Ta

from Koloss. He and his sister became orphans in early childhood and went to Jerusalem, where Yovenalii accepted an appointment as secretary, while Sossanna entered the service of Sarah, a woman of Vifleem. In the meantime Zavonlon travelled from Kappadokia to Rome to be presented to the Emperor, and reached there just at the ti

s killed. Thou didst capture us and having sacrificed us to God

of Zavonlon, baptized them, let them partake of the Holy Communion, and taught them the Christian faith. At sunrise on the following day the Brandjis

union. Yes, let His name now be glorified! now, henceforth, and evermore! Woe to our fathers, who died in ignorance and r

sword. But Zavonlon, who could no longer stand this spectacle,

id the sovereign. Zavonlon lost no time in returning to th

rmission departed, accompanied by the Brandjis. When they had but one more day of travelling before them, a rumor spread in their country that the Tsar was alive and meant to return with his courtiers. The sections of Kkhozamo, Kkhosa, Goakchladja or Gardadja,

onverted, put everything in perfect order, left the pri

and made friends with Zavonlon, while Sarah of Vavilon recognized him and learned to cherish his capacities. Besides, she said to the patriarch: "Zavonlon is the father of the Brandjis (original inhabitants of Barcelona) whom he converted, and to whom he

settled in Jerusalem. Here Zavonlon was made a monk by the Patriarch German (because Sossanna's brother had already d

Magdalen and the sisters of Lazarus in their love to God. If thou lovest Him as much as they did, He will also refuse nothing to thee." Having embraced her once more, he crossed the Jordan and started to preach the teachings of God among wi

all pilgrims coming to pray at the Tomb of the Lord. More than once she happened to receive Christians who had been Jews and had inhabited Georgia. From them Nina heard a story how, at the time of the Babylonian captivity, some Jews had settled down at Mtzkhet and how they yearly sent some of their people to the E

all those acquainted with law immediately leave the foreign lands and hasten with all possible speed to the fatherland, in order to confirm and guard the faith of our forefathers, carry out the laws of Moses, save the common folk from being dazzled by the new teaching,

w shouldst not allow them to have a godless intention. I beg thee-do not have a hand in spilling the blood of this man. Tho

r from Karssan, and they reached Jerusalem just at the time

Kontais (this garment used to hang in the centre of the church in a crystal vessel up to the time of Shah Abass, who sent it away to Ru

e, because my ears have heard these mournful sounds!" and with these words she gave up her soul to God. When, however, Elios returned to Mtzkhet bringing the robe, Sidonia came out to meet him, and crying and weeping threw herself in his arms to tell him of her mother's dea

by the beauty of the robe, giving out a heavenly glow, and he wanted to put it on, but no power under the sun could tear the relic out

ho by her flying exceeds the male eagles and with her little eyes sees all creation; having beheld the booty she inspects it with her piercing glances, just as the fire experiments with the gold, and makes for it with spread-out wings. Such will be thy life. Thy voice will be heard all over the world and thy booty is to enrich God. Now I will explain it all to thee. Thou knowest that the immortal G

claimed the messengers,

et. Thou knowest also that upon the burial of our Lord they placed guards at his tomb, but that he arose according to prediction, and in the tomb there remained nothing but the shroud, which the Apostle Luke took, but no one knows to whom he gave it. As to the vesture of the Lord, which was not found in the tomb, many c

d thanked God and asked: "Well, where then

and of Armenia, and its inhabitants still continue to practise idolatry. Th

n who had come to visit and pay homage to the

l in the shade of unbelief

know all her wishes, both open and hidden. She w

na began to ask of her mistress,

our most holy Patriarch German," a

To Thee I commit this orphan, the daughter of a sister of one of Thy servants, and send her to preach Thy faith and announce Thy resurrection everywhere where Thou desirest it to be carried out!

