Saint Tamara came from the noble Bagrationi family. Her father, George, proclaimed his daughter queen in 1178. After his death in 1185, her reign began, during which she declared: “I am the father of orphans and the mother of widows.” The queen made personnel changes, freed the Church from taxation, and alleviated the plight of the peasants.
The Patriarch suggested that she marry, and soon she married George, the son of Prince Andrew Bogolyubsky. However, the marriage was unhappy, and after two and a half years, Tamara parted ways with her husband. Later, she married the Ossetian prince David, which became a happy union.
During her reign, Georgia reached the peak of glory and power. She successfully halted the invasion of Caliph Abu Bakr and Sultan Rukn al-Din. Tamara paid attention to the organization of a unified liturgical charter and church canon, gathering theologians and bishops in Kartli.
Before her death, the queen completed all state affairs and made decisions on key church issues. Suddenly, she was struck by illness, from which she passed away on January 18, 1213. The location of her burial still causes disputes among historians and archaeologists.
