Orthodox Church Celebrates Day of Memory of Queen Ketevan

Georgian Orthodox

Orthodox Church Celebrates Day of Memory of Queen Ketevan Tsamebuli today(2009.09.26) Orthodox Church celebrates Day of memory of Quenn Ketevan Tsamebuli today. In connection with this date in temples there will pass a divine liturgy.

Patriarch also will bless children from school of a name of Nikoloz Bagrationi.As have informed “InterpressNews” from the Patriarchy, in connection with a holiday Catholic-patriarch of all Georgia Illia II, at 11.00 will visit family church Mukhran-Batoni today, and also a temple of a name of Sacred Great martyr Ketevani in which the Sacred Queen has got married to the elder son of King Kakheti David in Mukhrani.
Queen Ketevan Tsamebuli was daughter Ashotan Mukhran-Batoni, the prominent representative of a younger branch of an imperial surname of Bagrationi. Ketevan became the wife of the successor of the Kakheti throne – tsarevitch David.

In some years after David’s marriage King Alexander has refused a throne in favor of the son and has accepted post threshing barns in Alaverdi, but in four months, in 1602, the young King has unexpectedly died, having left the widow with two children – son Teimuraz and daughter Elena. Alexander has been compelled to enter again on a throne.

As soon as the shah of Iran Abbas I has learnt about David’s death and Alexander’s returning to a throne, has ordered to Konstantin-Mirza, Alexander’s younger son, since small years brought up at court of shah Abbas and accepted Islam, to go in Kakheti, to kill the father of and average brother George and most to occupy a throne of Kakheti. Konstantin-Mirza has executed the order.

Konstantin-Mirza was not satisfied with a criminal conduct and has suggested Ketevani to marry her. All population of Kakheti revolted with this inexpressible immorality has risen, and the patricide, the profaner of belief and a throne, have been killed. However, Ketevan having buried impious Konstantin-Mirza with due his origin honors, has sent generous gifts to shah Abbas and has asked statements on a throne of Kakheti of the heir-at-law – her son Teimuraz.

In 1614 shah Abbas has demanded from Teimuraz hostage of his son. Teimuraz has been compelled to send younger son Alexander and the mother Ketevan to Iran. Shah Abbas, having left them at itself, has demanded also elder son Levan, and then has caused also Teimuraz.
Shah Abbas has sent hostages – Ketevani Tsamebuli and her grandsons deep into Iran – in Shirazi, and themselves has attacked Kakheti. It with fire and a sword has walked on all country. The imperial palace has been plundered, churches and monasteries are profaned and destroyed, villages are devastated and inhabitants are moved. By order of the shah more than three hundred thousand Georgian have been sent to Iran.

Ten years Queen Ketevan pined in captivity. Soon to Queen have transferred desire of the shah – to marry it. Besides the indispensable condition to it put renunciation of Christianity and Islam acceptance. Shah Abbas has ordered in case of renunciation Ketevan of belief Christian to respect and esteem as Queen, and in default to subject to public tortures. Queen has firmly refused such offer and began to prepare for tortures.

On the area overflowed with people in celebratory attire have deduced Queen. She has put before a fire and have betrayed to its indescribable tortures. Then executioners have callously thrown the tormented body of Queen on eating up by an animal to profane her sanctity. But God has created a miracle: sacred remains have lighted up with radiant light. Witnesses of brutal tortures – missionaries-Frenchmen with honors have buried her in a Catholic monastery. After a while to King Kakheti Teimuraz have sent hallows of its sacred mother which were stored in the Alaverdi monastery, but have disappeared in 1723.

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