en there was a vineyard cross, which by her command was tied with some of Nina's hair. The Most Holy Virgin handed the cross to the sleeping girl and ordered her to go in her stead to convert the Iverian people. The Saint awoke with

ithstanding the uncertainty and length of the journey, her readiness to do everything to serve God was so great that she did not have the least fear;

ined by three hundred maidens and Saint Gaiane, her nurse. Ripsime grew attached to Nina, because the Ethesian woman told her the latter's story, and the Saint took advantage o

ror Maximian sent his eunuchs everywhere to seek out the beautiful and good girls and

the whole world there was no equal perfection of beauty, that Ripsime was worthy of becoming his wife, that their marriage should be celebrated with unheard of till then solemnity, and he immediately sent messengers to all parts of his immense monarchy so that each subject might come to take part in the nuptial festivities. In the meantime the saints trembled from fear because they knew that this Tsar was like a vessel of anger,

rapes. Here with laborious work they earned their own living. Having, however, discovered that the Tsarevna Ripsime with her nurse an

Lord. Although they fear not the Jews, they nevertheless fear Him, whom the Jews killed and crucified. In their blindness they defame monarchs, scorn the gods, attribute absolutely nothing to the powerful brightness of the sun, moon, and stars-saying that these are the creations of the crucified. They anger the whole world to such a degree that fathers and mothers separate themselves one from another, not awaiting death. In vain do our commands and terrible tortures exterminate them, for they appear in still greater numbe

ne and two others on the following day. The remaining succeeding in hiding themselves; among them was also St. Nina, who by God's instructions hid herself in the branches of a prickly rosebush, without flowers. Here she beheld a bright star coming down from the clouds; it served as a footstool to a deacon, in whose hands there w

Saint, "why dost thou abando

rom Heaven, saying: "Arise and start for the North

ical exhaustion, and the fear of wild animals and wicked people and the cold and hunger and want! She went as the apostles went; without a staff, and just like them, she conquere

nation of the fact that on her fell the godly choice. Near Khertviss her strength began to fail. From continuous walking she had become quite lame and was

avar, and Tanaravan; from this lake flows out a river called the Mtkouar of Djavakhetta, from which are to be seen high mountains covered with

could not master her fright nor continue her journey. At last hunger forced her to ask for food of some

ricts promised them rich sacrifices if they only guarded the herds from any possible evil. Hearing that their prayers were spoken in

h-Tskan" (this is the left arm of the Alazana, Plinii calls

ourtzle and Kindsar near Mo

ian from Rabatt,"

o the banks of the Pkarnav, thus saving ourselves from the unbearable heat of our countries. The reason that the lake has so many names is that

?" asked Nina wit

one which comes from Kola, changes it

upon beholding its boundless limits. Having sighed over the great length of the com

is in all haste to the idolatrous Tsar of Mtzkhet!" Saint Nina cried bitterly and began to implore and pray: "O Lord! I am a woman, an a

nts as on the tablets of Moses, and gave them to St. Nina to read. She awo

aimed all over the world, will go from mouth to mouth, and hardly w

be practised the world over. VI: He who accepts you, accepts Me and he who accepts Me accepts Him who glorified Me. VII: Mary loved the Lord exceedingly, for she always obeyed his commandments. VIII: Not cutting off the bodies of the murderers, the souls of those w

their fearful roaring, but not one of them attempted to approach and touch the protégé of God. Only when the river turned to the East did they begin little by little to disappear. Driven on by fear she forgot exhaustion and went rapidly ahead, hardly stopping a minute to catch breath. Soon after the turn of the river Saint Nina overtook some travellers going to Ourbishi or Ouriat-Oubani (which means "Street

der. Upon that day appointed for the fêting of the idol Armaz, it was the duty of the Tsar and Tsaritsa to take part in the ceremonies. From early in the morning numberless crowds of people, like flowers in the field, filled the streets, shouting and hurrying, each one trying to excel his neighbor in ornamenting their respective houses with carpets, fine shawls and other such articles, all along the road by which the royal cortège was to pass. First there arrived the Tsaritsa Nana, surrounded by the wives and daughters of the aristocracy. She was followed by the Tsar with a numerous suite. Songs of praises and blessings were h

oes all this mean?"

