Canon to Saint Saint Sophia
and Her Daughters, Faith, Hope, and Charity
With the usual entrance prayers for all canons.
Tropar’, Tone 1.
As spiritual lambs, ye were brought through martyrdom unto the Lamb and Shepherd, having finished your course unto Christ and kept the Faith. Wherefore, on this day, with joyful soul we celebrate your holy memory, O ye worthy of wonder, magnifying Christ. (Twice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen, Tone 1.
When Gabriel greeted thee, O Virgin, Rejoice; and at his voice the Master of all became incarnate in thee, the holy ark, as the righteous David said, thou wast shown to be more spacious than the heavens, because thou didst carry the Creator. Glory to Him Who came to dwell in thee. Glory to Him Who came forth from thee. Glory to Him Who set us free by thy childbirth.
Ode I, Irmos.
Thy victorious right hand, O God, hath been glorified in strength; for it, O Immortal and Almighty One, hath crushed the adversaries, and for Israel made new a path through the deep.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
O Christ, grant unto me, O Master, the radiance of Thy transcendent and ineffable Wisdom, for the sake of Thy glorious and holy martyr, that I may hymn her offspring.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Thy name was manifestly adorned by thy life, O divinely wise one; for thou didst pass all thy life in the desire of wisdom, O glorious Sophia, shining forth the grace of Wisdom.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Thy most blessed fruit, adorned in martyrdom according to the number of the most divine Trinity, shone forth for that same Trinity, O wise Sophia, who sharest thy name with divine Wisdom.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having purified body and soul by the virtues, the three virgin maidens were brought unto Thee in martyrdom, O Christ, the spiritual Bridegroom: Faith, together with Hope, and all-glorious Charity.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
He Who of old existed in the form of God, taking upon Himself my whole form, renewed me wholly, dwelling in thy womb in manner befitting God, O most Pure one. Wherefore, with faith we glorify thee as the Theotokos.
Katavasia.
Deliver your servants from afflictions, O holy martyrs, for after God we all flee unto you; for you pray for us unto Christ our God. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Ode III, Irmos.
O Thou Who alone knowest the frailty of the nature of them that dwell upon the earth, and Who mercifully didst clothe Thyself therein: gird me from on high with strength, that I may cry unto Thee: Holy is the spiritual Church of Thine ineffable glory, O Lover of mankind.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Hearkening unto the voice of Christ, Who calleth unto immortal and passionless life, the crown-bearing virgins and martyrs followed after Him, crying unto Thee: Holy is the spiritual Church of Thine ineffable glory, O Lover of mankind.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
O blessed Nicholas, thou Christ, Who promised to grant strength unto you when ye stood in judgment as martyrs, filled you with divinely inspired wisdom, and manifested you as radiant and victorious martyrs, shining with the grace of virginity.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Ye blunted the mind of the boastful enemy, O virgins, and cast down his pride. Having struggled with great wisdom, ye drowned in the stream of your blood him who aforetime boasted that he would destroy the sea.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Being richly filled with the Wisdom of Christ from on high, the chosen Sophia and her three wise daughters put to shame the wavering and unrestrained fury of their tormentors, proclaiming divine teachings.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
O holy and pure dwelling, thou gavest birth unto Christ, the Holy One of the saints, Who resteth in the saints. Unto Him we cry: Holy is the spiritual Church of Thy most pure glory, O Lover of mankind.
Katavasia.
Deliver your servants from afflictions, O holy martyrs, for after God we all flee unto you; for you pray for us unto Christ our God. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Sedalen, Tone 1.
Sophia and her precious and sacred offspring, Faith, Hope, and Charity, were shown forth, and by grace made foolish the wisdom of the Greeks. Having suffered and been manifested as victorious, they were crowned with incorruptible crowns by the Master of all.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
Receive the prayers of thy servants, O Theotokos, and deliver us from every affliction, for thou gavest birth unto Christ the Saviour, the Deliverer of our souls.
Ode IV, Irmos.
With his discerning eyes Habakkuk beheld thee, the mountain overshadowed by the grace of God, and proclaimed that from thee the Holy One of Israel should come forth, unto our salvation and renewal.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Strengthened by the grace of God, the victorious Faith, Charity, and Hope manfully put to shame the threats of the tormentors; and though consumed by fire, the wise maidens were brought unto Christ the Bridegroom.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Made mighty by the full armour of the Cross and fenced about with faith, Faith, Charity, and Hope steadfastly endured the wounds of torment, resisting sin even unto blood.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Strengthened by the power and love of the Trinity, Faith, Charity, and Hope, ye three honoured virgins equal in number to the Trinity, endured the fierce burning of the sufferings, O divine and God-pleasing ones.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
The young maidens put the deceiver to shame, having fenced themselves about with the Cross; and gloriously cast his lofty pride down to the earth, who in his madness boasted that he would seize the whole world.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Shining as three lamps of Wisdom, Faith, Charity, and Hope, manifestly strengthened by the illuminations of the Trinity, brightly enlighten the Church, unto our salvation and protection.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen:
O holy Theotokos, praised above all, hope of the nations and salvation of the faithful: from thee shone forth the Deliverer, the Life-giver and Lord, unto the salvation of us who hymn thee.
Katavasia.
Deliver your servants from afflictions, O holy martyrs, for after God we all flee unto you; for you pray for us unto Christ our God. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Ode V, Irmos.
