Women of enlightenment in Georgia, where this holiday is called “Ninooba” and is celebrated especially solemnly.

In connection with the holiday, Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia Ilia II will hold a divine service in Zionsky on the morning of January 27 cathedral Assumption Holy Mother of God. Head of the Georgian Orthodox Church will also serve a prayer service in honor of the day of remembrance of the country's Christian educator on January 26 in the evening. In the Zion Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary there is kept a cross made of grapevine, entwined with the hair of St. Nino, from which the enlightener came to Georgia. Parishioners will be able to venerate the shrine after the prayer service and on the day of remembrance of the Saint. The Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Nino twice a year: on January 27, the day of her death, and June 1, the day of her coming to Georgia.

Life

Saint Nino was born around 280 in the city of Kolastri, in Cappadocia, where there were many Georgian settlements. Like many saints, she came from a noble family. Her father Zabulon was a relative of St. George the Victorious, and her mother Susanna was the sister of the Jerusalem Patriarch Juvenal.

Saint Equal to the Apostles Nino

Nino’s missionary feat was largely inspired by an event that happened to her in her early youth. At the age of 12, Nina came with her parents to Jerusalem. Here her father, with the blessing of the patriarch, went into the wilderness, and her mother was appointed deaconess at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Nino was given to be raised by the pious elder Nianfora, who was engaged in her spiritual education. The Holy Land, where he was born, preached and performed miracles, accepted death on the cross and the Savior rose again, shook the girl’s soul.

Once, while reading the evangelist describing the execution of Jesus Christ, the thought came to her, where is the Robe of the Lord now, which was given by lot to one of the Roman soldiers. It cannot be that such a great shrine will perish irrevocably.

She learned from Nianfora that, according to legend, the unsewn Robe of the Lord (the Savior’s robe, woven by the Most Pure Mother) was bought from Roman soldiers by the Mtskheta rabbi Elioz and taken to Iveria (Georgia). And then young Nino decided that she should be the one to find this great shrine. The future Saint tirelessly prayed to the Most Holy Theotokos to help her find the Robe of the Lord. And one day Nino dreamed that the Mother of God gave her a cross made of grapevine and sent her to Iveria to preach the Gospel. Waking up, Nino found this grape cross in her hand. She kissed him tenderly. Then she cut off part of her hair and tied it with a cross in the middle, thereby dedicating herself to his service.

The Cross of Saint Nino, Equal to the Apostles, which was awarded to “persons who took an active part in the restoration of Orthodoxy in the Caucasus”

She went to her uncle, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, to tell about the vision and her decision. Seeing in what happened a sign of God's Providence, he blessed the young virgin for the feat of apostolic service.

A thorny path Having learned that Princess Ripsimia, her mentor Gaiania and 35 Christian virgins who fled Rome from the persecution of Emperor Diocletian were heading from Jerusalem to Armenia, Nino decided to go with them.

On her way to Georgia, Saint Nino miraculously escaped martyrdom from the Armenian king Trdat III, to which all her companions were subjected.

Strengthened by visions of the Angel of the Lord, who appeared the first time with a censer, and the second time with a scroll in his hand, Saint Nino continued her journey and appeared in Georgia in 319. The fame of her soon spread in the vicinity of Mtskheta, for her preaching was accompanied by many signs. Thus, on the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord, through the prayer of Saint Nino, during a pagan sacrifice performed by the priests in the presence of King Mirian and numerous people, a strong storm overthrew the high mountain idols – Armaz, Gatsi and Gaim.

Baptism of Georgia

The first converts to Christ were the childless royal gardener and his wife Anastasia, with whom Saint Nino settled. With her prayer, she helped Anastasia recover from infertility.

Cross of St. Nino in the Jvari Monastery

Having learned about the power of the prayers of the righteous woman, crowds of the sick and suffering soon began to flock to her. Many of those who received healing through Nino’s prayers were soon baptized.

Georgia was then under the rule of the Roman Empire, where Christianity had already established itself, so King Mirian was forced not to prevent the Saint from preaching Christ in his city. However, Mirian's wife, Queen Nana, was a zealous worshiper of idols. Cured by Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina, she believed in Christ and from an idolater became a zealous Christian, but her husband was in no hurry to convert to the true faith. There is a legend that during the hunt of King Mirian, darkness suddenly descended, the king for the first time made a prayer to God, whom Nino preached, and the light illuminated the entire sky. It was after this incident that he believed in God.

Diptych of the icon of the Mother of God and St. Nina from Tbilisi

King Mirian and Queen Nana, together with their children and relatives, received Holy Baptism in the waters of the Aragvi River. After several years, in 324, Christianity was declared the state religion in Georgia.

