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Martyr9th century

Martyr Constantine King of Georgia

d. November 10, 852 (aged about 85; 9th century, Georgia)

Also known as Constantine-Kakhi

A Georgian ruler who resisted Arab pressure and refused to abandon the Christian faith, suffering martyrdom for Christ.

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Life

Constantine, known as Constantine-Kakhi, was a 9th-century Georgian aristocrat and prince of Kakhetian descent who resisted Arab Muslim pressure during the Abbasid campaigns in the Caucasus and refused to renounce Christianity, suffering martyrdom for the faith.

He was renowned for his piety: he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, donated generously to its churches, and is recorded as sending thirty thousand pieces of silver to Jerusalem annually. He held that there could be no forgiveness of his sins except through the spilling of his own blood for Christ's sake.

Captured by Arab forces during the invasion led by the Abbasid general Bugha al-Kabir (Buga-Turk), he was taken to Samarra in Iraq, where Caliph Ja'far al-Mutawakkil demanded his conversion to Islam under threat of death. The aged prince refused and was beheaded. The Georgian Orthodox Church canonized him within the same century as his martyrdom; he is commemorated on November 10.

Kontakion & Troparion2 hymnsReadHide
KontakionTone 2

(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”) You appeared as a bright star announcing Christ with your radiance,
which is repulsive to this world, O Martyr Constantine;
extinguishing the allure of false gods,
you enlighten the faithful,
always interceding for us all.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 4

Your holy martyr Constantine, O Lord,
through his sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God.
For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries,
and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through his intercessions, save our souls!

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline2 momentsReadHide
  1. During the Abbasid invasionDefense of KartliDuring the Arab invasion led by Bugha al-Kabir, the eighty-five-year-old prince commanded Kartli's forces alongside his son Tarkhuj. The Georgians resisted fiercely but were defeated near Gori, and Constantine and his son were captured.
  2. November 10, 852Martyrdom at SamarraTaken to Samarra, Constantine refused Caliph al-Mutawakkil's demand to convert to Islam and was beheaded for confessing Christ.

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributionsReadHide

Historical Context

Constantine's life unfolded against the backdrop of the Abbasid campaigns to suppress revolts in the Caucasus. Beginning in 852, Caliph al-Mutawakkil entrusted the general Bugha al-Kabir (Buga-Turk) with subduing the region. Bugha's campaign opened in Armenia and included the sacking and burning of Tiflis; by 853 he had subdued much of the country and taken many Caucasian magnates and princes captive, sending them to the Abbasid capital at Samarra.

During this invasion, the eighty-five-year-old prince commanded the forces of Kartli alongside his son Tarkhuj against the invading Arab Muslims. The Georgians mounted fierce resistance but were defeated near Gori, and both Constantine and his son were captured.

Martyrdom

Constantine was transported to Samarra in Iraq, where Caliph Ja'far al-Mutawakkil demanded that he convert to Islam, threatening him with death if he refused. The aged prince declined, declaring that the caliph's sword did not frighten him and that he feared only Him who can destroy both soul and body.

The enraged caliph ordered his beheading, and Constantine was martyred on November 10, 852 — a date that coincides with the feast of the Great-Martyr George. His commemoration on the same day as the Great-Martyr George of Georgia links both figures to the Georgian national Christian identity.

Relics & Shrines

After his execution, Constantine's body was initially displayed from a pillar in order to intimidate the Christian population. Georgian faithful eventually recovered his relics and reburied them in Georgia with honor.

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints