St Nino's Day · Ninooba

Culture of origin: Christian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Eastern Orthodox

The Georgian Orthodox Church venerates Nino, a woman from Cappadocia, as "Equal to the Apostles and Enlightener of Georgia". By tradition she healed Queen Nana, and King Mirian III of Iberia, struck blind while hunting, regained his sight after praying to "Nino's God"; he made Christianity the state religion in about 326 (scholars give 319 or 326). Mirian, of the House of Mihran of Ray, was born in Iran and originally a Zoroastrian, and in 284 the Sasanian king Bahram II secured the Iberian throne for him. Her grapevine cross is a symbol of Georgian Christianity. Her main day, 14 January Julian, is 27 January until 2100.