No other idol can compare with him, because each of us puts on his be

tims. The Tsaritsa, the nobility, innumerable hordes of people followed the example of their ruler to the greatest displeasure of the Saint, who with all her heart pra

ct rain of stones-not allowing even half of those fleeing to seek shelter. Stones of such a size poured down that not every grown up

and upon it sat only Nina, who was not at all terrified by the fearful spectacle. She saw in this a new proof of the all mighti

ian hospitality, invited her to stop at his home. But his offer was by no means accepted by the Saint. She continued her journey along the banks of the river and finding on the road an eye of one of the gods, she took it along with her. Upon

Saint Nina painted a cross and lived under it in constant prayer till the twelfth of August. On that day came to refresh herself with the coolness of the famous trees, the lady of the royal court Krokhana with her servant, a Greek woman. The latter by the order of her mistress asked the Saint who she was, what she was undertaking, and whether she did n

d and dear friend, kissed her, washed off her dusty feet, rubbed her exhausted body with strengthening fragrant butter and having offered her bread and wine, asked her to take a rest and to recover after the long, long journey. Here the Saint remained nine months, frequently visiting Ourbishi, where some Hebrews lived, in the hope of finding out something more about

o more prophets; all that he told us through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost was fulfilled, we are scattered all over the world an

; but when they turned again to Him and invoked Him, He saved them from need. From the scriptures we know that this happened seven times in ancient history. Now, then, when our fathers put their hands on the son of a poor woman, God deprived us of his mercifulness and support and lo! our government fell to pieces, we were separated from our temples and our natio

zed in him Jesus Christ, the Son of God, crucified, resurrected, and having come with glory; nay, I understood that He was the one who had been promised to those believing. I saw many other wonders yet, accomplished by Saint Nina at Mtzkhet in my time, and together with my daughter Sidonia was converted and received the Holy Baptism, being cleansed of all wickedness. I received that which the prophet David had vainly wished: I heard a choir of voices glorifying the Ne

f her desires. All nights she passed here in prayer, and lo! in one of these sleepless nights of prayer a shining man appeared to her and, pointing to the fragrant bush, ordered her to take up some earth under it to use for healing the sick. The next morning as usual Anastasia came to her, offering her wine, bread, fru

self in the river, came out of the water whiter than snow, and rushed towards a peach tree actually growing near her bush. In the apparition it appeared covered with wonderful buds and flowers.

and acknowledge the past spilling of the blood of the Heavenly Man, for that deed the Hebrews and their kingdom perished, they were deprived of their temples and a strange people took the place of their greatness. Jerusalem, O Jerusalem! how thou dost spread thy

place has been changed by thee into religious gardens, in which thy pupils and followers whitene

en whom she had baptized. Among them also my daughter Sidonia, and I myself helped them with all my strength, trying to deserve the glorious name of Paul, which the Saint had bestowed upon me upon my baptism. Knowing well the Jewish law, and being instructed by the Saint, it was easier for me to convert the unbelieving and some of th

Tsaritsa Nana, who kept her husband from becoming a Christian. The fasts, vigilance, and praye

a time. Once they brought to the Saint a dying infant, whom all physicians considered absolutely incurable. The mother of the baby was a fierce adorer of idols and did not cea

d the Saint, "but the Lord Jesus Christ,

ilance, and having crossed him with the vineyard crucifix, she sent him away, healthy and happy. But his mother, who now fervently believed in the

ir arms. Numerous crowds of people accompanied the procession with visible curiosity and concealed their dissatisfaction; but this dissatisfaction turned to excessive joy when she was cured and with tr

t of such great success in war as Mirian; he conquered much and always had good luck, nowhere and never did he lose a single battle, and he justly deserv

consented, and soon their army, the number of which the contemporaries compare with grass in the fields or the leaves of the trees, fell

. A dream convinced Constantine still more in this idea. He hastened to become baptized and led his army by a flag on

pursued by Constantine who, following them on their heels, invaded their dominions. The Persian Tsar, having abandoned his ally, ingloriously fled, bu

e war with Constantine, the incomprehensible fear which had forced him to turn to flight, him, Mirian, whom all considered fearless and invincible and who up to this time had known no fear, gave him an exalted opinion of that God whom Constantine worshipped, and he frequently thought about His incomparable mig

te fall of Armaz had produced upon him, he interrupted her fiery, persuasive speeches with the question how he came to see her healthy once more. The Tsaritsa spoke the truth. Her husband knew very well what a tremendous contrast there was between her experience and all then known means of curi

