The Georgian Chronicle, History, Historical, Ancient, Medieval, Georgia, Georgian, Iberia, Iberian, Armenia, Armenian, Abkhaz, Abkhazia, Iran, Iranian, Persia, Persian, Caucasus, Caucasian, Atrpatakan, Jews, Jewish, Empire, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Khazars, Khazar, Altaica, Turco-Mongolica, Turks, nomads, nomadic, barbarian, Huns, Highlands, Peoples of the North, Aghuans, Aghuania, Caucasian Albania, Durjuk, Durdzuk, Nakh, Chechens, Ingush, Batsbi, Dido, Jesus, Lord's Robe, Apostle, Andrew, Simon, diaspora, dayeak, single-combat, Darband, Goths, Nino, Christianity, Franks, statue of Aramazd, paganism (original) (raw)

P'arnawaz designated one sparapet (commander-in-chief of the army) and eight officials: one in Lex where he built two fortresses, Sharan and Dimots'; the second he sent to Kaxet'; the third to [the area] stretching from Berdahaj to Tiflis, and K'ajenk' which is Dardaban; the fourth he sent to Shamshoylte and gave him [territory] from Skakuret' to Tashir and Apots'k'; the fifth he sent to Tsunda, from P'arawna to the head of the Kur river, which is Jawaxet' and to Artahan; the sixth he sent to Unjerxis giving him Tayk' [17] to Arsian and from the head of Ostan to the sea; he sent the eighth to K'uchaet' and Eger. He set up a sparapet at Tiflis and from Arago river to the border of Tayk', which is Lower K'art'li. All paid taxes and were obedient to the kingdom. They married P'arnawaz to Durtska from the line of Kovkas. The land was patterned after regulations of the Iranian kingdom. The Greeks did not oppose this since they were occupied with the Romans. P'arnawaz walled the city of Mts'xet'a as well as those fortresses destroyed by Alexander. [P'arnawaz] had fashioned a large idol named after himself, that is, Armaz. For in Persian they called P'arnawaz Armaz. He erected this idol at the head of K'art'los and until today the mountain is called Armaz. He was twenty-seven years old at his accession, he ruled sixty-five years peacefully and happily; and he served king Antiochus. He spent fall and spring in Mts'xet'a city, summer in Jawaxet', winter in Ganch'enk' and in season he entered Klarjk' and Eger concerned about the welfare of the lands, for he was a sagacious, and learned man. He divided up among the districts of Iberia those thousand men who had come to him from Azon [g24], naming them Azonians and doing well by them. All Iberia offered sacrifices to [his] image: "[He is the] satisfaction of our hope, for we have a king from the line of K'art'los our ancestor." P'arnawaz had a son whom he named Sayurmak. P'arnawaz was [18] the first king from the line of K'art'los. It was he who ordered the entire country to speak Georgian. He died and was buried before his idol Armaz.

His son became king the same year. But the princes of Iberia planned to kill Sayurmak [Sauromaces/Saurmag I, 234-159 B.C.] so that they not serve one of their own people, rather a foreigner. [They planned] that someone should cut off his head. However Saurmag found out about this. He took his mother and went to her brothers at Durdzuket'. Now the troops called Azonians went to him out of gratitude to his father. He called to him in aid the Ossetian king and went and easily mastered the country. [Saurmag] killed his enemies, pardoning some, and he elevated the Azonians and demoted the Iberians. He then took half the people of Kovkas—who had multiplied—and settled them at Mt'shulet', which is Suanet'. From their number he made _naxarar_s (lords), calling them loyal. He had four idols fashioned, Ardzinina and Danana on the Mts'xet'a road. And he married the daughter of the prince of Partaw, of Iranian nationality. Two daughters were born to him; one he gave to his Iranian wife's cousin (mother's sister's son) Mruan and called him his son; the other [daughter] he gave to K'ajis' son who was his father's sister's son. Saurmag lived for many years and then died [g25].

[19]

Chapter 4.

