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Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors Holy Martyrs Sophia, Vyara, Nadezhda and Lyubov

Photo: archive

On September 17, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church honors the Holy Martyr Sophia and her daughters Vyara, Nadezhda and Lyubov (Faith, Hope and Love). September 17 is a holiday of the spiritual virtues- wisdom, hope, faith and love.

The legend has it that in the 1st century, Sophia and her daughters, who were slandered for professing Christianity, were taken before Emperor Hadrian in Rome. Hadrian urged them to offer a sacrifice to the goddess Artemis, but the young girls remained unyielding and died a martyr's death with their mother.

Vyara, Verka, Nadezhda, Lyubov, Lyuba, Lyuben. Lyubomir, Lyubomira, Lyubomil, Sophia and Sofka celebrate their name day on September 17. 




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