First Church

Sacred Tradition testifies that in the 1st century AD, Rabbi Elioz, who was present at the crucifixion of the Lord and protested against the unjust judgment of the Sanhedrin, bought the Robe of the Lord from the Roman soldiers and, arriving in Mtskheta, handed it over to his pious sister Sidonia. The girl, who heard about the preaching of Christ and recognized Him as the Messiah, took this Shrine in her hands and died on the spot. Heaton could not be freed from her embrace, and she was buried with him. It grew on Sidonia's grave a big tree, which became sacred for the inhabitants of Mtskheta, he was worshiped as an unknown deity.

Service at the Svetitskhoveli Temple in Mtskheta

Three centuries later, Saint Nina, Equal to the Apostles, came to Georgia, who from childhood wanted to come to Iveria to venerate the great shrine. Having brought the Good News to Mtskheta, she asked King Mirian to cut down this tree, make four crosses from it and install these crosses on the tops of the mountains on the four sides of the then Georgian state.

When the Tree was miraculously cut down and laid on the ground, healing, blessed myrrh began to flow from the remaining pillar, which flowed until the 17th century, before the invasion of the Persian Shah Abbas. The pillar began to be called the life-giving pillar - in Georgian Svetitskhoveli. The first church in Georgia was erected above it, consecrated in honor of the twelve apostles of Christ. By that time, with the help of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine (306 - 337), who at the request of King Mirian sent the Antiochian Bishop Eustathius, two priests and three deacons to Georgia, Christianity was finally established in the country.

Svetitskhoveli Temple in Mtskheta

In the first half of the 11th century, the architect Arsukidze erected a majestic cathedral on the site of a wooden church.

Thus, the main cathedral of the Georgian Church stands on the burial site of the Robe of the Lord, which is still located in this holy place. All the main church events of the Georgian Church, in particular the enthronement of the Catholicos-Patriarch, take place precisely in.

Apostolic ministry

Despite the fact that Christianity was declared the state religion in Georgia, the mountainous regions of the country remained unenlightened. Accompanied by the presbyter Jacob and one deacon, Saint Nino went to the headwaters of the Aragvi and Iori rivers, where she preached the Gospel to the pagan mountaineers. Many of them believed in Christ and received holy Baptism. From there Saint Nino went to Kakheti (Eastern Georgia) and settled in the village of Bodbe, in a small tent on the slope of a mountain. There she led an ascetic life, constantly praying, turning the surrounding residents to Christ. Among them was the Queen of Kakheti Soja (Sofia), who received Baptism along with her courtiers and many people.

Reproduction of the icon “St. Nina Equal to the Apostles”

Having completed her apostolic service in Georgia, Saint Nino was informed from above of her imminent death. In a letter to King Mirian, she asked to send Bishop John to prepare her for her final journey. The king, together with all the clergy, went to Bodbe, where at the deathbed of Saint Nino they witnessed many healings.

Instructing the people who came to worship her, Saint Nino, at the request of her disciples, spoke about her origin and life. This story, recorded by Solomiya of Ujarma, served as the basis for the life of Saint Nino. Having partaken of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, Saint Nino bequeathed that her body should be buried in Bodbe, and peacefully departed to the Lord. This happened in 335, at the 67th year of birth, after 35 years of apostolic exploits.

Tomb of St. Nino in Bodbe

At the burial site in 342, King Mirian founded a temple in honor of St. George the Victorious, a relative of Nina. Later a convent was founded here.

The relics of the Saint, hidden under a bushel, were glorified by many healings and miracles. The Georgian Orthodox Church, canonizing Nino as a Saint, called her equal to the apostles, that is, similar to the disciples of Christ - the apostles in spreading the faith.

Traditions

In Georgia, Saint Nino is revered as an educator and heavenly patroness Georgia. In the capital of Georgia alone, there are five churches of St. Nino, where the holiday of Ninoba is celebrated especially solemnly. On days dedicated to the Saint, solemn services are held in all Orthodox churches countries.

Orthodox holiday of Ninooba in Bodbe

Every year in the summer, a large group of children, teenagers and young people make a pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Equal-to-the-Apostles enlightener of Georgia. The route fully corresponds to the route of St. Nino in Georgia.

Saint Nino completed the feat of her life in the village of Bodbe (Kakheti, Eastern Georgia). A cathedral was erected over the saint's grave in the name of heavenly patrons Georgia - St. George the Victorious and Nino - three-nave basilica of the 9th century. Currently, the largest convent in Georgia operates at the temple. In the gorge in the northeast of the monastery there is the source of St. Nino (Ninos Tskaro) with healing water. Currently, a bathhouse and a small church have been built there in the name of her parents - Saints Zebulun and Susanna.