ere was also Abiatkar, to whose tale we shall now return: "The sovereign noticed me and began to inquire about the Christian teachings. He knew much in the Old and New Testa

ministration of the East, go thou out of this town, for the Lord does not wish that thou shouldst see that which He hid from human eyes. Leave the building, for otherwise God will certainly destroy it. In the future there will come a Heavenly King, whom thou do

evil held him still another year in his claws after Nana had been converted. On that account I could not convert even a single heathen, while Saint Nina daily converted dozens of people, untiringly preaching to the people the truth. She continued to pretend that she was a prisoner of war, not telling anyone

ina, who again refused to come to the house of the idolatrous Tsar and requested the sick man to repair to her house. King Mirian, who was not yet fully convinced

e them and seek their moral support? And do they not give thee the power of healing, which nourishes thee wherever thou art? I know that thou didst convert people to the faith of a foreign God for the sole sake of trying their fidelity afterwards. Glory to our gods, who have

nce of all mortals! If thou wilt cure this mtvar I will shower riches upon thee, make thee a citizen of Mtzkhet and a servant (mere priest) of Armaz. Although they (the idols) were destroyed by an unusual storm and hail of stones, yet the spot where we adored them did not perish. Ytkrondj

ho lights up the sky with lightning, makes the tops of mountains slip off or turns them into volcanoes! Before His voice the foundations of earth tremble and mountains disappear like sea-waves! Know thou all this and admit thou the invisible God, living in heaven, who has sent His Son begotten of Him, to earth in the form of a mortal man, who having accomplished everything His Father wished Him to do, rose to Heaven in sublime glory. Dost thou not see that this, the eternal, only and true God looks after the needs of the humble and turns His face away from the proud? O Tsar! the time is already approaching when even thou shalt know and recognize

ritsa fell down on her knees and began a prayer under the cedar while the Saint rai

hou down before my Lord Jes

e Saint began to implore God to restore him to health, with t

r with his family and servants and glorified the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost! Mirian began to fear the wrath and revenge of the Persian Tsar and wanted to have the Saint immediately executed-alone the desperate la

eart, awakening in him the old love for idols and fire, and so he firmly resolved to exterminate all Christians with the

by the sword, and furthermore, I insist that an effort shall be made to increase the love of serving the gods, the real rulers of Kartla (the native word for Georgia). I shall propose to my wife to abandon the faith of the Crucified, and if she doth not fulfil my order, I shall forget her love for me and have her put to death with the res

Tzikke. When, however, he reached the tiptop, although this was just at noon, the sun suddenly disappeared before his eyes and day turned to night. An impe

ushes, his horse constantly stumbled and fell, the trees scratched his face and tore his clothes, the Tsar was involuntarily trembling, while his exhausted and tortured horse at last succ

ched about and with whose help she succeeds in healing men. Is He not strong enough to deliver me from this disaster? I am already full

alace stands! I will accept the religion of Thy name, I will erect and glorify the wooden cross, I

closing his lips when his eyes opened. The sun shone for him with all its gloriousness, he climbed off the falle

est to save, comfort and draw me towards Thee, according to the words of Thine arch-angel. Blessed be the Lord! On this spot I shall erect a cross, yes, I will glorify Thy holy name and let the remembrance of this marvellous event be kept

ly rang out the Tsar's voice, "for He is the Eternal God

d he rode home very happy, and best of

e received news that he was already returning. With great haste she rushed out to meet her beloved husband

everal of us were there with her. Gradually as the Tsar approached the whole n

m now on, will be my mother, bec

side road and his suite followed him. Before reaching the rose bush Mirian

nvoking thy God, who has

ery spot ordered him to bow down towards

nt of the whole affair, began to be rebellious

or instructions as to what she should do next. By his advice she personally destroyed the new idol Armaz, which they had already succeeded in placing on a mountain beyond the Koura, and to which the people daily bowed at sunrise, climbing up to the roofs of their houses and turning their faces towards the sun. In its place she erected a cross on a hill near Mtzkhet, beyond the river Aragva. But as this cross was