Mruan [Mirvan I, Meribanes 159-109 B.C.], a wise, brave and personally handsome man, ruled as king in [Saurmag's] place. Now the Durtsukets'ik', having forgotten their oath, came forth united with the Ch'art'aghk' with inhabitants of Kovkas, and they captured Kaxet' and Bazalet'. Then Mirvan assembled the cavalry and infantry of those loyal to him and went against the Durtske. A difficult battle ensued. The Durtsukets'ik' were defeated [with the king]. Mirvan entered the country, took Durtsuk', Chart'al, the Krazm gate which is there by Darbal, and happily [g26] came to Mts'xet'a. Antiochus, the king of Syria and Babylon, died; in Armenia, Arbak ruled as king. Mirvan gave his daughter to the son of Arbak and then he himself died.

[Mirvan's] son, P'aranjum [P'arnajom, 109-90 B.C.], then ruled [Iberia] as king. It was he who built the fortress Aden and erected an image at Aden, and likewise built the city of Nerkres in Kaxet'ia. After this he elevated the mages of Iranian faith, built a place for them, presently called Mogt'a (House of the Mages) and established a fire-temple. The Iberians were angered. They asked Arbak (Varbak) [20] king of Armenia, to give them his son as king, "For," they said, "our king has become an Iranian and forgotten the faith of our mothers and worships [his] patrimonial religion." The king of Armenia happily sent the emissaries back. But P'arnajom had heard about this. He got troops from the Iranians and wherever else he was able, assembled them, and arose against the king of Armenia. With Armenians and Iberians [in his army], Varbak battled with P'arnajom in the Tashir district, killing him and totally destroying his army. His established his son Artak—who was married to Mirvan's daughter—as king of Iberia. His reign was successful. He built numerous strongholds and fortified the walls of the city of Tsunda in Jawaxet'. Thus, having reigned with success, he died [g27].

His son, Artak [Artoces/Artog, 78-63 B.C.], ruled over the Iberians as king for two years. In his day the Iranians came to avenge the blood of P'arnajom. However, because of their multitude, Artog was unable to encounter them; rather, he secured himself against them. Whomever [the Iranians] found in open places, they took, and departed.

After Artog his son, Barton [Pharnabazus II/Bartom, 63-30 B.C.], ruled. Now P'arnajom's son, who had been nourished in [21] Iran, took [Iranian] auxiliaries and came against Bartom. He sent a message to the Iberian princes to stand away from Bartom. But they did not heed him. Instead they fought for a month under Mruan [Mirvan II] near Xunan. But they were defeated and Bartom died in battle. He had no son, only one daughter whom he had married to a descendant of K'ujis so that there would be an heir for his kingdom. And he did this to please the Iberians who did not want the reign of a foreign people but only of the Pharnabazids. However [the would-be heir], named K'art'am, was likewise slain in the same battle. Now his wife, Bartom's daughter, being pregnant, went to Armenia and bore a son, naming him Adrik. Mirvan entered Iberia, mastered the entire land, violently subdued those fortified in keeps, and brought [resisters] out of impregnable places by oaths. He removed Bartom's wife (the daughter of the Arbakunis) from Shamshute, and married her. He had a son whom he named Arbak. After Mirvan lived a few years, he died and his son Arbak [Artaxias/Arsaces/Arshak II, 20B.C. - 1 A.D.] reigned.

Now Adrik, who had been nourished in Armenia, was a personable man, and one successful in the wars [occurring] between Armenia and Syria, slaying many of the Mumberiz among them. Taking Armenian troops, he battled with Arshak in the T'reghk' country, which is Tsaghikk'. Fighting for an [22] [g28] entire day using swords, they crushed [the Iberians]; and none of them turned back. They rested that night, but the next day they fought with iron clubs, raining down blows like a blacksmith striking the anvil. But they did not part from each other [content] with that. So taking up bows, they shot at each other with arrows. Adrik struck the breast of Arshak with an arrow and killed him, his mother's brother. The Iberians took to flight. Beseeching the Armenians, Adrik prevented [them] from killing Iberians, saying: "From now on, thanks to you, I am their king." All the Iberian troops fell to the ground and revered Adrik [Pharasmanes I/Aderk, 1-58 A.D.] and placed Arshak's crown on his head; and the Armenians, Iberians, and Aghbanians were one. [Aderk] was thirty years of age at his accession and ruled the Iberians as king for forty-five years, marrying the daughter of the Armenian king.

