They lived and suffered martyrdom in Rome. Sophia, a widow, had firmly grounded both herself and her daughters in the faith of Christ. When the persecuting hand of Emperor Hadrian reached out against Sophia’s virtuous household, Faith was twelve years old, Hope ten, and Charity nine. When they were brought before the Emperor, all four—holding hands—professed their faith in Christ and refused to offer sacrifice to the pagan goddess Artemis. As their suffering began, the mother encouraged her daughters and prayed to God that they might persevere to the end. Their tormentors subjected them to terrible tortures: beating them, cutting the flesh from their bodies, and casting them into fire and boiling pitch... In the end, all three sisters were beheaded. The mother buried the lifeless bodies of her daughters, remained at the grave for three days and nights, and then she too surrendered her spirit to God.

Holy Martyr Agathoclia. The Holy One Hundred and Fifty-Six Martyrs of Egypt. Holy Martyr Theodotia.