Saint Nina, Equal to the Apostles, the enlightener of Georgia, was born around 280 in the city of Kolastri, in Cappadocia, where there were many Georgian settlements. Her father Zabulon was a relative of the holy Great Martyr George (April 23). He came from a noble family, from pious parents, and enjoyed the favor of Emperor Maximian (284 - 305). While on military service from the emperor, Zebulon, as a Christian, contributed to the release of the captive Gauls who converted to Christianity. Saint Nina's mother, Susanna, was the sister of the Patriarch of Jerusalem (some call him Juvenal).

Twelve years old, Saint Nina came to Jerusalem with her parents, who had an only daughter. By their mutual consent and with the blessing of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Zebulon devoted his life to serving God in the deserts of Jordan, Susanna was made a deaconess at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the upbringing of Saint Nina was entrusted to the pious old woman Nianphora. Saint Nina showed obedience and diligence and two years later, with the help of God’s grace, she firmly learned to follow the rules of faith and read with zeal Holy Bible.

Once, when she, crying, empathized with the evangelist describing the crucifixion Christ the Savior, her thought settled on the fate of the Robe of the Lord (John 19, 23 - 24). In response to St. Nina’s question where the Chiton of the Lord resides (information about it was posted on October 1), Elder Nianfora explained that the non-sewing Chiton of the Lord, according to legend, was taken by the Mtskheta rabbi Eleazar to Iveria (Georgia), called the Lot of the Mother of God. During Her earthly life, the Most Pure Virgin herself was called by the apostolic lot to enlighten Georgia, but the Angel of the Lord, appearing to Her, predicted that Georgia would become Her earthly destiny later, at the end of time, and the Providence of God prepared for Her apostolic service on Athos (also called the Destiny Mother of God).

Having learned from Elder Nianfora that Georgia had not yet been enlightened by the light of Christianity, Saint Nina prayed day and night to the Most Holy Theotokos, that she might be worthy to see Georgia turned to the Lord, and that she might help her to find the Robe of the Lord.

The Queen of Heaven heard the prayers of the young righteous woman. Once, when Saint Nina was resting after long prayers, the Most Pure Virgin appeared to her in a dream and, handing a cross woven from a vine, said: “Take this cross, it will be your shield and fence against all visible and invisible enemies. Go to the country of Iveron. , preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ there and you will find grace from Him: I will be your Patroness.”

Having awakened, Saint Nina saw a cross in her hands (now kept in a special ark in the Tbilisi Zion Cathedral), she rejoiced in spirit and, coming to her uncle, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, told about the vision. The Patriarch of Jerusalem blessed the young virgin for the feat of apostolic service.

On the way to Georgia, Saint Nina miraculously escaped martyrdom from the Armenian king Tiridates, to which her companions were subjected - Princess Hripsimia, her mentor Gaiania and 35 virgins (September 30), who fled to Armenia from Rome from the persecution of Emperor Diocletian (284 - 305) . Strengthened by visions of the Angel of the Lord, who appeared the first time with a censer, and the second time with a scroll in her hand, Saint Nina continued her journey and appeared in Georgia in 319. The fame of her soon spread in the vicinity of Mtskheta, where she labored, for her preaching was accompanied by many signs. On the day of the glorious Transfiguration of the Lord, through the prayer of St. Nina, during a pagan sacrifice performed by the priests in the presence of King Mirian and numerous people, the idols Armaz, Gatsi and Gaim were cast down from a high mountain. This phenomenon was accompanied by a strong storm.

Entering Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia, Saint Nina found shelter in the family of a childless royal gardener, whose wife, Anastasia, through the prayers of Saint Nina, was relieved of infertility and believed in Christ.

Saint Nina healed the Georgian queen Nana from a serious illness, who, having received holy Baptism, from an idolater became a zealous Christian (her memory is celebrated on October 1). Despite the miraculous healing of his wife, King Mirian (265 - 342), heeding the instigations of the pagans, was ready to subject Saint Nina to cruel torture. “At the same time as they were planning the execution of the holy righteous woman, the sun darkened and an impenetrable darkness covered the place where the king was.” The king suddenly became blind, and his horrified retinue began to beg their pagan idols for the return of daylight. “But Armaz, Zaden, Gaim and Gatsi were deaf, and the darkness increased. Then the frightened unanimously cried out to God, Whom Nina preached. The darkness instantly dissipated, and the sun illuminated everything with its rays.” This event took place on May 6, 319.

