Handmade Byzantine iconography of the Saint Anne and Saint Sophia of Ainos, made on Mount Athos, on natural wood. The icon is delivered in a wooden box.
The earliest accounts of the life of Saint Sophia come from a text of the Middle Byzantine period, dating between the 9th and 12th centuries. According to historical sources, Saint Sophia lived during that time and came from a wealthy and devout family in Ainos, a city in the region of Thrace. She was married and raised a family of her own, giving birth to six children. However, she lost all of her children, an event that deeply shook her soul. This sorrowful and unexpected turn in her life led her to distribute her wealth to the poor and to embrace a life of simplicity and service to others. Saint Sophia devoted herself to constant prayer, asceticism, and acts of charity, particularly caring for orphans and widows.
In iconography, she is often depicted holding a vessel. According to tradition, God granted her the miraculous gift that the wine within the vessel would never run dry, so long as she kept the miracle secret. Through this blessing, she generously offered wine to the poor and always found the vessel full. But when she revealed the miracle, the gift ceased, leading her to an even deeper commitment to ascetic struggle. Saint Sophia of Ainos fell asleep at the age of 53. She is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on June 4th and is honored as a protector of orphans.
