to pray for her sisters and mother before her head was cut off. Then it was Nadezhda’s (Elpis) turn. First she was severely beaten, and then forced to go into a burning oven. Noticing that the fire did not harm the girl, the ruler ordered her to remove her head from her shoulders. The youngest daughter Lyubov (Agape) was mutilated beyond recognition and then also executed.
Adrian did not torture the widow and left her alive. But in order to hurt her heart more painfully, he gave her the heads and bodies of his dead sisters. The fearlessness and greatness of the ascetics manifested at that moment is fully conveyed by the subsequently painted icon of Faith, Hope and Love. But the martyrs are depicted on it no longer as earthly women, but as symbols of holiness.
The meaning of the icon Faith, Hope and Love
The history of this image goes back to very ancient times. It began in the second century. At that time there lived one very religious Sofia, who had three wonderful daughters. From a very early age, Sofia instilled a love for the Almighty. Every day their day began and ended with the reading of prayers.
This believing family lived during the reign of the ruthless ruler Andrian. He treated people with particular cruelty who strongly believed in the Lord, and not in pagan idols. One day, Emperor Andrian heard rumors that three Christian girls throughout the empire secretly carried faith in God. The ruler became very angry and ordered them to be brought to his chambers.
When the emperor’s servants arrived at Sofia’s house, she immediately understood why they wanted to take her and her daughters to the palace. The girls did not resist, but only asked the Almighty Lord to help them go through all the brutal torments that Andrian had planned for them.
First of all, when the girls were taken to the wards, the emperor wanted to force them in every possible way to renounce their Christian beliefs. He even offered Sophia’s daughters to live in his palace and not need for anything. However, the girls categorically refused to believe in pagan idols. Not giving in to all of Andrian’s persuasion, Sophia’s daughters told the emperor that idols do not exist and this is just a fiction of people, but the Lord exists, and he always comes to the aid of people.
Such words infuriated the emperor, and he ordered the girls to be sent to brutal torture, and forced their mother to watch everything that was happening, thereby hoping that at least she would renounce the Almighty Lord. Vera was bullied for a long time, but the girl was not going to give up Jesus Christ. During all the torture, she constantly prayed and asked the Lord to have mercy on her sisters and mother. The ruler was very angry at what was happening and ordered Vera’s head to be cut off. Everyone was very surprised when they saw that not blood flowed from the wound, but milk.
Nadezhda’s punishment was also very brutal. First she was severely beaten, and then the emperor decided to burn her in a burning oven. However, a miracle happened and the flame went out without harming Sofia’s daughter. There was no end to the emperor’s anger, and he also ordered Nadezhda’s head to be cut off.
Andrian also ordered his third daughter Sofia to be beheaded, but before that Lyubov was beaten so badly that it was impossible to recognize her. The emperor decided not to punish the girls' mother. He knew that the greatest punishment for Sofia was to see with her own eyes the death of all three daughters. The bodies and heads of the girls were given to Sofia for burial. For three days she did not leave the graves of her daughters and prayed for their souls. On the third day, at the grave of her beloved little ones, she went to the Almighty. Dear Friends, we remind you that you can buy the Faith Hope Love icon on our pages!
Completion of the widow's earthly journey
The girls, having endured all the suffering, made a valuable sacrifice in the name of Jesus Christ. Sofia placed the remains of her daughters in expensive coffins and did everything that should be done for the dead. The funeral took place in a suburb of the Roman capital on a high hill on the Appian Way at the eighteenth pillar. The procession took place on the thirtieth of September (later this date became a Christian holiday).
Having buried the remains of the children, the widow spent three days in continuous prayer for the sisters. After that, she herself died quietly near the graves. Christians buried her body on the same hill, next to her daughters. The feat of Sofia and the three girls was imprinted in the memory of people and was continuously passed down from generation to generation.
Interesting Facts
Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia became holy symbols. An icon depicting their faces soon appeared in Rus' after the baptism of the Kyiv people by Prince Vladimir. At the same time, a Slavic translation of the life was made. There is a rather interesting fact associated with it. The names of the martyrs in the original Greek sound different and are not translated as the compilers of the Slavic life intended. The exception is the name of the girls' mother - Sofia. Contrary to tradition, the translators gave the sisters names that correspond to the three main Christian virtues. The history of Christianity knows only a few similar cases. As a rule, when compiling the lives of saints, the names were written down without any changes.
Also interesting is the fact that until the mid-eighteenth century in Rus', newborns were not given the names of saints, since they were considered common noun symbols. Only during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna did they begin to treat this differently. Holy names have become widespread, and their bearers have guardian angels. In their honor, a holiday was established in Rus' on the thirtieth of September.
Popularity history
In European countries, a pendant with the image of a cross, an anchor and a heart has been one of the most popular decorations for many centuries. The symbol was used by many Catholic missions and Christian organizations. In Russia, his image can be seen on the gates of the Peter and Paul Fortress. And in the Finnish city of Jakobstad, the symbols of a cross, an anchor and a heart are used every year to decorate the streets on Christmas Eve.
This sign was also revered by sailors of the Middle Ages. Because of the constant risk they faced while sailing, they were very superstitious people. Sailors tattooed themselves in the form of a cross with an anchor and a flaming heart - as a talisman or protective talisman. The image was deciphered as follows:
- heart - longing for home, wife or lover left on the shore;
- anchor - hope for a successful completion of the journey;
- cross - faith in God's protection.
In jewelry, the surge in popularity of pendants depicting a cross, a heart and an anchor occurred at the end of the 18th century. It was worn by young girls and boys, married ladies and respectable gentlemen. The decoration acted as a sentimental and mourning symbol of Christian virtues. It was also used as a talisman when performing love spells and protective spells.
