- This article is dedicated to the 4th century Roman martyr, revered in Germany. For information on the second-century Roman martyr venerated in Russia, refer to the article Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia .
Hagia Sophia of Rome (d. C. 304 ) is a Christian martyr. According to tradition, she was a young girl who suffered for the faith during the reign of Diocletian .
From the eighth century relics are stored in Germany (Alsace, modern territory of France), where it is called kalte Sophie (“cold”) and it is a protector against colds. Sophientag Celebration Day - May 15th . In Sweden, it is among the so-called “Ice Saints,” in whose days there is a particularly low temperature.
The relics of Hagia Sophia and her daughters
According to German sources, it was originally buried in the cemetery of Gordian and Epimachus. Pope Sergius II moved her remains to the church of San Martino ai Monti.
Fragments of the relics of the saint, received by Bishop Remigius from Pope Adrian I , were transferred from Rome to the Benedictine Abbey, founded by Bishop Strasbourg Remigius about 770 on the island of Echo . Vladyka Remigius "solemnly brought the relics on his shoulders from Rome and laid them in the monastery church dedicated to Saint Trofim." (Testament of Remigius, March 15, 778) [1] . Hagia Sophia became the patroness of the monastery in Eschau, which in her honor is called Hagia Sophia.
Since 1143, Sofia was already mentioned with her daughters [2] - Faith, Hope and Love , that is, French and Orthodox sources after them indicate that the relics of another holy Sofia of Rome , who died two centuries earlier, are in Echo.
Until the French Revolution, these relics were stored in Alsace, in the temple of the city of Echo [3] , 15 km south of Strasbourg . The relics of the martyrs attracted many pilgrims, so in 1143 hegumen of Kunegund decided to arrange on the old "Roman way" leading to the village of Eshau, which has grown around the abbey, "a hotel for pilgrims coming from all sides."
In 1792, three years after the French Revolution, the monastery buildings were auctioned for 10,100 livres. A tavern with a wine cellar was set up in the monastery. Where the relics disappeared remains unknown. In 1822, the tavern was destroyed along with other former monastery premises.
After the remains of the monastery church of St. Trofim were declared a “historical monument” in 1898, its gradual restoration begins.
On April 3, 1938, Catholic Bishop Charles Rush brought two new particles of the relics of Hagia Sophia to Esho from Rome. One of them was placed in a sandstone sarcophagus, and the other in a small reliquary placed in a crab with other shrines.
Notes
- ↑ Relics of the Holy Martyr Sophia in Esho near Strasbourg (Unavailable link) . Date of treatment October 31, 2007. Archived August 27, 2008.
- ↑ Abbey's official website (unavailable link) . Date of treatment October 31, 2007. Archived October 22, 2007.
- ↑ Cancer of the Holy Martyrs Sophia and her daughters Faith, Hope, Love in the Church of St. Trofim in Esho