Ss. Peter & Paul
Orthodox Church in America
Crossingville, PA
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Above, St. Sophia, "Mother of Orphans," an icon gracing our Church's south wall. It is an interpretation written by our parishioner, Paul Gall.
Read the Saint's life story to see why she is carrying a jar. A lampada (hanging candle) is seen in the above photo.
The life is from the Orthodox Church in America website.
HOGAR RAFAEL AYAU ORPHANAGE
Guatemala City, Guatemala
http://www.hogarafaelayau.org/
The Orphanage is being moved to a safer and more healthy part of Guatemala City. The Orthodox monastic Mothers and Sisters who care for the children and operate the Orphanage need help in the construction of new buildings and the purchase of equipment.
Parishioners of Sts. Peter & Paul and the Ladies Altar Society have contributed to the Orphanage for the past several years. Anna (Danko) Rachocki, a daughter of the parish now living in Jersey City, traveled to Guatemala this past summer and was very inspired by the work of the nuns. (Read her note HERE.)
The Abbess of the Monastery, Mother Inez, and several of the Sisters have been frequent guests at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. Many of us have met them there.
St. Sophia, "Mother of Orphans"
St.
Sophia was born in Aenus, Rhodope (Greece), and was the mother of six
children. Though she was occupied with worldly cares and responsibilities,
she still kept the commandments of God and lived a virtuous life.
After her own children died from a deadly epidemic she became a mother to orphans and gave assistance
to widows. Some accounts say that she helped rear over 100 children! She sold her property and gave the money to the poor. She led an
austere life, eating bread and water. The Psalms of the Prophet-King David
were always on her lips, and tears flowed continuously from her eyes. She
would do without the necessities of life herself rather than allow a poor
person to leave her home with empty hands.
Because of her humility and her love for the poor, God blessed her in the
following way. In her home was a container of wine which she reserved for
the poor. She noticed that no matter how much she took from the container,
it remained full. However, as soon as she told someone about the miracle
(some sources say it was her priest!) and
glorified God, the container became
empty. St Sophia became sorrowful, believing that the wine diminished
because of her unworthiness. Therefore, she increased her ascetical efforts
until her health suffered.
Sensing that the end of her life was near, she received the monastic
tonsure. St Sophia fell asleep in the Lord at the age of fifty-three.
St. Sophia is commemorated on June 4th.