King Mirian, healed of blindness by Saint Nina, received holy Baptism together with his retinue. After several years, in 324, Christianity finally established itself in Georgia.

The chronicles tell that, through her prayers, it was revealed to Saint Nina where the Robe of the Lord was hidden, and the first one in Georgia was erected there christian temple(initially a wooden, now stone cathedral in honor of the 12 Holy Apostles, Svetitskhoveli).

By that time, with the help of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine (306 - 337), who at the request of King Mirian sent the Antiochian Bishop Eustathius, two priests and three deacons to Georgia, Christianity was finally strengthened in the country. However, the mountainous regions of Georgia remained unenlightened. Accompanied by the presbyter Jacob and one deacon, Saint Nina went to the headwaters of the Aragvi and Iori rivers, where she preached the Gospel to the pagan mountaineers. Many of them believed in Christ and received holy Baptism. From there Saint Nina went to Kakheti (Eastern Georgia) and settled in the village of Bodbe, in a small tent on the slope of a mountain. Here she led an ascetic life, being in constant prayer, turning the surrounding residents to Christ. Among them was the Queen of Kakheti Soja (Sofia), who received Baptism along with her courtiers and many people.

Having completed her apostolic service in Georgia, Saint Nina was informed from above of her imminent death. In a letter to King Mirian, she asked him to send Bishop John to prepare her for her final journey. Not only Bishop John, but also the Tsar himself, along with all the clergy, went to Bodbe, where they witnessed many healings at St. Nina’s deathbed. Edifying the people who came to worship her, Saint Nina, at the request of her disciples, spoke about her origin and life. This story, recorded by Solomiya of Ujarma, served as the basis for the life of Saint Nina.

Having reverently received the Holy Mysteries, Saint Nina bequeathed that her body should be buried in Bodbe, and peacefully departed to the Lord in 335 (according to other sources, in 347, in the 67th year from birth, after 35 years of apostolic labors).

The Tsar, the clergy and the people, grieving over the death of Saint Nina, wanted to transfer her remains to the Mtskheta cathedral church, but could not move the ascetic’s coffin from her chosen resting place. At this place in 342, King Mirian founded, and his son King Bakur (342 - 364) completed and consecrated a temple in the name of St. Nina’s relative, the Holy Great Martyr George; later a convent in the name of St. Nina was founded here. The relics of the saint, hidden under a bushel by her command, were glorified by many healings and miracles. The Georgian Orthodox Church, with the consent of the Antiochian Patriarchate, named the enlightener of Georgia equal to the apostles and, canonizing her as a saint, established her memory on January 14, the day of her blessed death.

Saint Nina, Equal to the Apostles, the enlightener of Georgia, was born around 280 in the city of Kolastri, in Cappadocia, where there were many Georgian settlements.

Her father Zabulon was a relative of the holy Great Martyr George (April 23, Old Style). He came from a noble family from pious parents and enjoyed the favor of Emperor Maximian (284-305). While in the military service of the emperor, Zabulon, as a Christian, contributed to the release of captive Gauls who converted to Christianity. Saint Nina's mother, Susanna, was the sister of the Jerusalem patriarch.

Equal to the Apostles Nina of Georgia. Miniature. Athos (Iveron Monastery). End of the 15th century. Since 1913 it has been in the Russian Public (now National) Library in St. Petersburg

When she was twelve years old, Saint Nina came to Jerusalem with her parents, who had an only daughter. By their mutual agreement and with the blessing of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Zebulon dedicated his life to serving God in the deserts of Jordan.

Susanna was made a deaconess at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the upbringing of Saint Nina was entrusted to the pious elder Nianfora. Saint Nina showed obedience and diligence, and two years later, with the help of God’s grace, she firmly followed the rules of faith and read the Holy Scriptures with zeal.

Once, when she, crying, empathized with the evangelist describing the crucifixion of Christ the Savior, her thought stopped on the fate of the Robe of the Lord (John 19:23,24). To St. Nina’s question where the incorruptible Robe of the Lord resides (celebration - October 1), Elder Nianfora explained that, according to legend, it was taken by the Mtskheta rabbi Eleazar to Iveria (Georgia), called the inheritance Mother of God.

Having learned that Georgia had not yet been enlightened by the light of Christianity, Saint Nina prayed day and night to the Most Holy Theotokos, that she might be worthy to see Georgia turned to the Lord, and that she might help her to find the Robe of the Lord. The Queen of Heaven heard the prayers of the young righteous woman.

Once, when Saint Nina was resting after long prayers, the Most Pure Virgin appeared to her in a dream and handed her a cross woven from a vine with the words: “Take this cross, it will be your shield and fence against all visible and invisible enemies. Go to the country of Iveron, preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ there and you will find grace from Him. I will be your Patroness."

