Martyrs Bidzina, Elizbar, and Shalva, princes of Ksani, Georgia
Martyrs
The martyrs Bidzina, Shalva, and Elizbar of Ksn, Georgian princes who liberated Kakheti from the Persians, were handed over to Shah Abbas II at the request of King Vakhang V. In response to the Shah's questions, they declared that they remained Christians, not yielding to either promises or threats. The Shah, having tried all means, sent them to the Sultan of Aldaran, where Elizbar and Shalva perished from torture, while Bidzina was humiliated and killed after suffering torture. This event took place on September 18, 1660. The bodies of the martyrs were thrown away, but local Armenians, seeing the light streaming from heaven, concealed their relics, which were later transferred to the Ikorta Monastery in Kartalinia.