Meaning of the icon
Sofia was a wise woman, so she gave her daughters names that signify important spiritual qualities. Every Christian should cultivate them. The meaning of the icon depicting the holy martyrs Faith, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother is that it should remind people of those eternal values that often become not as important as transitory earthly joys.
Sophia personifies the wisdom of God, being the mother of three Christian virtues.
Faith represents unity with the Creator, trust in his gifts, power and mercy. This is what has brought man closer to God since the Fall. Thus, Adam in paradise could directly look at the Creator and talk with Him.
Hope represents the feeling of trust that divine mercy has no limits. Without this virtue, faith cannot exist, since this is the confidence in moment-to-moment and universal protection.
Love is the force on which the whole world as a whole and Christian existence rests. It is also the meaning of any person’s life. Love determines the relationship of people to themselves, to each other and to God. It was this quality that the Apostle Paul considered the most important of the virtues. Jesus commanded us to love even our enemies.
Prayer to the icon
“Faith, Hope, Love” is an icon whose meaning is fully expressed in prayer. It is impossible to say with complete certainty when exactly it was compiled. But it contains heartfelt words that are addressed, first of all, to the mother of the young Christian martyrs. In Sophia’s prayer, words of praise are given as a woman who managed to raise her daughters as worthy brides for the Savior. The text contains a request from God to send wisdom and preservation of three virtues to all people. After all, it is on faith, hope and love that the whole world rests. Such prayerful speeches express the deep meaning of the icon.
Amulet with a triple name
Today, you can make a love talisman with your own hands, or buy a ready-made one. Perhaps the most popular is the amulet of lovers - Faith, Hope, Love.
- Love is the conqueror of separation.
- Vera is a woman with a cross and a candle.
- Hope is the association of this Christian saint with the loaves and fishes.
The purpose of the amulet Faith, Hope, Love is the reunification in one whole of all the virtues that will help you find true happiness in life. Women's talismans help the fair sex to reveal themselves fully and even strengthen their feminine charms. Just know that love can have a completely unexpected outcome, for example, as in the love story with the magical title “Amulet for Lovers,” written by Svetlana Lubenets.
How to use a magic item correctly?
The amulet must be charged periodically. Choose a quiet, secluded place for this; no one should disturb you during the ceremony. Light a white candle; it is better if the ritual is accompanied by a light, unobtrusive melody. Do not open the amulet, place it on top of your palm and bring it closer to your eyes, carefully examine the pattern on the object, the pattern should not be upside down, make sure that it is positioned correctly. Looking at the talisman with a continuous gaze, you must tune in to its energy.
Now you will charge the lovers’ amulet with your own hands in this way: place the talisman in the place where the sun’s rays penetrate. Your amulet will remain in this place for several days.
Women can also charge a talisman with their own hands with the light of the moon to attract love. The amulet should be placed under the light of the moon for several days one day before the full moon.
If you notice that a love amulet charged with your own hands will change color, it means that its magical energy is working on your problem. Remember that a talisman can help you with love spells, but the outcome of the relationship depends entirely on two people in love with each other. The plot from Lubenets' book about the girl Marina shows how feelings can unexpectedly change.
Description of the icon
The icon of the Great Martyrs is easy to recognize by several features. The girls are depicted frontally, with three short daughters standing in front, and mother Sophia behind them. Usually everyone holds crosses in their hands, as a symbol of the Savior’s sacrifice and martyrdom.
Often the icon looks very colorful. The girls are dressed in vestments of various colors: they use white, azure, red, sometimes yellow and green. In some images they are depicted as priests. The style of execution of the images will depend on the school and time in which the icon painter lived. But the family is always together as a role model.
Icon options
If you look at the history of the icon, you can see several options for its execution.
In traditional images that belong to the Byzantine school, girls have eight-pointed Orthodox crosses in their hands. Their mother stands and prayerfully raises her hands to the sky, asking for God's help. The heads of the saints are bowed, and their faces are calm, as if they agree with the will of the Creator and the prepared trials.
There is an icon that depicts girls of different heights. The eldest holds the Gospel, the middle daughter has a wooden cross in her hands, and the youngest has an unfolded scroll. Mother Sofia hugs her sisters by the shoulders. Behind the martyrs you can see hills, and above - cirrus clouds in the blue sky.
Also known is the icon of Faith, Hope, Love with stamps that show scenes from the life. One of them depicts Sophia and her children reading the Holy Scriptures, the other depicts a conversation with the Roman ruler. Next come the marks of the sisters’ torture and burial. In the very center of the icon is a classic image of a Christian family.
Help icons
A prayer said next to the icon can help save a family, create strong relationships, protect from envious people, return lost love, choose a groom for unmarried girls and alleviate hand diseases. You can ask for the gift of health for your family and children, even if there are no problems with this now. Those who suddenly lost loved ones find relief in prayers.
From time immemorial, this icon has been the patroness of the hearth. Near her, married girls asked the Almighty for peace to reign in the house. On the thirtieth of September, all women had to start the morning with tears. This was a kind of talisman against adversity. Also on this day, festivities were held at which the groom was looked after.
Amulet for love and marriage
A talisman for love and marriage is an item endowed with magic that will help you find your person among thousands of others. He will give harmony and happiness to spouses, and will save the family from quarrels and divorce.
Note! An amulet can be a stone that matches your zodiac sign. For example, turquoise, sapphire or natural pearls are suitable for Gemini or Cancer.
Why is it needed?
The talisman for love extends its effect to other areas of life. So, in his power:
- Become a real protection against damage to the family.
- Save each spouse from a love spell.
- Build relationships with others.
Amulet for love
Thanks to him, lost luck, success and prosperity will return to a person again.