fore the return of the ambassadors. He said to the Saint: "I am

tion and have it arranged so that thou and the nation wi

ers cut down. Dost thou not remember how in thy vision the black birds became so white that it was blinding, and having perched themselves on the vineyard trees, filled the air with heaven

ll the people to make for the building, and he himself went there too. In this affair all then known means of raising weights were used, but neither the numberless arms, nor any possible art could succeed in obtaining the desired result. And Tsar and people asked each other with the greatest surprise: "What can this mean?" And having labored till night they went back to their houses in great sorrow. Saint Nina, however, with twelve of her followers, remained by the pillar, washing it with her tear

this was not a mere dream, for the mountains of unbelief were thoroughly shaken up in Georgia, for the rivers of innocent children's blood, which flowed in honor of the idols, dried up, for legions of demons,

and prayed that what had been begun by the Tsar should not be destroyed. But before dawn the vision repeated itself, and this ti

orner. In some places the people threw themselves upon the enemy with arms in their hands; some of them from terror and confusion turned against their own countrymen. Here

cry did I begin to come back to my senses, but just like ten of my companions, I could not exactly remember how affairs stood. We were still imagining warri

enemy is overcome and Georgia saved, and this very place too!" She cheered us up like an experienced doctor, like a sincere teacher

with a terrible and most numerous army in order to destroy the city and exterminate the inhabitants. Ye Northern and Weste

aised her hand and mad

ing state of the country. When, however, it began to grow light, the other women fell asleep, while I, Sidonia, could see how the Saint continued praying, raising her hands to Heaven. Suddenly there stood before her a youth, shining with indescribable brightness, dressed in a f

om fear. A little later she rose, ordered me

ght appeared when the Tsar, tortured with impatience and anxiety, hastened to the building which he was burning to see finished. From a distance it seemed to him that the strokes of lightning were rising to Heaven. He hurried on. In the end, unable to conquer hi

y did it come down from Heaven, supported by the arms of two angels, placed itself in the right spot, and was firmly fi

a blind-born Hebrew, who approached the pillar, which had been placed by God, began to see. Secondly, the sepetsouli (i.e., page) Kha Mazaepouki had been entirely paralyzed for eight years. His mother took him in

day on glorify God, who hath cured thee!" And the boy got up in perfect health, and Tsar and nation were seized with fear. All the sick hastened to the spot and were healed, but as many could not sta

ntime the ambassadors of Tsar Mirian had already related to the Emperor Constantine and the Empress Helen, his mother, about the conversion of their sovereign

blessings and expressions of thankfulness to God, and sent him some gorgeous presents, but above all an invaluable gift-namely: the image of Rouiz with five hundred pieces of holy relics. The Empress Helen also wrote a letter

es of the monarchy to gather around the Tsar, and all started for Mtzkhet. Thereupon began

ge Mogoutka, opposite the house of the priest Elios, he baptized in these waters all dignitaries and courtiers; tha

ble-begging to quickly receive the great favor. Just so the prophecies of St. Nina, who was constantly and uninterruptedly repeating to them that he who does not let himself be ba

ar granted the suburb of Tsikhe

t his power over them could not be extended to their form of religion. When, through His great mercifulness, the Lord deigned to show to the holy Tsaritsa His living cross, Tsar Mirian hastened to send to the Emperor Constantine the Bishop John, asking him for a p

d lain the holiest legs of the Saviour of the world, and two nails from the Lord's hands. The pieces of the holy living wood are called Nerkveli in Georgian. Emperor Constantine handed great riches to Bishop John, ordering him to erect a church with this

gliss, they did the same thing, leaving the holy Nerkvelis, and then soon reached Mtzkhet. But Mirian, who had been awaiting their arrival with such impatience, was deeply grieved by the fact that they had been staying out longer on the way than he had expected them to do, and besides-had left in the provinces both

owever, he asked them questions about the robe they related how it was under the wonder-

he devil and the land of darkness and having built this church, nay, having brought Thy robe hither from the most holy city of Jerusalem to spare it from the ha

n of the seed of David, of the branch of Joachim, of the most holy and most pure Virgin and her thou didst make the cause of our salvation, earthly enlightenment and glory of Thy people O Israel! Of her was born the God man, the light of all believing, the image of God, bapt