Having awakened, Saint Nina saw the cross in her hands (now it is kept in a special ark in the Tbilisi Zion Cathedral) and rejoiced in spirit. The Patriarch of Jerusalem blessed the young virgin for the feat of apostolic service.

On the way to Georgia, Saint Nina miraculously escaped martyrdom from the Armenian king Tiridates, to which her companions were subjected - Princess Hripsimia, her mentor Gaiania and 35 virgins (September 30), who fled to Armenia from Rome from the persecution of Emperor Diocletian (284-305). ). Strengthened by visions of the angel of the Lord, who appeared the first time with a censer, and the second time with a scroll in her hand, Saint Nina continued her journey and appeared in Georgia around 319.

The fame of her soon spread in the vicinity of Mtskheta, where she labored, for her preaching was accompanied by many signs. On the day of the glorious Transfiguration of the Lord, through the prayer of St. Nina, during a pagan sacrifice performed by the priests in the presence of King Mirian and numerous people, the idols Armaz, Gatsi and Gaim were cast down from a high mountain. This phenomenon was accompanied by a strong storm.

Entering Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia, Saint Nina found shelter in the family of a childless royal gardener, whose wife, Anastasia, through the prayers of Saint Nina, was relieved of infertility and believed in Christ. Saint Nina healed the Georgian queen Nana from a serious illness, who, having accepted holy baptism, from an idolater she became a zealous Christian (her memory is celebrated on October 1).

Despite the miraculous healing of his wife, King Mirian (265-342), heeding the instigations of the pagans, was ready to subject Saint Nina to cruel torture. At this time the sun darkened, and an impenetrable darkness covered Mtskheta.

The king suddenly became blind, and his horrified retinue began to beg the pagan idols for the return of daylight, but in vain. Then the frightened ones cried out to God, Whom Nina preached. Instantly the darkness dissipated and the sun shone.

King Mirian, healed of blindness by Saint Nina, received holy baptism together with his retinue. In 324, Christianity finally established itself in Georgia.

The chronicles tell that, through her prayers, it was revealed to St. Nina where the Robe of the Lord was hidden, and on this site the first Christian church in Georgia was erected - first a wooden, and now a stone cathedral in honor of the 12 Holy Apostles, called Svetitskhoveli, which means “life-giving pillar". By that time, with the help of the Byzantine emperor Constantine (306-337), who at the request of King Mirian sent a bishop, two priests and three deacons to Georgia, Christianity was finally strengthened in the country.

However, the mountainous regions of Georgia remained unenlightened. Accompanied by the presbyter Jacob and one deacon, Saint Nina went to the upper reaches of the Aragvi and Iori rivers, where she preached the Gospel to the pagan mountaineers. Many of them received holy baptism.

From there Saint Nina went to Kakheti (Eastern Georgia) and settled in the village of Bodbe, in a small tent on the slope of a mountain. Here she led an ascetic life, being in constant prayer and turning the surrounding residents to Christ. Among them was the Queen of Kakheti Soja (Sofia), who was baptized along with the courtiers and many people.

Having performed apostolic service in Georgia, Saint Nina was informed from above of her imminent death. In a message to King Mirian, she asked him to send Bishop John to prepare her for her final journey.

Equal to the Apostles Nina, enlightener of Georgia

Not only Bishop John, but also the Tsar himself, together with the clergy, went to Bodbe, where they witnessed many healings at the deathbed of St. Nina. Edifying the people who came to worship her, Saint Nina, at the request of her disciples, spoke about her origin and life. This story, recorded by Salome of Ujarma, served as the basis for the life of Saint Nina.

Having reverently received the holy mysteries, Saint Nina bequeathed that her body should be buried in Bodbe, and peacefully departed to the Lord in 335 (according to other sources - in 347), at the 67th year of birth after 35 years of apostolic labors. The Tsar, the clergy and the people, grieving over the death of Saint Nina, wanted to transfer her venerable body to the Mtskheta Cathedral Church, but could not move the ascetic’s coffin from her chosen resting place.

, May 19 (Cargo; Memory of the entry of Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina into Georgia)

Twelve years old, Saint Nina came to Jerusalem with her parents, who had an only daughter. By their mutual agreement and with the blessing of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Zebulon devoted his life to serving God in the deserts of Jordan, Sosanna was made a deaconess at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the upbringing of Saint Nina was entrusted to the pious old woman Nianphora. Saint Nina showed obedience and diligence and two years later, with the help of God’s grace, she firmly learned to follow the rules of faith and read the Holy Scriptures with zeal.

