Saint martyr King Archil II was a descendant of the holy blessed King Mirian. During his reign, Georgia was subjected to the invasion of Murvan-Kru, and the king, along with his brother Mir, sought the intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. After victory in the battle at the rivers Abasha and Tskhenistskali, he restored the city of Nukhpat and the temples in Mtskheta, facilitating the acceptance of Christianity by the mountain tribes.
However, Georgia was again subjected to the invasion of Djidzhum-Asim. The king, fulfilling tribute to the Arabs, appeared before Djidzhum-Asim, asking for peace, but refused to accept Islam. He proclaimed: “It shall not be that I leave Christ, the True God”. For this, he was arrested and tortured.
On March 20, 744, the holy king Archil was subjected to martyrdom by beheading. His body was secretly taken away and buried in the Notkori Church in Kakheti, which he had built.