In the first year of [Aderk's] reign, Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, Judea. News came to the Jews of Mts'xet'a that kings had come from Iran and captured Jerusalem; and the Jews mourned. But after two years they heard that [those kings] had not come to capture Jerusalem but to bring gifts to a child born of a virgin; and they rejoiced exceedingly. Thirty years later emissaries came to the northeast [saying that][23] the child to whom the mages had given gifts, having come to full maturity, preached that he was the son of God. "Now," they said, "whoever of our people are wise and learned in our faith, let them come forth and go [to find out about] this matter." Having heard this, Elios of Mts'xet'a [and] Lunkinos Karsnets'i went. They arrived on the day of the great Friday of the Lord's torment. And they brought back to Mts'xet'a the Lord's robe [g29].

In the days of this same king Aderk, two of the Twelve Apostles, Andrew and Simon the Caananite, came to Abkhazia and Eger. Saint Simon was martyred in the city of Nikop's on the Greek border. Saint Andrew, having converted Eger, went on to Klarjk'. When Aderk heard of this, he grew angry. He sent and turned Eger from that [faith] back to the idols. And they hid the Cross and the image of the Cross. The ostikan of Klarjk' was blamed for peacefully setting Andrew free.

In these times the Iranians rebelled from the Macedonians and set up the learned Azhia as their king. Aderk crowned his two sons, dividing the country between them: to Bartom (Bartos) he gave K'art'li with many borders, and to K'art'am (K'art'aman) he gave [territories] from Xunan to Klarjet'. Then he died. During the reign of these [two sons], Spasianos Caesar [Vespasian, 69-79 A.D.] of Rome captured Jerusalem. [24] Thence came Jews as fugitives and they joined the first Jews of Mts'xet'a. Among them were the sons of Barabbas the robber whom the Jews had requested from Pilate in place of our Lord. Bartom and K'art'am were obedient to the kings of Armenia, [a practise which had] commenced with Aderk. Furthermore the kings of Armaz aided the Armenians against their enemies, doing battle with them [g30].

Chapter 5.

Subsequently Eruand ruled Armenia and took [territory] from the Iberians: Artahan to the Kur river and the city of Tsonda. And he settled devil-speaking (diwaxos) men there, and named it K'ajatun [Home of the Braves]. The Iberian kings P'arsman and Kaos (Kayos) died sadly. Now Smbat Biwrat killed Eruand and enthroned his brother Artaban [g31].

Then Azork (Azuk) and Armazel (Azmayer), the kings of Iberia, called on the two brothers Bazuk and Anbazuk, kings of the Leks and Ossetians, for aid. And they gathered with them the Pachanik', Jikk', Durdzukk' and Didok'. The entire' Iberian army assembled at one place and unexpectedly entered the land of Armenia while it was unprepared. They captured Shirak and Vanand as far as Basen, then turned to the plain [25] of Naxjawan taking much booty. They passed through the P'arisos Gate and hurriedly crossed the Kur river. Then, going to Kambech, they encamped on the Iori river. Smbat assembled the Armenian army and went after them, as far as the Kur river. He [g32] dispatched emissaries, saying to them: "You are forgiven for those Armenians you have slain, and you may keep the loot and booty taken, but return the living captives you have." However [the Iberians] having grown arrogant, replied very sternly to him, saying that they were coming against [the Armenians] to capture [Smbat] as well. When Smbat heard this he crossed the Kur river and went against them like a lion. The Ossetian king Bazuk wanted single combat with [Smbat], and died at his hands—the spear penetrating through his breast a cubit's length. His brother Anbazuk went against [Smbat], but he too was struck by the spear and fell dead. [Smbat] said: "Let this be revenge for the Armenian women and innocent children you killed." Then both armies clashed in a frightful way and until evening countless [soldiers] fell on both sides. The defeated northerners fled, and the Armenian army mercilessly cut them down until very few were left; [the survivors] were saved by the night. Both Iberian kings, wounded, escaped to Mts'xet'a. Smbat successfully entered K'art'li and destroyed the country. He built the fortress of Samts'xe in the Undzerxe country and left there auxiliary Tsunda troops which had submitted to him.

