After sickness carried off Sophia's husband and all her children in succession, she did not despair, but became even more devoted to God. Within a period of twenty years, she adopted one hundred children, and raised them to love God. Because of this, she is sometimes called Saint Sophia the Mother of Orphans. She sold her property and gave the proceeds to the poor and to widows. She led an austere life, eating nothing but bread and water. She preferred to do without the necessities of life herself rather than allow any poor person to leave her home empty-handed. The Psalms of the Prophet-King David were always on her lips, and tears flowed continuously from her eyes.
Because of her humility and her love for the poor, God blessed her in the following way. In her home there 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 and glorified God, the container became empty. Saint Sophia became sorrowful, believing that the wine had failed because of her unworthiness. Therefore, she increased her ascetical labors until her health suffered.
Sensing that the end of her life was near, she received the monastic tonsure. From that time, she devoted herself completely to the worship of God. Saint Sophia reposed peacefully at the age of fifty-three. It is not known when she lived.