in the years following the resurrection
of Christ the Apostles spread the good
news across most of the known world in a
remarkable fashion and established the
foundation upon which the church was
built they traversed great distances
across deserts mountains and rough seas
they were exposed to the elements while
traveling only to endure mockery
beatings and torture at many of their
destinations and yet the gospel was
preached people were baptized and the
church grew in number and in strength
since then a number of individuals have
followed in their footsteps and equally
excelled in the witness and proclamation
of the good news of the resurrection of
Christ the title equal to the Apostles
is bestowed upon them
one such saint is Nina the enlightener
of Georgia although her story has varied
over the centuries the original story
written in 403 ad by Terranea srew
phonus is the one closest to Nina's time
Rufus included Nina's tale in chapter 10
of his historia ecclesiastica when Rufus
was traveling through Palestine in 395
ad he learned of Nina's story from a man
named victorious victorious was a member
of the Royal House of Iberia Andrew
finis later referred to him as a most
trustworthy man buck aureus had learned
the story orally through his
grandparents and great-grandparents that
had lived in Nina's time little is known
of Nina's childhood
it was likely that she was born in
Cappadocia before being taken captive
and taken to Iberia around 324 ad the
kingdom of Iberia was located in what is
now known as the eastern region of the
country of Georgia Western Georgia had
recently been evangelized by Orthodox
Christians that lived along the coast of
the Black Sea but to the east the
kingdom of Iberia remained seated in
pagan darkness through captivity Nena
remained true to her faith and lived a
virtuous and prayerful life she endured
hardships with joy and always gave glory
to God the iberian z' who captured mina
eventually became curious about her ways
and asked for an explanation Nina told
them that she had worshipped our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ she shared with
them the good news of the resurrection
but they remained set in their pagan
ways then one day the mother of a sick
child visited Nina she explained that
she had visited all the doctors and
Pagan healers and yet none could heal
her child of his infirmities she wanted
to know if Nina's God could help Nina
said yes and after placing the child on
her cloak and praying to Christ she
returned the child to the mother fully
healed by 328 ad word had spread about
the miracles wrought through Nina's
prayers
Nina began preaching to the people as
more sought help it was then that Nana
the queen of Iberia heard of the
wonder-working captive
the Queen suffered from an illness and
in desperation she traveled to meet Nina
and asked for a cure through her prayers
Nina also healed the Queen the Queen
returned home deeply moved and edified
and shared her story with her husband
King Mary in the third the King wanted
to send presents and lavish Nina
but the Queen remarked that Nina would
not accept such gifts due to her austere
way of life the only reward she wants
said the Queen is for us to worship her
God the king remained unconvinced until
he experienced a remarkable occurrence
on a hunt deep in the forest and 330 ad
during the light of day darkness fell
and a murky cloud enveloped the king his
guards scattered in fear and left the
King wandering alone and lost in the
dark cloud the king prayed to his pagan
gods without result terrified he turned
to Christ with a prayer for illumination
and the promise that he would thereafter
glorify Christ's name
suddenly the dark cloud vanished and the
light of day returned the King returned
home shaken but convinced giving glory
to God the King met with Nina and asked
for her instructions on how to worship
he summoned the people of his kingdom
and told them all what had happened he
also granted Nina's request that a
church be built in the capital of Santa
construction began right away with walls
being raised and the first two of three
pillars being placed but despite all
efforts the workers were unable to place
the third column and so work stopped
during the night Nina went alone and
prayed at the sight until daybreak when
the king and the people arrived they saw
the pillar standing upright and freely
suspended about a foot above its
pedestal they gazed in amazement as the
pillars slowly descended into place
without anyone touching it
they named the cathedrals four headed
scholarly meaning living pillar because
of the great miracle that occurred as
the church grew the king sent emissaries
to Emperor Constantine who in turn sent
priests and catechists to Iberia her
efforts reached fulfillment when Iberia
adopted Christianity as its state
religion in 337 AD she retreated to a
cave on a mountain at bud Bay in 338 AD
where she later died and was buried her
tomb is still located in the local
Cathedral she is still loved and revered
by the people of Georgia and is
commemorated on January 14th with prayer
processions called Saint Nina's way she
remains a powerful example of the
transforming effect of Christian witness
in the world Saint Nina enlightener of
Georgia and equal to the Apostles pray
to Christ our God that he may save our
souls