[26] Now the Iberian kings Azork and Armazel, taking the Ossetians along, struck the Armenian country by the Nuste river and by the Parxar [mountains], that is, Tayk', and also by the Ashots' road. Then Artaban, king of Armenia, went against Iberia and besieged Mts'xet'a for five months, pulling the land apart until they beseeched him for reconciliation so that the Iberians and Ossetians would serve them [the Armenians]. [Artaban] heeded them, set taxes, and then the Armenian king departed and assaulted the Greeks and Iranians [g33]. Left alone, the Iberians and Ossetians commenced raiding Armenia. Artaban sent his son Zareh against them with few troops. Having gone, [Zareh] was captured by them like a child, at a place called lake Ts'ilx. The Ossetians wanted to kill him to avenge the blood of their kings, but the Iberians prevented this so that by means of [Zareh] they might regain the their territories which the Armenians had taken. So they imprisoned him at Dalara. Now the Armenians did nothing for three years, but then Smbat went to the T'reghk' country with the king's sons, Artawaz and Tigran, and the entire Armenian army. The Iberian kings fortified themselves and left the country and requested peace, giving them the king's son as a surety. They promised the following service: "to use money struck in the language and name of [your] Armenian king, and should an enemy come against you, both of us Iberian kings will live [27] and die [aiding] you; and should you go to war against another people, ten thousand armed Iberians shall accompany you." The Armenians agreed to this and returned to the Iberians those territories they had taken: Tsunda, Dmuis, Jawaxet' and Artahan. And the Armenians, Iberians and Ossetians became one nation [g34].

Chapter 6.

The above-mentioned kings died. Hamazasp ruled at Armaz and Derok in K'art'li. After them P'arsman [Pharasmanes/P'arsman II the Good, 116-132] and Mihrdat [ruled]. This Mihrdat married an Iranian woman of the royal line. At the urging of the Iranians, he grew to hate P'arsman of Armaz and plotted to kill him while in his cups in his own home. When P'arsman learned about this he did not go to [answer Mihrdat's] summons. The affair was exposed and the two became enemies. P'arsman was a good man, handsome of looks and stature, merciful, wise and as brave a warrior as an incorporeal [hero]. All the Iberians liked him and loathed Mihrdat. As a result of this, the latter fled to Iran and P'arsman set up in his place an intrepid man, named P'arnawaz, his own sparapet, milk-brother, and age-peer. Mihrdat took Iranian [troops] and came against P'arsman. P'arsman, taking Armenian troops, went before him at Hrinsi Xeri, which is [28] Iron Valley. Iranian single-combatants requested [combat with] P'arsman and his sparapet. P'arsman killed seventeen men and the sparapet [g35], twenty-three. Then a truly gigantic Iranian, named Jiwansher, sought [combat with] P'arsman; the latter went against him, delightedly. The battle between them lasted for many hours and resembled the thundering of clouds. But the handsome, mighty P'arsman struck, felled, and killed that monstrous giant. Then he shouted to the army: "Oh braves, oh sleeping lions, approach these sheep beaten by the hail." Then the Armenian and Iberian troops mercilessly made carnage of all the Iranians throughout the country. Mihrdat escaped to Iran. The next year he came against P'arsman with an army twice as large, coming to Mts'xet'a, which he besieged. Once again the Iranian champions sought [combat with] P'arsman and his sparapet. P'arsman killed twelve of them, while his sparapet killed sixteen men; attacking with sword, he crushed and destroyed the multitude of them. Mihrdat fled to Iran. Then the brave P'arsman himself, with Armenian power, destroyed and demolished Iran. [The Iranians] made a stratagem and sent a destructive man (to whom they had given poison) as an emigrant so that he would kill P'arsman unawares. He did so, treacherously slaying the all-triumphant brave; and he made all of Iberia weep, from the lowly to the grandees. P'arsman's sparapet, P'arnawaz, took P'arsman's wife and son and went to Armenia. With their aid he set up a district chief [29] [g36] at Armaz and in all of his sector, people who remained loyal to P'arsman. Now Mihrdat, taking Iranian [forces] came to Iberia and took his sector. The king of Armenia, having been reconciled with the Greeks, went against the Iranians and Mihrdat. He encountered them on the Lex river, killed Mihrdat and the Iranian prince, and enthroned in Iberia P'arsman's son, Admi [Radamistus/Adam, 132-35]. Radamistus lived for three years and then died leaving an infant son. Through him P'arsman's wife ruled Iberia.

