Equal-to-the-Apostles Queen Nana of Georgia

Saint Nana, Queen of Iberia and Equal-to-the-Apostles, was the wife of King Mirian III of Iberia (Georgia), born into a noble Pontic family in the late 3rd century. In her youth she was a devoted pagan and regarded Christian preaching with hostility. Everything changed with the arrival in Iberia of Saint Nino, Enlightener of Georgia: through her fervent prayer, Nino healed the queen of a grave, incurable illness. Overwhelmed by this miracle, Nana turned wholeheartedly to Christ and received Holy Baptism. Her husband, King Mirian, soon followed — after experiencing a sudden darkness while hunting that lifted only when he called upon the God of the Christians. The baptism of the king, the queen, the royal court, and the whole people of Iberia took place at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi Rivers at Mtskheta (traditionally dated to 326), marking the beginning of Christianity as the state religion of Georgia. Afterward, Queen Nana labored alongside her husband to build churches and spread the faith among her people. King Mirian reposed in 361; Queen Nana outlived him by two years and was buried beside him at Samtavro Monastery in Mtskheta. The Church glorifies Queen Nana together with King Mirian among the Equals-to-the-Apostles.