Martyr Luarsab II of Kartli

Martyr King Luarsab II was born in 1587, son of King George X of Kartli (r. 1600-1603), who was later poisoned by order of the Persian Shah Abbas I (r. 1587-1629). He ascended the throne of Kartli at a young age.

In 1609 he led a successful defense against an invading Ottoman force at Kvenatkotsi — according to Georgian chronicle tradition, about 14,000 Georgian troops routed a significantly larger enemy force (the figures in the sources are traditional and not independently confirmed). In 1615 he was defeated by the Persian invasion of Shah Abbas I and fled into exile in Imereti (Western Georgia).

He was lured or captured by Persian forces and taken to Persia. He was held in the fortress of Gulab-Kala near Shiraz for about seven years (c. 1615/1616-1622), enduring humiliation and beatings for refusing to accept Islam.

On June 21, 1622, he was put to death — according to tradition, strangled with a bowstring — together with two loyal servants, after once again refusing to renounce the Christian faith under pressure from the Shah. According to tradition, a miraculous light was seen over the martyrs' bodies.

He is venerated by the Georgian Orthodox Church as a martyr-king. He should not be confused with his contemporary, Queen Ketevan of Kakheti, who was also martyred by order of the same Shah Abbas I, but in a different kingdom (Kakheti, not Kartli) and under different circumstances (1624, Shiraz).

His feast is kept on June 21/July 4.

IMPORTANT CORRECTION: the impossible dating "2nd-4th century" has been removed (correctly, 1587-1622, 17th century); the previously empty feast_days field has been filled in.