After him, his grandson Hamazasp [Amazaspus/Amazasp II, 185-89] reigned, a brave and martial man. In his day an Ossetian multitude very unexpectedly came through the Dualet'. For eight days they encamped by the Lex river and rested. Then they went and besieged the city of Mts'xet'a. Now Amazasp, with 16,000 cavalry and 30,000 infantry, arose and battled them from afar with arrows. He himself by the strength of [his] bow shot fifteen of [their] select champions. The next day he felled an Ossetian man named Xonaxwa and broke his back. The third day, since the Iberian army had grown, [the two sides] fought each other. The Ossetians were defeated, their king was killed, and the rest of them fled back to their own land. The second year Amazasp took Armenian troops, crossed to the other side of the mountain, against the Ossetians, captured the whole land and returned to his home [g37].

[30] After this, Amazasp grew arrogant and rebelled from Armenia. He killed his notables and took refuge in the Iranians. For this reason the Iberians hated him and requested as king Vroy [Rev I the Just, 189-216], son of the Armenian king [Vologases II, 180-191] and Amazasp's sister's son. The king of Armenia acceded to their request and came to Iberia. The five princes of the western region, the prince of Undzrxe and the prince of Tsunda came to him. They also summoned the Ossetian army and came delightedly because of the blood-feud which Amazasp had obligated them to. Amazasp called on Iran for aid. There ensued a severe battle in which Amazasp was defeated and killed in war, and the Iranian army was beaten.

Rev ruled Iberia. He was married to Sep'elia, daughter of Loghot'ats'i from the country of Greece. She brought an image of Aphrodite and erected it at the head of Mts'xet'a. The king was merciful and an avenger of the oppressed. Having been somewhat informed about the dispensation of our Lord, he loved Christ. He prohibited human sacrifice in Iberia. Nonetheless, he worshipped the idols and had cows and sheep sacrificed. He was called Rev which means Triumphant. His son, Vach'e [A.D. 216-234], succeeded him [g38].

[31]

Chapter 7.

At that time Iran was ruled by K'arse-Sharvan [Artashir, c.221-241], son of Sasan, who did away with the Arshakunis, presently called Biwroyk'. Xosrov, king of Armenia, fought with him aided by Asparagur [Aspacures/Asp'agur I, 265-84] who sent the Lexs, Leks, Ossetians and Khazars via the Caucasus Gate to great king Xosrov. [Xosrov] entered Iran with a motley band, struck the Iranian army, and put the king of Iran, Karseshar—Artashir himself—to flight. Following this, Artashir consulted with his grandees regarding what they should do about the Armenian king who had harassed them for ten years. Then a certain relation of Xosrov's, named Anak, came forward and said in the presence of everyone: "You should serve Xosrov by paying taxes, to preserve the Iranians from his evil" [g39]. Secretly approaching [Artashir's] ear, he said: "I shall go to him [filled] with family affection, as someone having rebelled from you, and I shall slay him treacherously." Which is just what he did. [Anak] came to [Xosrov] together with his brother, and at the onset of the following year he killed him during a hunt. [Anak] then wanted to escape to Iran, but he and all his people died, excepting two boys whom their _dayeak_s ("guardians") took and ran off with—one fleeing to the Byzantine area, and one to Iran.

