Saint martyr, the pious King of Georgia, Luarsab II, was born in 1587. He was the son of George X and, being young, was crowned King of Kartli. In 1609, he dealt a decisive blow to the Turkish army, driving it into flight.
The Persian Shah Abbas I, alarmed by the Georgian victory, was forced to marry his sister Elena to a Muslim. Later, due to the betrayal of the feudal lords, Luarsab II and King Teimuraz I were compelled to flee to the Empire.
Shah Abbas I demanded Luarsab II to come to him, promising peace, but refusing to accept Islam, he was imprisoned in the fortress of Gulab-Kala. He spent seven years in prison, enduring torment, but remained faithful to Christ. In 1622, he accepted martyrdom at the age of 35, along with two of his servants.
The bodies of the martyrs were left unburied, but the Christians entrusted them to the earth in a common grave.