urt and had a marvellous power to heal even the most desperate mortal wounds. It was noticed more than once that even the sn

and by His godly attention this marvellous tree grew up and was preserved to our days. Now, however, when the might of Christ had been

cut down the tree, the branches of which, notwithstanding that it was in the winter season, were quite green. This tree was so beautiful that having cut it on

ardor and joyfulness made crosses out of it. The following day at sunrise a cross of stars descended from Heaven, and having let itself down to the church, seemed to have turned itself into a crown of stars which remained visible to the whole nation until sunset. Then two stars started forth from it: one flew towards the East and the other toward

follow up and watch the direction which the stars take and, there where th

Friday, and Saturday, according to custom, at sunrise the wonder again repeated itself. The n

hen went down into the Caspian Sea and disappeared."

ht to us and stopped in the village

t in the town of Oudjarmo, because Bode or Bondi is a simple hamlet with few inhabitants and thus should not be put on a footing with a capital, which has a large popul

third cross, taken up by men and preceded by Saint Nin

y ascended the mountain to the top of the rocky plateau (now known by the designation Djouar), the Saint gave the example and after her Tsar and people, rich and poor, the prominent and religious fell down with their fac

the sign of the cr

bowed down before the cross, praising and blessing the Son of God and believing with all their hearts and souls in Him and in the Holy Trinity. Even the most disti

celebrating the holy cross, and this custom was observed a

nce. This vision was seen by everybody, and many of the unbelieving were baptized on that memorable day, while the faith of the Christians was very much strengthened, and they loudly glorified God. At the cross still another wonder took place. A light seven times brig

f the whole nation, people from every town and village of the kingdom streamed in to bow to the cross. At that time the Tsarevitch, a grandson of Mirian an

wilt heal my son, I will

rble chapel was built, into which Revv daily came to give thanks unto God, and used to bring rich gifts. Ever since that moment a still greater number of the weak and sick were attracted by the holy cross, and having been cur

d. For twelve days they held her in front of the cross; in the end the Lord healed her and she returned home, healthy in body and soul, lauding God and honoring His holy cross. It happened that a little

m away and bury him, for he is dead

thout giving up hope throughout the night, the ne

ng gorgeous presents. Not only the sick who personally came to pray at the foot of the cross were successfully cured, but also the warriors combatting far, far away from Djouar, if they only implored the help of the cross, became able to defeat their enemies and unharmed returned to Mtzkhet to justly glorify God. Many infidels, when in great need, addressed the cross with prayers and re

aint Nina, whose father had baptized all Brandjees. At Jerusalem and Constantinople a report was spread that the sun of truth was now shining in Georgia and Jee-from all possible regions they sent letters asking to give precise details of the wonders which had happened at

nhabitants as well as my brother-in-law Pkheros to serve the Son o

t them after having pointed out to them with the help of the New Testament and the cross-the road of truth lea

ed together the mountaineers, inspected Dsrbin, Tchartal, Tkkhela, Tsilkammy, and Gorangor. They assembled the Tchartalians, who were almost like wild beasts, the Fkholians, the Gondamakavia

n, Saint Avive, bishop of Nekretsa, converted several of them to Christianity, while the rest are even to this day infidels. Saint Nina started for Ranne in order to enlighten Pkeros, but as she approached Kouket and reached Bondi, she was obliged to make a longer stop. Kakhetians streamed there in great number, questioned her and many became persuaded in the correctness and truthfulness o

nd covered their souvenir with kisses. The Tsaritsa and the princesses crowded around her, showering blessings upon her, and with tears and sorrow they looked forward to their separation from thei

st delivered us from the burdens of captivity? For through thee we found out that the Son of God had been predicted by prophets, that after Him the work of spreading the new faith was carried out by twelve apostle

hy of His insignificant servant. I consent, for I feel that my end is approaching and I shall sleep the eternal sleep in which she who gave birth to me is already resting. Take ye then the inkstand and

Communion, after which she gave up her most righteous soul to the Lord of Heaven and earth, in the fifteenth year after her arrival in Georgia, in the year of our Lord three hundred and thirty-nine. Her death caused great sorrow and mourning in Mtzkhet and Oudjarmo. They buried her at Bondi (the present Sidjack