[32] When the king of Iran heard about this, he came to Mts'xet'a ... [lines missing]. He swore an oath to them and enthroned the five year old lad Mihran [Meribanes/Mirian III, 284-361], and designated his dayeak Mirvanos [Mirvanoz] [g40] as district-chief and the boy's nourisher. [Artashir] left with him 40,000 select Iranian cavalry and stated that 5,000 of them should remain with the king while the rest should camp in Heret' and fight the Khazars. [Furthermore he said] that his son should worship fire as well as the idols of Iberia, since the Iberians had requested that they not be removed from their religion. "For," they said, "it is better that we die than abandon the precepts of our fathers." The Iranian king arose and went to his own land via the base of [Mt.] Caucasus, capturing the mountain valley. Now Mirian, who had grown up and reached manhood, loved the Iberians. He used their language and worshipped the five images near the fire-temple. In his fifteenth year, his wife died, so they brought him a woman from Pontus, Anna [Nana], daughter of Ulitos [?Olympus]. Mirian was always fighting the Khazars, because the latter were trying to take Darband, to open that gate and descend on Iran. But Mirian did not allow them to do so.

In the fortieth year of [Mirian's] reign, his father [33] Artashir died and his younger brother, Bartam, reigned. When Mirian heard this he went to Baghdad with a multitude of troops and he himself attempted to take the Iranian kingdom, as the senior brother, "Because," he said, "I am abroad [g41], and uneasy because of fighting the Khazars, to prevent them from crossing over into Iran." But his brother insulted him as the son of a concubine, and said that it was fitting that he himself should have the kingdom since his father had placed the crown on his head with his own hands and had established him on the throne in writing. Then he gave to Mirian Jozret' and half of Syria, Atrpatakan, Armenia, Movkan and Heret' and confirmed that which he had held previously. Mirian turned to the Ossetian area and conquered [the people] for he had heard that they were raiding Iberia (knowing that it was a passageway to Iran). Mirian reached as far as Xazaret' [i.e., to the Khazars] turned through the Dualet' region and came to Mts'xet'a. After this the Khazars invaded Darband and Mirian went against them and was occupied for many days.

At that time Xosrov's son, Trdates, demonstrated great valor in Greece. There he had seized the king of the Goths who had been harassing the Greeks. As a result of this he [34] was crowned by them, returned to his patrimony, and killed all the foreign troops he found there [including] Mirian's forces. Now Mirian brought to his aid his relative Peroz, giving him his daughter in marriage so that he might have [more] power, since a grave threat had come to Iberian land and to all Iran. In those days Mirian's third brother ruled in Iran. He sent [a messaqe] to Mirian that he should take his troops and go against Armenia and Greece. He went before him with all his strength and crushed a great host, beyond calculation. They entered Armenia and took many captives, for Trdat was unable to challenge them because of their multitude [g42]. Instead, he remained in the land's fortified places. Taking the Armenians with them, they crossed over to the land of Greece, demolishing, killing and plundering without a care. There [the Byzantine] king, Constantine (Kostandianos), was unable to fight with them and was in a great crisis. Then a vision in a dream informed him that if he would worship God Who was crucified, he would vanquish their incalculable army by the power of the Cross. He so moved. Having the sign of the Cross as a guide, he came against them, struck them through the might of Christ, killing with the sword until only very few survivors [remained, who] escaped by a hairsbreadth to the kings of Iran and Iberia. Mirian then entered the stronghold of Mts'xet'a. [35] Knowing that all the select [warriors] of Iberia and Iran had been lost, he felt deep sorrow, and was perturbed. Coming to his senses, he sent envoys to Constantine the Great requesting peace from him so that he would serve him. Similarly he dispatched [envoys] to Trdates the Great. They heeded him and made peace. Constantine took Mirian's son, Bahk'ar [Bak'ar/Bakur], as a hostage. Trdat gave his daughter, Salome (Soghome), to Mirian's son, named Rev, and resided at Och'ormi [g43].