Once, when she, crying, empathized with the evangelist describing the crucifixion of Christ the Savior, her thought stopped on the fate of the Robe of the Lord (John 19: 23-24). In response to St. Nina’s question where the Robe of the Lord resides, Elder Nianfora explained that the unsewn Robe of the Lord, according to legend, was taken by the Mtskheta rabbi Eleazar to Iveria (Georgia). Having learned from Elder Nianfora that Georgia had not yet been enlightened by the light of Christianity, Saint Nina prayed day and night to the Most Holy Theotokos, may she be worthy to see Georgia turned to the Lord, and may she help her to find the Robe of the Lord.

One day the Most Pure Virgin appeared to her in a dream and, handing her a cross woven from a vine, said:

"Take this cross, it will be your shield and fence against all visible and invisible enemies. Go to the country of Iveron, preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ there and you will find grace from Him: I will be your Patroness".

Having awakened, Saint Nina saw a cross in her hands, rejoiced in spirit and tied the cross with her braids. Then, coming to her uncle, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, she told about the vision. The Patriarch of Jerusalem blessed the young virgin for the feat of apostolic service.

On the way to Georgia, Saint Nina miraculously escaped martyrdom from the Armenian king Tiridates III, to which her companions were subjected - Princess Hripsimia, her mentor Gaiania and 35 virgins who were converted by Saint Nina and fled from Rome to Armenia from the persecution of Emperor Diocletian (284-305 ). The Lord was preparing a different fate for Saint Nino, so He inspired her to hide in rose bush. When the danger had passed and the punishers dispersed, Saint Nino continued on her way.

Near Lake Paravani she met shepherds from Mtskheta, who told her about their region and said that they would soon return home. Having again received the blessing from the Lord to preach to the pagans, Nino asked the shepherds for permission to accompany them. Strengthened by visions of the Angel of the Lord, who appeared the first time with a censer, and the second with a scroll in his hand, having endured great difficulties on the way, Saint Nina finally reached Georgia in the year. She arrived in the city of Urbnisi and remained there for some time. Soon she, along with the pagan Urbnisians who went to worship the Armaz idol, arrived in Mtskheta, the capital of Georgia.

Her fame soon spread throughout the surrounding area, for her preaching was accompanied by many signs. On the day of the Transfiguration of the Lord, through the prayer of St. Nina, during a pagan sacrifice performed by the priests in the presence of King Mirian and numerous people, the idols Armaz, Gatsi and Gaim were cast down from a high mountain. This phenomenon was accompanied by a strong storm and hail. The frightened crowd fled in fear in different directions.

Saint Nina found shelter in the family of a childless royal gardener, whose wife, Anastasia, through the prayers of Saint Nina, was relieved of infertility. Then the couple glorified Christ and became disciples of the holy virgin. Followers flocked to Saint Nino Christian faith, and soon she became so famous that many pagans began to turn to her for help and, having received it, believed in Christ. The saint moved to a secluded place near the northern edge of the city, where she settled in a hut in the blackberry bushes (and where the Samtavro monastery later arose), and from there she continued her preaching.

Saint Nina healed the Georgian Queen Nana from a serious illness, who, having received holy baptism, from an idolater became a zealous Christian. But, despite the miraculous healing of his wife, King Mirian (265-342), heeding the instigations of the pagans, was ready to subject Saint Nina to cruel torture. Once, during a royal hunt on Mount Thot, while he was plotting the execution of the holy righteous woman, the sun darkened and an impenetrable darkness covered the place where the king was. Mirian suddenly became blind, and his horrified retinue began to beg their pagan idols for the return of daylight. " But Armaz, Zaden, Gaim and Gatsi were deaf, and the darkness increased. Then the frightened unanimously cried out to God, Whom Nina preached. The darkness instantly dissipated, and the sun illuminated everything with its rays". This event took place on May 6 of the year.

King Mirian, healed of blindness by Saint Nina, received holy baptism along with his retinue. After several years of the year, Christianity finally established itself in Georgia.

The chronicles tell that, through her prayers, it was revealed to Saint Nina where the Robe of the Lord was hidden, and the first Christian church in Georgia was erected there - first a wooden, and now a stone cathedral in the name of the 12 holy Apostles, Svetitskhoveli. By that time, with the help of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine (306-337), who at the request of King Mirian sent the Antiochian Bishop Eustathius, two priests and three deacons to Georgia, Christianity was finally strengthened in the country. However, the mountainous regions of Georgia remained unenlightened. Accompanied by the presbyter Jacob and one deacon, Saint Nina went to the upper reaches of the Aragvi and Iori rivers, where she preached the Gospel to the pagan mountaineers. Many of them believed in Christ and received holy baptism. From there Saint Nina went to Kakheti and settled in the village of Bodbe, in a small tent on the slope of a mountain. Here she led an ascetic life, being in constant prayer, turning the surrounding residents to Christ. Among them was the Queen of Kakheti Soja (Sofia), who was baptized along with her courtiers and many people.

