Sophia
Sophia.
This name occurs frequently in the catalogies of saints and martyrs of the ancient Church, but in no instance with historical authentication.
1. A Christian widow, living at Rome under Hadrian, about A.D. 120, with her daughters Fides, Spes, and Charitas. Accused before the praefect Antiochus, they made joyous confession of their faith. The daughters were condemned to be thrown into a fire of pitch and sulphur, but as they remained uninjured in the fire, they were taken out and beheaded. The mother was temporarily released, and buried her children, but after three days she, too, sealed her faith with her blood. Her day is Sept. 30, or, according to other authorities, Aug. 1. The legend is found in Simeon Metaphrastes and later collections (ap. Lipom. tom. 6, ap. Sur. tom. 4; Mombrit. tom. 2; Acta S. ad 30 Sept.).
2. A virgin martyred under Decius at Fermo, in Picenum, April 30, and buried in the church of that town. The Fasti Westphalice, however, commemorate a Sophia on the same day at Minden (Martyr. Rom. [ed. aron.]; Ferrariusi in Catal. SS.; comp. Acta SS. ad 30 April).
3. Mentioned in Roman (Martyrol. Rom. [ed. Baron.]) and Greek (Menolog. Sirletian.) lists as having been beheaded at Milan, Sept. 18.
⇒See also the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
4. An Egyptian, whose daughters were named Dibamona and Bistamona (Fasti Habessinorim), and with whom were associated a St.Varsenopha and her mother. Their natalities are assigned to Junee 4 (Acta SS.), their time is uncertain.
5. Sophia Senatrix, a nun of Aenos, in Thrace, the widow of a senator at Constantinople, who returned to Thrace after the death of her six children in order to devote herself exclusively to; works of Christian love. She died June 4, in the 10th or 11 century. The Acta SS. ad h. d. furnish a brief description of her life in Greek, taken from a Synaxarium Divionense.