Chapter 8.

At that time the venerable Nune (Nino), Mother of Iberia, came to Mts'xet'a and was there for three months. The queen of Iberia, Salome, inquired of her whence she had come. Nino replied: "Hear from the beginning [information] about me. Once it happened that the Frankish (Branjats') people fought with Rome, and a man named Zaboghon, a Cappadocian, triumphed over them through the power of Christ, and seized the king and his army. Astounded, they requested the grace of baptism, and it was administered to them. [The victors] sent to their land [men] illuminated in Christ. Zaboghon himself went along with them, and converted the Frankish people to Christianity. Going to the king, [Zaboghon] received [36] numerous gifts from him and then went to Jerusalem to revere the holy places. There he discovered two orphans who had come from Klastrat following the death of their Christian parents. One was Yubnaz; his sister was Susan [g44], who served the Bethlehemite Niop'or. Zaboghon married Susan and went to the city of Klastrat. I am their daughter. When I was twelve years old, they went to Jerusalem, and my father went to a retreat, entrusting me to God and to the grace of Christ, so that I be dedicated as a virgin to the Heavenly Bridegroom. I entered the home of Niap'or, an Armenian man from the city of Dwin, and served him for two years. Daily I learned about the dispensation of Christ our God, about how He was martyred and regarding where the winding-sheets of our Lord were. And they taught me that what had been written in prophecies had been fulfilled in the Lord—that He was crucified, resurrected, had ascended to Heaven, and would come again. Pilate's wife had requested the grave shroud and believed in Christ. She went to her home in Pontus. After some time it fell to the evangelist Luke, who knew what she had done. They say that Peter had taken with him the veil (varshamak), and that the cloak [of Christ] had reached the Tsmakayin country and was in the city of Mts'xet'a; and that the Cross of the Lord lay buried at Jerusalem and would become manifest when It chose. [37] I heard all this and went to the Patriarch, and he blessed me. Then I went to Rome, that perchance I would find there a portion of Christ's grace. With my sight fixed on the Living Hope, I found the monastery of Paul wherein three hundred virgins were dwelling. Temptations were visited upon us there, and we came to Armenia. But the emperor wrote a letter to Trdat who sought after and found us by the wine-presses of the vineyards [g45]. Despite the king's efforts, he was unable to wed the bride of Christ, Hrip'sime. He killed thirty-seven of us by sword. The others were dispersed. I remained under a rose bush which had not blossomed. Raising my eyes, I saw the souls of the saints moving through the sky. A clerical commander with a fiery army came before them, having a censer in his hand. Censing at the saints, he turned thence with them and they passed behind a curtain. Then I protested to the Lord, saying: 'Jesus my Lord, why did you leave me here?' Then [a voice] said to me: 'Fear not, for you too shall ascend to your sisters. But now go to the northern region, where the harvest is abundant, but where there is no cultivator.' In this short time, that thorny bush had blossomed with flowering roses. Arising, I went to Armenian Urbanis, wintered there, and in the month of June I came to the mountain of Chawaxet'. I came to lake P'arwana where I saw fishermen fishing, and shepherds by the shore. And I heard them swearing by Aramazd and Zade—for [38] I knew the Armenian language, having studied it at the home of Niop'or Dwinets'i. Asking them where they were from, they replied: 'From Darb, Lrbin, Sap'ursl, K'intser, Rhapat of Mts'xet'a where the false gods are glorified and where the kings rule. The river which flows from this lake goes there.' Isolating myself, I lay my head down and slept. I had been given a document in Latin, sealed with a ring, and the writing on the seal was in the name of Jesus Christ. The man who had given me the letter said: 'Arise, go and preach what is written here.' But I said to him: 'Who am I, but an ignorant, weak woman?' He