Saint Tamara the Great, Queen of Georgia was born around the year 1165. She was descended from the ancient Georgian Bagratid dynasty and in the year 1178 she was a co-regent with her father, George III. The reign of St Tamara is known as the Golden Age of Georgian history. She was noted for her lofty piety and, continuing the initiatives of her grandfather, the holy Emperor St David III the Restorer (Jan. 26), she promoted the growth of Christianity throughout Georgia, and also built churches and monasteries. In 1204 the governor of the Ruma sultanate, Rukn-en-Din, sent a demand to the Empress Tamara that Georgia abandon Christianity and accept Islam.
The Empress Tamara refused this demand, and in an historic battle near Basiani the Georgian army defeated a coalition of Moslem rulers. The wise rule of St Tamara won her the love of her nation. She spent the final years of her life in the Bardzia Cave monastery. She had a cell, connected with the church by a window, through which she could offer up prayer to God during church services. She died peacefully in the year 1213, and was numbered among the Saints.
The holy right-believing Queen Tamara of Georgia is commemorated twice during the year: on May 1, the day of her repose, and also on the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women.
2 comments:
Many Years to you on your Patron Saint's Day. And, a special one as it is your first!
Enjoy and treat yourself today.
Happy name day to you. We read about her in our schooling the other day.
Deb
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