Christianity IV c.

      The First Christians in Georgia

Christianity was already well acquainted in Georgia in old times. According to the old legends, when the Christ's disciples went to the different countries for preaching Christianity Georgia had fallen by lot to Mary. That's why we call our land - the country fallen to the by lot. The Virgin Mary sent the apostle, named Andrea with her icon in Georgia - in Kartli. He spread Christianity and made a lot of miracles there. Many people were christened. But they did it secretly, for they were afraid of the King and priests. For that time Christianity was not yet accepted in Georgia.

      Christ's Tunic in Georgia

In the western part of Georgia there were also Christians, but they hid their believe. Archaeologists dug tombs and discovered many signs of secret things connected with Christianity. There were a fish, an anchor, lamb, bread etc. The Christians were wearing adornments with such signs. They knew each other with these decorations and met secretly. One of the Georgian legends tells us how in Mtskheta (old Georgian capital) the Christ's Tunic was buried . As the legend tells, a Jew named Ellioz lived in Mtskheta. His mother sent him in Jerusalem to listen to the Christ's preach. Ellioz arrived there just then, when it was Christ's crucifixion. Ellioz saw crucifixion and wept a lot. He was sinless, that's why Christians gave him Christ's Tunic. Ellioz brought this holy thing in Mtsketa. His sister met him and took the Tunic. When she took it she petrified and died with sorrow. She was buried with the Tunic. That Tunic wasn't an ordinary thing, it was holy and as it was buried in Georgian land it meant that Christ came in Georgia. But this fact was still in secret. The time would come when everybody knew the truth and Christ would come for everybody. It's the main idea of the legend. Time went by and a missionary named Nino came from Jerusalem in Georgia. God sent her in Kartli for spreading Christianity. It happened at the beginning of the IV century.

      Nino is spreading Christianity in Kartli

One famous Kabadokian commander Zabilone had a daughter named Nino. When his daughter became twelve Zabilone and his wife gave their property to the poor and began praying. They gave their daughter to their relative who was a patriarch of Jerusalem to bring up her. The patriarch taught her love of Christian religion. When she was grown up, he asked her to travel along the foreign countries to spread Christianity. When Nino was in Jerusalem she learnt from a woman, that Christ's Tunic was buried in Mtskheta - in Kartli. Nino decided to preach among the people who kept Tunic secretly for such a long time. Nino set off Kartli. It wasn't easy to travel. People, who had no faith, fought against Christianity. But Nino with a cross in her hands continued her way. Jesus showed her the way to Mtskheta. When she arrived in Mtskheta she found Ellioz's posterities and learned from them where the Christ's Tunic was buried. Nino settled near that place. She was praying to the God and asked God to fill Georgian's hearts with faith. Everybody was surprised with her kindness. They found calmness with her. Nino gave hopes to the broken-hearted peoples. She cured sufferers. Everybody saw that Nino was making miracles for them with the help of unknown for them God. People believed this God. Once the Queen of Kartli, named Nana, fell ill. Doctors from the whole country were trying to help her, but all in vain. Then people asked Nino for help, Nino was very sorry for the Queen and began praying. Her pray was heard and God cured the Queen. Therefore she became Christian. King Mirian was very happy with this, but he did not believe the force of Nino's God till the end. Once Mirian went for hunting in the mountains. Suddenly it got so dark, that the King saw nothing at all. It seemed like the sun disapeared forever. King Mirian was very afraid and asked for help to his Gods. But his pray was not heard. Then the King asked Nino's God to bring light. When he finished his words the light came again. When the King saw it he believed in Christ. Nino stayed in Georgia forever. She converted a lot of people. Later the Georgian Church impute Nino to a Saint. After this fact, the name Nino is very widespread in Georgia, and till now a lot of girls are given this name.

      Christianity becomes the state religion of Georgia

King Mirian adopted Christianity in 337. The priests from Byzantine christened people in Mtskheta in the Mtkvari river. Christianity was proclaimed as the state religion of Kartli, soon it was also spread in the western part of Georgia. The new epoch began in Georgia...