Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina, Enlightener of Georgia
Commemoration Day: January 14 / 27
Troparion, Tone 4
O servant of the Word of God, who imitated the First-Called Andrew and the other apostles in your apostolic preaching, enlightener of Iberia and harp of the Holy Spirit, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
Kontakion, Tone 2
Come, all you faithful, let us praise today the one chosen by Christ, the equal-to-the-apostles preacher of God’s Word, the wise herald who brought the people of Kartli to the path of life and truth, disciple of the Mother of God, fervent intercessor, and tireless protector—glorious Nina.
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The Life of Saint Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles and Enlightener of Georgia
Saint Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles and Enlightener of Georgia, was born around 280 AD in the city of Kolastra in Cappadocia, a region known for its Georgian settlements. Her father, Zebulon, was related to the Great Martyr George and came from a noble and pious family. He served Emperor Maximian (284–305) in the military and, as a Christian, contributed to the liberation of Gallic prisoners who had embraced Christianity. Saint Nina’s mother, Susanna, was the sister of the Patriarch of Jerusalem.
At the age of twelve, Saint Nina accompanied her parents to Jerusalem. With their mutual agreement and the Patriarch’s blessing, Zebulon dedicated his life to God in the deserts of the Jordan, Susanna became a deaconess at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and Saint Nina was placed under the care of a devout elder woman named Nianfora. Saint Nina demonstrated great obedience and diligence, mastering the tenets of faith and becoming well-versed in the Holy Scriptures within two years.
One day, deeply moved by the account of Christ’s crucifixion in the Gospel, Saint Nina began pondering the fate of Christ’s seamless robe (the Holy Robe). When she asked Nianfora about its whereabouts, the elder explained that, according to tradition, the Holy Robe had been taken to Iberia (Georgia) by the Jewish high priest Eleazar of Mtskheta. Georgia, she said, was known as the “Portion of the Mother of God,” as the Theotokos had been assigned its evangelization by apostolic lot. However, an angel had revealed to her that this mission would be fulfilled in the latter days, while she herself was called to serve on Mount Athos.
Learning that Georgia had not yet embraced the light of Christianity, Saint Nina began fervently praying to the Theotokos to grant her the privilege of witnessing Georgia’s conversion to Christ and to help her find the Holy Robe.
The Theotokos answered Saint Nina’s prayers. One night, after prolonged prayers, the Most Holy Virgin appeared to her in a dream, handing her a cross woven from grapevines. The Theotokos said: “Take this cross; it will be your shield and protection against all visible and invisible enemies. Go to the land of Iberia, proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and you will find favor with Him. I will be your Protectress.”
Awakening to find the cross in her hands, Saint Nina was filled with joy and immediately went to her uncle, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, to recount her vision. He blessed her for her apostolic mission.
The Journey to Georgia
Saint Nina’s journey to Georgia was fraught with challenges. She narrowly escaped martyrdom at the hands of King Tiridates of Armenia, who had killed her companions—Princess Ripsimia, her teacher Gaiania, and 35 virgins—fleeing Roman persecution under Emperor Diocletian. Strengthened by visions of an angel appearing first with a censer and then with a scroll, Saint Nina reached Georgia in 319 AD. Her arrival in Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia, was marked by miracles that quickly spread her fame.
On the Feast of the Transfiguration, during a pagan ritual attended by King Mirian and his people, the idols Armaz, Gatsi, and Gaem were miraculously toppled from a high mountain through Saint Nina’s prayers. A great storm followed, further demonstrating the power of the true God.
In Mtskheta, Saint Nina was welcomed into the home of the royal gardener, whose wife, Anastasia, was miraculously healed of infertility through the saint’s prayers. Saint Nina also healed Queen Nana of a severe illness, leading her to abandon idolatry and accept baptism. Despite this, King Mirian initially resisted Christianity. However, during a miraculous eclipse on May 6, 319, he was struck blind and later healed through Saint Nina’s prayers. This event led to his conversion, and he, along with his court, was baptized.
The Spread of Christianity in Georgia
By 324 AD, Christianity had been firmly established in Georgia, aided by Byzantine Emperor Constantine the Great, who sent clergy to assist in its organization. Saint Nina continued her mission in the mountainous regions of Georgia, converting many pagans and leading them to baptism. She settled in Bodbe in Eastern Georgia, living a life of prayer and asceticism while bringing many to Christ, including Queen Sophia of Kakheti and her court.
Saint Nina’s Repose
Forewarned of her death, Saint Nina requested King Mirian to send Bishop John to prepare her for her final journey. Surrounded by clergy and the faithful, Saint Nina received the Holy Mysteries and peacefully reposed in 335 AD (some sources say 347). She was buried in Bodbe, where her tomb became a site of miraculous healings. A church and later a women’s monastery were established in her honor.
Saint Nina was glorified by the Georgian Orthodox Church as Equal-to-the-Apostles. Her feast day is celebrated on January 14/27, the day of her blessed repose.
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