replied: 'In the grace of Christianity and in the Land of Life, which is Heavenly Jerusalem, there is neither male no female. Speak not of weakness and ignorance [g46], for Christ is the might of God, and the wisdom of God. Furthermore, Mary Magdalen preached the resurrection of Christ to the Apostles and to many others, yet there was no shame either for the speaker or for the listeners.' Opening the document, I found there concisely written the entire power of the Gospel, comprised in ten statements. When I read this and learned from it, I awoke. As requested by the Lord I came, following the river from the west until the water turned eastward. I reached Urbnis and remained there for a month. Then, following some merchants, I came to Mts'xet'a. On the day of the festival of Aramazd, [I followed] the king and the entire public. There I saw [39] a man, in copper armor, wearing a gold helmet adorned with two emeralds and one crystal. In his hand he held a sword like lightning. He moved, terrifying the people who trembled and said: 'Woe to us, for we erred in sacrificing, or sinned by deed with the Jews or mages, and Aramazd will kill us.' To the right [of Aramazd] was a golden image named Gats'a, to his left, a silver image named Gayim. Then I recalled what Yubnagh, the patriarch of Jerusalem had said to me: 'You shall reach the country of warriors against the true God.' Distraught, I wept and beseeched God for mercy on those gone astray, and I said: 'God of my father and mother, silence these diabolical images and destroy them so that they recognize you as the sole true God.' Suddenly a very strong wind arose, there was the rumbling of thunder, a storm of lightning, hail stones weighing a lter each, a foul, loathsome odor, a heavy darkness, and the images became undiscernible. The crowd scattered and hid. The next day the king and all the people went forth seeking to discover the cause of these events. Then some said: 'T'rujan the Chaldean god and our Aramazd [g47] have been enemies from the beginning. Once our god ruined [T'rujan] with water, and now he is taking revenge.' But others spoke the truth, saying: 'God the Great Who struck the king of Armenia and then cured him again together with all Armenia, worked this miracle.' I found the crystal gem [40] and went to the Banch'i tree which they call the Shielder of king Bartom, and for six days I prayed there. On the day of the great Transfiguration of the Lord, when the Lord displayed the image of the Father to the principal Apostles and prophets, a maid-servant of the king, named Shushan, came to me and seeing me was astonished. Bringing a Latin translator, [she] questioned me, taking pity on me as a foreigner. She wanted to take me to court. But I did not go with her. Instead, I went thence and found a woman named Anastu, the wife of the man who tended the royal garden; and she received me with delight. I was at their home for nine months. It happened that they had no child, and were therefore very sad. Then a luminous man said to me: 'Enter the garden, take soil from the base of the fir bush by the roses, give it to them to eat in the name of the Lord, and I shall give them a child.' I did so, and gave them [the soil] in the name of Jesus Christ God of Sabayovt', Who came in humility and shall come in His glory and judge the world equitably. Hearing this, they believed in Christ and received the promised child. I left their home and dwelled for three months outside the wall in a tamarisk grove. Having fashioned a cross, I worshipped the Holy Trinity before it, day and night. Day after day I went to the Jews because of the language, and for information about the Lord's robe. The priest Abiathar (Abiat'ar) and his daughter Sidonia (Sidona) [g48] and six Jewish women additionally believed in the [41][second] coming of Christ. Asking Abiathar, they learned the truth."

Now when the wise queen heard all of this, she was astounded and believed what she had heard. When she learned about the great miracle which had happened to her father Trdatios, she became yet more confirmed in the faith, and glorified God in His ineffable glory.

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