According to letters exchanged between the very early 7th-millennium prelates of your own Armenian and you can Georgian churches, the martyred Little princess Shushanik try the object regarding veneration in Tsurtaw, the capital city of Gugark, by itself the new marchland ranging from Armenia and you can Georgia. Regardless of if Gugark got appended to Georgia as the fourth century, attributes throughout the church where the little princess are buried was in fact conducted inside Armenian. The populace associated with area is actually mainly out-of Armenian and Georgian source, and Armenian are a commonly verbal language alongside Georgian. The latest grave of one’s princess attracted of many pilgrims off differing out-of Armenia (based on these same data), who per year arrived in Tsurtaw in order to venerate new princess’ grave.
[x] These emails leave undoubtedly your story of Shushanik predates new seventh millennium, which their Passions-hence can be obtained in a lot of systems and you may versions, in Armenian and you can Georgian-comes from an early brand spanking new. Shushanik try the fresh new dikonean. The second is the new popular leader-in-chief of your Armenian forces, who added his people in an effective rebellion from the Iranian Queen away from Kings inside the defense of your own Religious faith, and you may decrease for the battlefield out of Awarayr may 26, Advertisement 451. On her dad’s front side, Shushanik is actually originated away from St.
Gregory this new Illuminator, who translated the latest Armenian court and individuals in order to Christianity within start of the fourth 100 years
Shushanik was married in order to Vazgen (“Varzken” inside Georgian), the new margrave (or march-lord) regarding Gugark and son of the ikonean’s romantic member. From inside the 450 Ashusha had used Vardan additionally the most other nobles out of Armenia, Georgia and Albania who have been summoned towards Iranian [xi] court into the Ctesiphon to face the King away from Leaders. He had been that have Vardan together with Armenian nobles once they denied new king’s bring to convert to Zoroastrianism. Its refusal horny the fresh new king’s wrath, in which he endangered punishment on the princes from the three regions about Caucasus. The new nobles subsequently, profoundly worried about the effects they may suffer, assented one of themselves to pretend allowed of one’s king’s provide, also to exploit their supposed transformation as a tactic to save the lifestyle. Vardan at first would not join in this new deceit, and you may expressed a determination getting martyred. With this the newest nobles accredited good prince titled Artak while the margrave Ashusha (known as a smart child because of the later fifth-century historian Ghazar Parpetsi) to help you persuade Vardan in order to acquiesce from the pretended apostasy. Ashusha’s partner was an enthusiastic [xii] Armenian princess of one’s Artsruni nearest and dearest while the cousin from Dzuik, new wife away from Vardan’s sister Hmayeak. Ashusha’s phrase of course sent pounds with Vardan, whom complied together with guidance.
When the Iranian court effortlessly contained the Armenian rebellion for the 452 and you can exiled the leaders, the brand new spouses and kids of your own latter found safe sanctuary during the the fresh court of ong they were people in the fresh new Mamikonean loved ones as well as their nearest and dearest. Little princess Dzuik particularly tried sanctuary at home out-of Ashusha, her sister’s husband. Whilst in Gugark, Dzuik got taken on herself the training of students off the fresh new Mamikonean clan, certainly one of just who was her very own son Vahan, the future leader-in-chief and you may governor away from Persian Armenia, in addition to an earlier attendant, Ghazar Parpetsi, the long run historian of the incidents of your own 5th century.
Ashusha is allegedly chosen on account of their unique reference to Vardan: these sexy Morelia girl were into the-statutes from wedding out of Vardan’s dily matchmaking between them princes went back further
Princess Shushanik’s earlier several years of relationships was in fact allegedly spent within the Gugark. We should instead believe that she got in marriage in order to Vazgen, son of your own margrave Ashusha, particular [xiii] go out prior to 451-that is, in advance of the girl father’s demise. ikonean little princess following the rebellion away from 451 would have slutty the newest suspicion and you may anger of one’s Persian overlords. We study from the brand new Passions you to definitely at the time when Vazgen visited Ctesiphon (the main city of your own Iranian empire) and forsook his Religious faith, the couple had around three sons and a girl. The kids have been obviously old and you will baptized just like the Christians, since father promised brand new King away from Kings to alter him or her in order to Zoroastrianism. Furthermore, brand new daughter must have started of marriageable decades, because the Vazgen themselves got intentions away from marrying the girl, according to the dynastic practice on Persian judge.