Shushanik

Saint Shushanik (Susanna) Շուշանիկ
Great martyr,Queen
Born	c. 440 Armenia
Died	475 (aged 34–35) Tsurtavi,Georgia
Venerated in	Georgian Orthodox Church Eastern Orthodox Church Armenian Apostolic Church Eastern Catholic Churches
Feast	October 17 (Eastern Orthodox), September 20–26 (Armenian Apostolic and Eastern Catholic)

Shushanik(Armenian:Շուշանիկ;Georgian:შუშანიკი;c.440 – 475), also known asShushanikaorVardandukht,was aChristianArmenianwoman who was tortured to death by her husbandVarskenin the town of Tsurtavi,Georgia.Since she died defending her right to profess Christianity, she is regarded as amartyr.Hermartyrdomis described in her confessorJacob’s hagiographic work, the oldest extant work of Georgian language literature. The hagiography details Shushanik's extensive resistance to imprisonment, isolation, torture and cruelty.

According to this legend, Shushanik was a daughter of theArmenianmilitary commanderVardan Mamikonianand married theMihranidruler (pitiakhsh)Varsken,son of Arshusha II. Varsken was a defiant vassal ofVakhtang I Gorgasali,King ofKartli(Iberia), and took a pro-Persianposition, renouncing Christianity and adoptingZoroastrianism.He killed Shushanik after she refused to submit to his order to abandon her Christian faith. Varsken himself was killed by King Vakhtang in 482.

Shushanik has been canonized by theGeorgian Orthodox Churchand is venerated by theArmenian Apostolic Church.Herfeast dayis celebrated onOctober 17in Georgia and the Tuesday between September 20–26 in Armenia.

Shusanik illustration