Enlighten with the radiance of Thy coming, O Christ, and sanctify with Thy Cross the ends of the world; illumine with the light of Thy divine knowledge the hearts of them that praise Thee in right faith.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
With understanding and patience ye endured wounds, proclaiming the mysteries of divine Wisdom. Ye put the ruler to shame, O three God-bearing virgins, bound together by faith and by nature.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Our first mother rejoiceth, beholding the evil one who of old drove her from Eden now overcome by divinely wise women, by Hope, Faith, and Charity, instructed by Sophia.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having escaped the venomous blandishments of the tormentor, the precious maidens willingly endured his devices as martyrs, being wounded, O Christ, by divine desire for Thy love.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
The heavenly hosts make glad beholding thee, and with them the assemblies of them that dwell upon the earth rejoice; for by thy coming, O Virgin Theotokos, they were united together. Wherefore we worthily glorify thee.
Katavasia.
Deliver your servants from afflictions, O holy martyrs, for after God we all flee unto you; for you pray for us unto Christ our God. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Ode VI, Irmos.
The uttermost abyss hath encompassed us, and there is none to deliver; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Save Thy people, O our God, for Thou art the strength and restoration of the weak.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Rejoicing, the maidens placed their hopes in Thy most pure hands, O Master; being honoured and praised, three in number, according to the number of the Trinity.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Shining with the beauty of virginity, they were adorned with the crowns of martyrdom; and now they are worthily crowned with a twofold glory by Christ, the Life-giver and Benefactor of all.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having been brought into Thy Church, O Master and King of all, as precious treasures of virginity, they were made partakers of Thy Kingdom; for Thou art their light and gladness.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
In thee, O Virgin praised above all, the forefathers of our race rejoice, having through thee regained Eden, which they lost through transgression; for thou art most pure both before giving birth and after giving birth.
Katavasia.
Deliver your servants from afflictions, O holy martyrs, for after God we all flee unto you; for you pray for us unto Christ our God. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Kondak, Tone 1.
O spiritual lambs, ye were counted worthy to converse with the Lamb and Shepherd. Ye were delivered over unto cruel fire and torments, and were shown to be equal in honour to the Angels. Wherefore, O divinely wise virgins, we all celebrate your sacred memory in gladness of heart.
Ode VII, Irmos.
We faithful perceive thee, O Theotokos, as the spiritual furnace; for as the Most High God saved the three youths, so hath He wholly renewed me in thy womb. Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Manifestly illumined by the one grace of the thrice-radiant Godhead, the virgins destroyed the darkness of the demons, confessing the Light in three Persons and singing: Blessed art Thou, O God praised by our fathers.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Having your light-bearing souls as lamps in the heavens, ye now rejoice and keep festival with the Angels, delighting in everlasting glory and singing: Blessed art Thou, O God praised by our fathers.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having steadfastly withstood opposition like unto the Three Youths, ye manfully trampled upon the fire; for ye acquired a disposition like unto theirs, O divinely wise ones, being of one mind with them and singing unto God, Who is praised and exceedingly glorified.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
O Pure one, thou grantest remission of sins unto them that faithfully hymn thee, delivering them from temptations and every affliction; for in thee, O Bride of God, have we now obtained a refuge, since in thine arms thou didst bear the God praised by our fathers.
Katavasia.
Deliver your servants from afflictions, O holy martyrs, for after God we all flee unto you; for you pray for us unto Christ our God. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Ode VIII, Irmos.
In the furnace the children of Israel, as in a crucible, shone more brightly than gold in the beauty of godliness, saying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him above all for ever.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
The three divinely radiant virgins, Faith, Hope, and Charity, shone more brightly than gold in the beauty of godliness, saying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him above all for ever.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Though young, and held fast in the depth of cruel afflictions, we cry aloud: Set us free, O blessed Nicholas; grant release by thy prayers, O mystic guide unto Christ our salvation.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Let us, the faithful, hymn the virgins who were manifestly shown forth shining and radiant through their sufferings, saying: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him above all for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The shrines of the passion-bearers ever pour forth abundantly, inexhaustibly, and richly streams of healings unto them that cry with faith: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him above all for ever.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
The Pure one became a holy earth, bringing forth the life-bearing Ear, Christ, the Mediator of everlasting life; unto Him we all cry: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord; hymn and exalt Him above all for ever.
Katavasia.
Deliver your servants from afflictions, O holy martyrs, for after God we all flee unto you; for you pray for us unto Christ our God. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Ode IX, Irmos.
The burning bush, which remained unconsumed, showed forth an image of thy pure childbirth. And now we pray thee to quench the furnace of temptations raging against us, O Theotokos, that we may magnify thee unceasingly.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
Filled with the thrice-radiant Light and now satisfied with divine radiance, O ye who bear the names of the virtues, Charity, Hope, and Faith: establish us in hope, and charity, and faith.
Refrain: Holy Martyrs, pray unto God for us. (Bow)
May the power from on high now subdue the raging storm of heresy, O invincible passion-bearers, and grant unity unto the faithful. Pray for this unceasingly, we beseech you, O good and virginal maidens.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having passed beyond the night of this life, O all-wise ones, ye attained unto the day that knoweth no evening; rejoicing as martyrs and glorying in the grace of virginity, ye are accounted worthy of the incorruptible Kingdom of God.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
Bohorodičen.
O how did the Virgin give birth unto the everlasting and hypostatic Word, the Brightness and express Image of the Father, our Benefactor and Lord, Who became incarnate of her, Whom we worthily magnify?
Katavasia.
Deliver your servants from afflictions, O holy martyrs, for after God we all flee unto you; for you pray for us unto Christ our God. (With prostration)
Lord, have mercy. (Three times, with bows)
Dismissal.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, and of the holy martyrs Sophia and her children Faith, Charity, and Hope, and of all the saints, have mercy upon us and save us, for Thou art good and lovest mankind. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Three times)
Final bows.
30 September 2026