Christianization of the Kingdom of Iberia

The fourth-century adoption of Christianity by the eastern Georgian Kingdom of Iberia, traditionally linked to Saint Nino’s mission and King Mirian III’s conversion.

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Saint Nino: A Christian missionary venerated as the evangelizer of the Kingdom of Iberia. Georgian tradition credits her preaching and healing with prompting Mirian III’s conversion.
Georgian Orthodox Church: An autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church rooted in the Christian communities of Georgia. It developed from the church established after Iberia’s royal conversion.
Kartlis Tskhovreba: A medieval Georgian chronicle collection recounting the history of Georgia and its rulers. Its conversion narrative preserves the central Georgian account of Nino and Mirian.
Georgian language: The Kartvelian language spoken primarily in Georgia and written in several historical scripts. Christian institutions helped make Georgian a language of worship and written culture.
Mirian III: A fourth-century king of the Kingdom of Iberia traditionally regarded as its first Christian ruler. His conversion and royal endorsement made Christianity a state-backed faith.
Mtskheta: A historic city in eastern Georgia that served as the capital of the Kingdom of Iberia and a major Christian center. Tradition places Nino’s mission and the first royal church in Iberia’s capital.
Moktsevay Kartlisay: An early Georgian work describing the conversion of Kartli, the eastern Georgian kingdom known as Iberia in classical sources. It offers a foundational textual account of the kingdom’s conversion.
Georgian scripts: The writing systems historically used to write the Georgian language. The growth of Christian learning supported Georgian manuscript and inscription traditions.
Nana of Iberia: The queen of Iberia who, according to Georgian tradition, converted to Christianity before her husband Mirian III. Her conversion is presented in Georgian accounts as a turning point in the royal household.
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral: A cathedral in Mtskheta, Georgia, associated with the robe of Christ and the country’s Christian heritage. Its site is tied by tradition to the earliest church built after the conversion.