The Sunday after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross coincides this year with the glorious martyrs Sophia, and her children Faith, Hope, and Love. Their martyrdom epitomizes the meaning of the words of the epistle and the Gospel today: “I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal 2:20) and “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it” (Mark 8:35).