Shushanik

Saint Shushanik (Šušanik) (ca 440-475) was a Christian lady who was martyred by his husband Varsken in the town of Tsurtavi, Georgia. Her martyrdom is described in her confessor Jacob’s hagiographic work.

She was a daughter of Armenian general (sparapet) Vardan Mamekonean and married to Georgian feudal lord (pitiaxsh)Varsken, son of Arshusha. Varsken was in opposition to Vakhtang I Gorgasali, King of Kartli and took pro-Persian position, renouncing Christianity and adopting Mazdaism. He martyred his spouse when Shushanik refused to submit his order to abandon her Christian faith. Varsken himself was put to death by King Vakhtang in 482.

Shushanik has been canonized by the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church.

Jacob of Tsurtavi (Jacob Tsurtaveli, Jacob Khutsesi or Jacob the Priest), Georgian religious writer and St Shushanik’s confessor, compiled the Martyr’s life in his hagiographic novel The Martyrdom of Saint Shushanik which is the oldest surviving work of Georgian literature, written in 476-483.

See also

• Saints

• Culture of Georgia