Having completed her apostolic service in Georgia, Saint Nina was informed from above of her imminent death. In a letter to King Mirian, she asked him to send Bishop John to prepare her for her final journey. Not only Bishop John, but also the Tsar himself, along with all the clergy, went to Bodbe, where they witnessed many healings at St. Nina’s deathbed. Edifying the people who came to worship her, Saint Nina, at the request of her disciples, spoke about her origin and life. This story, written down

Nina, Equal to the Apostles, enlightener of Georgia

Saint Nina, Equal to the Apostles, the enlightener of Georgia, was born around 280 in the city of Kolastri, in Cappadocia, where there were many Georgian settlements. Her father Zabulon was a relative of the holy Great Martyr George († 303; commemorated April 23/May 6). He came from a noble family, from pious parents, and enjoyed the favor of Emperor Maximian (284–305). While in the military service of the emperor, Zabulon, as a Christian, contributed to the release of captive Gauls who converted to Christianity. Saint Nina's mother Susanna was the sister of the Patriarch of Jerusalem.

When she was twelve years old, Saint Nina came to Jerusalem with her parents, who had an only daughter. By their mutual consent and with the blessing of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Zebulon devoted his life to serving God in the deserts of Jordan, Susanna was made a deaconess at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the upbringing of Saint Nina was entrusted to the pious old woman Nianphora.

Saint Nina showed obedience and diligence and two years later, with the help of God’s grace, she firmly learned to fulfill the rule of faith and read the Holy Scriptures with zeal.

Once, when she, crying, empathized with the evangelist who described the crucifixion of Christ the Savior, her thought stopped on the fate of the Lord’s tunic (John 19: 23–24). In response to Saint Nina’s question where the Lord’s tunic resides, Elder Nianfora explained that the incorruptible Lord’s tunic, according to legend, was taken by the Mtskheta rabbi Eleazar to Iveria (Georgia), called the inheritance of the Mother of God.

Saint Nina often heard about this country from the Jews who settled there and came to Jerusalem for the Easter holiday. Having learned that Georgia had not yet been enlightened by the light of Christianity, Saint Nina prayed day and night to the Most Holy Theotokos: may she be worthy to see Georgia turned to the Lord and may she help her to find the tunic of the Lord.

The Queen of Heaven heard the prayers of the young righteous woman. One day, when Saint Nina was resting after long prayers, the Most Pure Virgin appeared to her in a dream and handed her a cross woven from a vine, with the words: “Take this cross, it will be your shield and fence against all visible and invisible enemies. Go to the country of Iveron, preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ there and you will find grace from Him. I will be your Patroness.”

Having awakened, Saint Nina saw the cross in her hands (now kept in a special ark in the Tbilisi Zion Cathedral) and rejoiced in spirit.

Another time the Savior appeared to Nina and gave her a scroll in which it was written: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit(Matt. 28:19).

With delight, Nina hastened to announce to her uncle, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, about these dreams and the commands she had received. The Patriarch and her mother blessed the saint for the feat for which she inspiredly and irresistibly strove, and indeed the Lord led Nina to accomplish it.

On the way to Georgia, Saint Nina miraculously escaped martyrdom from the Armenian king Tiridates, to which her companions suffered - Princess Hripsimia, her mentor Gaiania and 35 virgins (IV century; commemorated September 30/October 13), who fled to Armenia from Rome from persecution Emperor Diocletian (284–305). Strengthened by visions of the Angel of the Lord, Saint Nina continued her journey and appeared in Georgia around 319. The fame of her soon spread in the vicinity of Mtskheta, where she labored, for her preaching was accompanied by many signs. On the day of the glorious Transfiguration of the Lord, through the prayer of Saint Nina, during a pagan sacrifice performed by priests in the presence of King Mirian and a large people, the idols Armaz, Gatsi and Gaim were cast down from a high mountain. This phenomenon was accompanied by a strong storm.

Entering Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia, Saint Nina found shelter in the family of a childless royal gardener, whose wife Anastasia, through the prayers of the saint, was freed from infertility and believed in Christ. She soon became famous in the surrounding area because she provided miraculous help to the suffering. The sick began to come to her in large numbers, and Saint Nina healed their ailments with prayer and preached about Christ. Her words, the miracles she performed, and her virtuous life had a strong effect on the surrounding residents, and many of them believed in the true God. Abiathar, who had previously been a high priest, and his daughter Sidonia, upon accepting the Christian faith, became collaborators in the spread of the gospel teaching.

