Martyrdom of the Holy Queen Shushanik

The Martyrdom of Saint Shushanik (Georgian C'amebaj c'midisa Shushanik'isi ) is the oldest surviving book of Georgian literature. The priest and writer Jacob Zurtaweli it wrote between 476 and 483

It is a hagiography in pre-Christian writing tradition. The content is based on a true story. Zurtaweli was the confessor of the main character.

The work describes the life of the Armenian princess Shushanik (German Susanne ) who died because they refused to renounce Christianity and convert to Zoroastrianism of the Persian conquerors. It was from her husband, the Georgian prince Varxenes, beaten, chained and thrown into a prison. She died after seven years.

Varxenes held at the court of the Persian Shah Peroz the office of viceroy for the Georgian- Armenian border area as well as Eastern Georgia and had gone over to the Persian faith. He had expected from his wife. When she did not follow his wishes, he was beside himself with rage.

The work is essential reading for Georgia high school students. The composer Otar Taktakishvili published in 1983 a choral work, based on the Martyrdom of Saint Shushanik.

Works

• James Tsurtaveli: C'amebaj c'midisa Shushanik'isi. Tbilisi 1938
• James C'urtaveli: Shushanikis cameba. Xelovneba, Tbilisi, 1983 ( text georg. , Russian, Latin, Eng. , French, Spanish and German )