Centered on letters traded amongst the early 7th-century prelates of the Armenian and Georgian church buildings, brand new martyred Little princess Shushanik try the object regarding veneration in the Tsurtaw, the administrative centre town of Gugark, alone the marchland between Armenia and you may Georgia. No matter if Gugark was appended to help you Georgia as fourth 100 years, qualities about chapel where princess try buried was basically conducted for the Armenian. The population of the part is actually predominantly regarding Armenian and you can Georgian source, and you will Armenian are a frequently spoken language near to Georgian. The new grave of the princess attracted of numerous pilgrims away from various parts off Armenia (considering such exact same files), who annually arrived in Tsurtaw so you can venerate the new princess’ grave.
[x] The above letters get-off definitely that facts from Shushanik predates the fresh 7th century, and this the girl Passions-and this is available a number of designs and you will models, in both Armenian and you can Georgian-comes from a very early unique. Shushanik try the latest dikonean. The latter are the newest well known commander-in-head of your Armenian forces, whom added his members of a rebellion against the Iranian Queen regarding Kings inside safeguards of your Christian faith, and you may fell towards battlefield off Awarayr on may twenty-six, Advertising 451. On her father’s side, Shushanik is descended off St.Gregory the brand new Illuminator, just who translated the Armenian courtroom and other people to Christianity from the start of next 100 years
Shushanik are partnered to Vazgen (“Varzken” inside Georgian), the fresh margrave (otherwise february-lord) of Gugark and you may boy of your ikonean’s intimate affiliate. In the 450 Ashusha had observed Vardan while the most other nobles of Armenia, Georgia and you may Albania have been summoned towards the Iranian [xi] judge in Ctesiphon to help you face the King from Kings. He was which have Vardan together with Armenian nobles after they refuted the new king’s provide to convert so you can Zoroastrianism. Its refusal horny the latest king’s wrath, and then he threatened punishment into the princes on three nations in the Caucasus. The nobles in turn, deeply concerned with the results they could endure, concurred certainly by themselves in order to pretend acceptance of the king’s promote, also to mine their going conversion once the a ploy to store their existence. Vardan to start with would not join in the webpage latest deceit, and you can shown a determination to be martyred. Thereupon the brand new nobles commissioned a great prince called Artak and the margrave Ashusha (known as a smart son by late fifth-century historian Ghazar Parpetsi) so you’re able to persuade Vardan to help you acquiesce from the pretended apostasy. Ashusha’s wife are a keen [xii] Armenian princess of your own Artsruni nearest and dearest additionally the sis off Dzuik, the brand new spouse out of Vardan’s aunt Hmayeak. Ashusha’s word definitely sent pounds that have Vardan, which complied together with his pointers.
If the Iranian court efficiently consisted of the Armenian rebellion for the 452 and you can exiled the management, this new spouses and children of your own latter discover safer retreat into the the newest courtroom of ong they certainly were people in the newest Mamikonean nearest and dearest in addition to their friends. Little princess Dzuik in particular sought retreat home from Ashusha, their sister’s husband. During Gugark, Dzuik got pulled upon herself the training of the students of new Mamikonean clan, one of who had been her own child Vahan, the long run leader-in-master and governor out of Persian Armenia, along with an early attendant, Ghazar Parpetsi, the near future historian of one’s occurrences of 5th millennium.
Ashusha try presumably chose because of his unique relationship with Vardan: they were for the-statutes from relationship away from Vardan’s dily relationships among them princes went back further
Princess Shushanik’s earlier many years of wedding have been presumably spent inside the Gugark. We need to believe that she gotten in marriage so you’re able to Vazgen, son of one’s margrave Ashusha, certain [xiii] date just before 451-which is, in advance of her father’s death. ikonean little princess pursuing the rebellion out-of 451 would have sexy the brand new uncertainty and you may outrage of Persian overlords. I study on the latest Hobbies you to at the time whenever Vazgen went along to Ctesiphon (the administrative centre of your Iranian kingdom) and you may forsook their Religious faith, the happy couple got about three sons and you can a girl. The children was basically however of age and you may baptized given that Christians, as dad assured the brand new Queen from Kings to transform her or him to help you Zoroastrianism. In addition, the new daughter need to have come away from marriageable decades, due to the fact Vazgen himself got purposes from marrying this lady, according to the dynastic routine regarding Persian courtroom.