284–361 AD: The First Christian King of Georgia and the Founder of the Chosroid Dynasty

If Pharnavaz I is the Father of the Georgian State, Mirian III is the Father of the Georgian Soul. His reign is the dividing line in Georgian history—the moment when the nation turned its face from the Fire Temples of the East to the Cross of the West. He ruled for nearly 80 years, transforming from a Persian prince sent to govern a pagan land into a Saint recognized by the entire Christian world.

Mirian’s story is epic in scope: it involves forbidden love, magical eclipses, holy women, and the greatest geopolitical pivot the Caucasus has ever seen. To know Mirian III is to know the heart of modern Georgia.

The Persian Prince on the Georgian Throne

Mirian was born a foreigner. He was the son of the Great King of Sassanid Persia (Shapur I or Bahram I). When the last Arsacid king, Aspacures, died leaving only a daughter, the Persian Shah saw an opportunity to annex Iberia peacefully. He sent his seven-year-old son, Mirian, to Mtskheta.

Mirian married the Georgian princess Abeshura, uniting the blood of the conquerors with the blood of the native kings. For the first half of his reign, Mirian was a loyal Persian vassal. He fought for the Sassanids against Rome, marching his Iberian armies as far as Egypt. He worshipped the Zoroastrian fire and the Georgian idols Armazi and Zaden. He was the perfect pagan king—powerful, wealthy, and feared.

The Woman from Cappadocia

Then came Nino. A captive (or missionary) woman from Cappadocia arrived in Mtskheta. She did not preach with a sword; she preached with a cross made of grapevines tied with her own hair. She lived simply under a blackberry bush in the royal gardens.

Nino’s influence began with miracles. She healed Queen Nana (Mirian’s second wife, from the Bosporan Kingdom) of a terminal illness when all the court physicians and magi failed. This shook Mirian, but he remained stubborn in his pagan faith.

The Eclipse on Mount Thkhoti

The turning point happened on a hunting trip on Mount Thkhoti (near Mtskheta). According to the chronicles, while the King was hunting, a sudden, supernatural darkness fell upon the mountain at noon. It was a total solar eclipse (historically calculated to likely be the eclipse of May 6, 319 AD). Alone, terrified, and blinded by the darkness, Mirian prayed to his gods—Armazi and Zaden—but the darkness remained.

In desperation, he called out to the “God of Nino.” Instantly, the sun returned. Mirian fell to his knees. He returned to the capital not as a proud Persian Shah, but as a convert.

The Baptism of Iberia

Mirian didn’t hesitate. He sent ambassadors not to his Persian relatives, but to Constantine the Great, the Roman Emperor, asking for priests to baptize his people. Constantine, overjoyed, sent bishops and relics (including a fragment of the True Cross).

In 337 AD (dates vary slightly), Mirian declared Christianity the state religion of Iberia. He orchestrated the mass baptism of his people in the Aragvi River. This was not just a spiritual act; it was a political earthquake. By choosing Christ, Mirian was rejecting Persia. He was turning Georgia toward Rome and the West, a geopolitical orientation that continues to this day.

The Miracle of the Living Pillar

Mirian wanted to build the first church in his royal garden. When the builders tried to erect the central wooden column, it would not move. St. Nino prayed, and the column levitated, shining with light. From this “Life-Giving Pillar” (Svetitskhoveli), the first cathedral of Georgia was born.

Tourism Guide: The Holy City

Mirian’s legacy makes Mtskheta the “Second Jerusalem”:

  1. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral: Though the current stone structure is medieval, it stands on the exact spot where Mirian built his first wooden church. The “Life-Giving Pillar” is enshrined inside. Mirian and his Queen Nana are buried here, to the right of the entrance. It is the holiest site in Georgia.
  2. Samtavro Monastery: Visit the tiny church of St. Nino here (the blackberry bush site). Mirian and Nana are buried in the main church. Touching their tombs is considered a blessing.
  3. Jvari Monastery: Look up at the mountain peak across the river. Mirian erected a massive wooden cross there to symbolize the fall of paganism. The monastery was later built around that cross.
  4. Mount Thkhoti: On the road from Tbilisi to Gori, you can see the mountain where the miracle of the eclipse happened. A small chapel marks the spot where the King found the light.

Mirian III died in 361 AD. He had come to Georgia as a Persian conqueror but died as its Christian savior.