Saint Nino of Georgia – Enlightener and Apostle Equal in the Orthodox Church

ST. NINO

Saint Nino of Cappadocia is revered as the Enlightener of Georgia for bringing Christianity to the Georgian people in the early 4th century. Born in Cappadocia, she traveled to Iberia and, through her faith and miracles, converted the royal family, leading to the nation's Christianization.

Saint Nino, also known as Saint Nina, was a pioneering Christian missionary and one of the most venerated saints in Georgian Christianity. Born around 280 AD in Cappadocia, she hailed from a devout Christian family. According to Georgian tradition, she was a relative of Saint George or descended from Roman nobility, though exact details of her lineage remain partly shrouded in legend. Inspired by divine visions and a strong sense of mission, Nino traveled from her homeland toward the Kingdom of Iberia (modern-day Georgia), where Christianity was largely unknown at the time.

She arrived in the region around 320 AD and began preaching the Gospel in a pagan land. Unlike many missionaries of the era, Nino was not accompanied by a formal church mission or imperial support. Her mission was deeply personal and spiritual. Carrying only a cross made of vine branches bound with her own hair—a now-iconic symbol of her faith—she lived modestly, prayed fervently, and began healing the sick and performing miracles.

Nino’s influence reached the highest levels of society when she reportedly cured Queen Nana of a severe illness. As a result, King Mirian III took interest in her faith. After a miraculous event during a solar eclipse where the king was struck blind and then healed through Nino's prayers, he converted to Christianity. Subsequently, in 326 AD, Christianity was declared the official religion of the Kingdom of Iberia, making Georgia one of the earliest nations to adopt Christianity as a state religion.

Saint Nino spent the rest of her life in Georgia, continuing her evangelistic work. She eventually retired to the region of Bodbe, in present-day Kakheti, where she died around 332 AD. The Bodbe Monastery, built in her honor, remains a major pilgrimage site to this day and holds her relics. Her legacy has had a lasting impact on the identity and spiritual life of the Georgian people, and she is honored as "Equal to the Apostles", a title given to saints with a significant role in spreading Christianity.

Her feast day is celebrated on January 14 in the Eastern Orthodox Church and December 15 in the Armenian Apostolic tradition. Though the exact dates of her canonization are not documented, she was recognized as a saint long before the formal canonization process was established.

Saint Nino remains a powerful symbol of Christian faith, perseverance, and evangelism, especially in the Caucasus region. Her grapevine cross is still a sacred object in Georgian Christian tradition, and her story continues to inspire devotion among the faithful. Icons of Saint Nino often depict her holding the unique cross, and prayers invoking her are common in both personal devotion and liturgical use. She is especially revered by women and those who work in spiritual or missionary roles.

Feast Day

14-1-

Birth Date

--280 AD

Died Date

--332 AD

Canonised Date

--Pre-congregation

Bodbe Monastery, Kakheti, Georgia

O Saint Nino, Equal to the Apostles and enlightener of Georgia, pray to Christ our God for the salvation of our souls. Guide us with your vine cross and strengthen our faith. Intercede for us before the throne of the Almighty. Amen.
ST. NINO

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ST. NINO

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