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Commemorated on January 14The virgin Nino of Cappadocia was a relative of Great-[[martyr]] George and the only daughter of a widely respected and honorable couple. Her father was a Roman army chief by the name of Zabulon, and her mother, Sosana, was the sister of [[Patriarch]] Juvenal of Jerusalem. When Nino reached the age of twelve, her parents sold all their possessions and moved to Jerusalem. Soon after, Nino’s father was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]]. He bid farewell to his family and went to labor in the wilderness of the Jordan.
The virgin Nino of Cappadocia was a relative of Great-martyr George and the only daughter of a widely respected and honorable couple. Her father was a Roman army chief by the name of Zabulon, and After Sosana had been separated from her mother, Sosanahusband, was the sister of Patriarch Juvenal of Jerusalem[[ordination|ordained]] her a deaconess. When She left her daughter Nino reached in the age care of twelvean old woman, Sara Niaphor, who raised her parents sold all their possessions in the Christian Faith and moved related to Jerusalemher the stories of Christ’s life and His suffering on earth. Soon afterIt was from Sara that Nino learned how Christ’s Robe had arrived in Georgia, Nino’s father was tonsured a monk. He bid farewell to his family and went to labor in the wilderness country of the Jordanpagans.
After Sosana Soon Nino began to pray fervently to the [[Theotokos]], asking for her blessing to travel to Georgia and be made worthy to venerate the Sacred Robe that she had been separated from her husband, Patriarch Juvenal ordained woven for her a deaconessbeloved Son. She left The Most Holy Virgin heard her daughter prayers and appeared to Nino in the care of an old womana dream, Sara Niaphorsaying, who raised her in “Go to the Christian Faith country that was assigned to me by lot and related to her preach the stories Gospel of Christ’s life our Lord [[Jesus Christ]]. He will send down His grace upon you and His suffering on earth. It was from Sara that Nino learned how Christ’s Robe had arrived in Georgia, a country of pagansI will be your protector.”
Soon Nino began to pray fervently to the Theotokos, asking for her blessing to travel to Georgia and be made worthy to venerate the Sacred Robe that she had woven for her beloved Son. The Most Holy Virgin heard her prayers and appeared to Nino in a dream, saying, “Go to the country that was assigned to me by lot and preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will send down His grace upon you and I will be your protector.” But the blessed Nino was overwhelmed at the thought of such a great responsibility and answered, “How can I, a fragile woman, perform such a momentous task, and how can I believe that this vision is real?” In response, the Most Holy Theotokos presented her with a cross of grapevines and proclaimed, “Receive this [[cross ]] as a shield against visible and invisible enemies!”
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==Life==
When she awoke, Nino was holding the cross in her hands. She dampened it with tears of rejoicing and tied it securely with strands of her own hair. (According to another source, the Theotokos bound the grapevine cross with strands of her own hair.)
Nino related the vision to her uncle, Patriarch Juvenal, and revealed to him her desire to preach the Gospel in Georgia. Juvenal led her in front of the Royal Doors, laid his hands on her, and prayed, “O Lord, God of Eternity, I beseech Thee on behalf of my orphaned niece: Grant that, according to Thy will, she may go to preach and proclaim Thy Holy Resurrection. O Christ God, be Thou to her a guide, a refuge, and a spiritual father. And as Thou didst enlighten the Apostles and all those who feared Thy name, do Thou also enlighten her with the wisdom to proclaim Thy glad tidings.”
When Nino arrived in Rome, she met and [[baptism|baptized ]] the princess Rhipsimia and her nurse, Gaiana. At that time the Roman emperor was Diocletian, a ruler infamous for persecuting Christians. Diocletian (284–305) fell in love with Rhipsimia and resolved to marry her, but St. Nino, Rhipsimia, Gaiana, and fifty other virgins escaped to Armenia. The furious Diocletian ordered his soldiers to follow them and sent a messenger to Tiridates, the Armenian king (286–344), to put him on guard.
King Tiridates located the women and, following Diocletian’s example, was charmed by Rhipsimia’s beauty and resolved to marry her. But St. Rhipsimia would not consent to wed him, and in his rage the king had her tortured to death with Gaiana and the fifty other virgins. St. Nino, however, was being prepared for a different, greater task, and she succeeded in escaping King Tiridates’ persecutions by hiding among some rose bushes.
Suddenly the night was transfigured, the sun shone radiantly, and King Mirian gave great thanks to the Creator. When he returned to the city, he immediately informed St. Nino of his decision. As a result of the unceasing labors of Equal-to-the-Apostles Nino, Georgia was established as a nation solidly rooted in the Christian Faith.
St. Nino reposed in the village of Bodbe in eastern Georgia and, according to her will, she was buried in the place where she took her last breath. King Mirian later erected a [[church ]] in honor of St. George over her grave.