Saint Nina loved to spend days and nights in prayer under the majestic cedar tree, under which, according to Georgian legend, the tunic of the Savior was hidden in the ground. The first Christian church in Georgia was subsequently erected on this site (initially a wooden, now a stone cathedral in honor of the Twelve Holy Apostles, called Svetitskhoveli, which means “Life-Giving Pillar”).

Saint Nina healed the Georgian princess Nana from a serious illness, who, having received holy baptism, from an idolater became a zealous Christian (October 1/14). Despite the miraculous healing of his wife, King Mirian (265–342), heeding the instigations of the pagans, was ready to subject Saint Nina to cruel torture. At the very time that they were planning the execution of the holy righteous woman, the sun darkened and an impenetrable darkness covered the place where the king was. The king suddenly became blind, and his horrified retinue began to beg their pagan idols for the return of daylight, but they were deaf and the darkness increased. Then the frightened unanimously cried out to God, Whom Nina preached. The darkness instantly dissipated, and the sun illuminated everything with its rays. This event took place on May 6, 319.

And King Mirian, healed from blindness by Saint Nina, soon turned to true God. On the advice of Nina, the king sent to ask the Byzantine emperor Constantine (306–337) to send a bishop and priests to perform the sacrament of baptism over the people. The tsar and all the people greeted the bishop with priests and deacons who arrived in the capital with great honor and joy, and soon holy baptism began (324; according to other sources, 326). First of all, the king received holy baptism, followed by the queen and her children. After this, having prepared a baptismal chamber at the bridge on the Kura River, the bishop performed the blessing of water and baptized all the royal nobility. This place still bears the name “The Font of the Nobles,” and a little lower than the “Fount of the Nobles” two priests and deacons baptized at that time the entire people, who received holy baptism so diligently and strove for this with such haste that in the performance of the mysterious rite there was a lot of confusion. Such zeal came from the fact that the people well remembered the instructions of Saint Nina, who told them that whoever does not accept baptism cannot find eternal light. Thus, almost all of Kartalinia accepted holy baptism, with the exception of the Caucasian mountaineers, who remained in the darkness of paganism.

Following this, the king sent ambassadors to Constantinople with a request to the emperor to send architects to Iveria to build temples. The emperor received the ambassadors well, fulfilled their request, and together with them sent many architects and priests to the newly enlightened region, placing at the disposal of the bishop a large sum of money for the construction of churches.

Prompted by holy zeal, Nina continued to preach the Gospel. She tried to spread the word of God among the mountaineers and, accompanied by presbyter Jacob and one deacon, she went to the upper reaches of the Aragvi and Iori rivers. And many of the mountaineers accepted holy baptism. From there Saint Nina went to Kakheti (Eastern Georgia) and settled in the village of Bodbe in a small tent on the slope of a mountain. Here she led an ascetic life, being in constant prayer, turning the surrounding residents to Christ. Among them was the Queen of Kakheti Soja (Sofia), who was baptized along with her courtiers and many people.

Having completed her apostolic service in Georgia, Saint Nina was informed from above of her imminent death. In a letter to King Mirian, she asked him to send Bishop John to prepare her for her final journey.

Not only Bishop John, but also the Tsar himself, along with all the clergy, went to Bodbe, where they witnessed many healings at St. Nina’s deathbed. Edifying the people who came to worship her, Saint Nina, at the request of her disciples, spoke about her origin and life. This story, recorded by Solomiya of Ujarma, served as the basis for the life of Saint Nina.

Having reverently received the Holy Mysteries, Saint Nina bequeathed that her body should be buried in Bodbe, and peacefully departed to the Lord in 335 (according to other sources, in 347, at the age of 67 from birth, after 35 years of apostolic labors).

The Tsar, the clergy and the people, grieving over the death of Saint Nina, wanted to transfer her venerable body to the Mtskheta Cathedral Church, but could not move the ascetic’s coffin from her chosen resting place. At this place in 342, King Mirian founded, and his son King Bakur (342–364) completed and consecrated a temple in the name of St. Nina’s relative, the Holy Great Martyr George; later a convent in the name of St. Nina was founded here. The relics of the saint, hidden under a bushel by her command, were glorified by many healings and miracles. The Georgian Orthodox Church, with the consent of the Antioch Patriarchate, named the enlightener of Georgia equal to the apostles and, canonizing her as a saint, established her memory on January 14/27, the day of her blessed death.

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