†) Saint Dionysius, Bishop of Cetatea Alba and Ismail; Martyrs Sophia and her three daughters at Rome

Orthodox Calendar, September 17 Saint Dionysius the Bishop of Cetatea Alba and Ismail The worthy of remembrance Bishop Dionysius Erhan (1868-1943) is one of the most outstanding church personalities from Bessarabia of the first half of the 20 th  century.

He was ordained to the Episcopate on July 22, 1918, the year when Romania’s Great Union took place.

In 1934 he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Cetatea Alba and Ismail, which he shepherded until 1940.

He fell asleep in the Lord on September 17, 1943 in Chisinau.

Martyrs Sophia (Wisdom) and her three daughters, Pistis (Faith), Elpis (Hope) and Agape (Love) The Holy Martyrs Saint Sophia and her Daughters Faith, Hope and Love were born in Italy. Their mother was a pious Christian widow who named her daughters for the three Christian virtues.

Faith was twelve, Hope was ten, and Love was nine. Saint Sophia raised them in the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. Saint Sophia and her daughters did not hide their faith in Christ, but openly confessed it before everyone.

An official named Antiochus denounced them to the emperor Hadrian (117-138), who ordered that they be brought to Rome. Realizing that they would be…