The Light of Georgia – Saint Nina the Enlightener († 335)

By RTOC Priest Aleksandar Radunovic

In the age when Georgia was shrouded in the darkness of paganism, during the terrible persecutions of Christians under the Roman Empire, God, in His ineffable love for all, chose a virgin from a noble Cappadocian family to be the instrument of His divine providence. That was Saint Nina, a relative of Saint George the Great Martyr, and Juvenal, the Patriarch of Jerusalem. Her noble lineage and upbringing instilled in her the fear of God and a yearning for the salvation of souls.
Even as a child, while under the care of her uncle Juvenal, Nina was deeply moved by the story of the land of Iberia (Georgia), a people lost in the darkness of idolatry. Inspired by her love for Christ, she resolved that, should God bless her, she would go to that distant land to bring the light of the Gospel to its people. Her longing turned into prayer, and her prayer received an answer. The Most Holy Theotokos appeared to her in a vision, handing her a cross woven from grapevines and assuring her that the Theotokos would guide and protect her in her mission.
Nina left behind all earthly ties and, guided by divine providence, arrived in Georgia around the year 320, carrying only her small cross and unquenchable faith. She initially settled in the city of Mtskheta, the then spiritual and political center of Georgia. There, she began her ministry quietly but powerfully—proclaiming Christ through her words, prayers, and acts of mercy. Captivated by her meekness and miraculous healings, people began to seek her out, longing for words of comfort and truth.
Among the first to heed her preaching were King Mirian III and his wife Nana. Initially resistant to the new faith, King Mirian experienced a miraculous healing and conversion through Nina’s prayers. His wife, suffering from a grave illness, also found healing through Nina’s intercession. After receiving holy baptism, the royal couple became the principal patrons of Christianity in Georgia. Under their protection, the Christian faith spread swiftly, and Mtskheta became the spiritual center of God’s new people.
Saint Nina tirelessly traveled through the towns and villages of Georgia, bringing the Gospel to all who were willing to hear. Her preaching was accompanied by many miracles. The most renowned of these was the discovery of the Robe of the Savior, believed to have been hidden in Mtskheta. This sacred relic, a sign of God’s presence, further strengthened the Georgians’ faith in Christ.
In a short time, a people who had for centuries offered sacrifices to idols became a nation of the living God. According to tradition, Saint Nina personally led thousands to the Christian faith, building churches and laying the foundations of Christian worship.
After completing her great work, Saint Nina withdrew to the village of Bodbe, where she spent her final days in prayer and silence. There, she surrendered her soul to God, reposing in the Lord in the year 335. Her body was laid to rest in a church in Bodbe, where her holy relics remain to this day, becoming a place of pilgrimage and healing for many faithful.
Saint Nina is not only the saint of one nation but also a model of Christian zeal and love for one’s neighbor. Her life testifies to the power of prayer, faith in Christ’s victory over darkness, and obedience to God’s providence. As the apostle of Georgia, she became a symbol of the light that conquers darkness, the grace that heals sin, and the love that unites people with God.
May the example of Saint Nina teach us to be tireless in the struggle for truth, gentle in word and deed, and fearless in bearing our cross—for only in such a life does divine grace dwell.
Prayer to Saint Nina of Georgia
O Saint Nina, great enlightener and apostle of Georgia, zealous servant of God’s will and humble handmaiden of Christ, come to our aid, we who call upon your powerful intercession with faith and love!You, moved by love for the Lord and concern for lost souls, brought the light of the Gospel to a land overshadowed by ignorance and idolatry. We beseech you, merciful intercessor, to implore Christ the Savior to grant us grace, that we too, in our weaknesses and sins, may find the path to true repentance and the light of eternal life.
Grant us, O Saint Nina, courage in faith, perseverance in prayer, and meekness in deeds, that we may, like you, bear the cross of Christ with love and hope. Bless our families, our nation, and all who seek your help, and intercede for the forgiveness of our sins and peace for our souls.
O you who stand before the throne of God, pray for us sinners, that we may be enlightened by the true light and become partakers of the Heavenly Kingdom, where, with all the saints, we glorify the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.