Saint Ketevan the Martyr Queen of Georgia

Orthodox icon of Saint Ketevan the Martyr Queen of Georgia on thick plywood 20mm, which does not sting and keeps its shape over time. Preparation with acrylic stucco and have been used acrylic colors. It has been covered with varnish to keep the colors undiluted in time and humidity. Hanging clip included on the back of the icon.

St. Ketevan was from the Bagrationi royal family. She married Prince David, heir to the throne of Kakheti, and had 2 children. In 1602 Prince David inherited the throne, but died soon after. His father Alexander II returned to the throne. The Persian shah Abbas I commanded Alexander's son, Constantine-Mirza, who converted to Islam, to murder his father and brother and seize the throne. As instructed he killed them and proposed to Queen Ketevan to be his wife. The nobles of Kakheti rose up and killed Constantine-Mirza. Ketevan sent generous gifts to the Persian shah Abbas I and requested that he proclaim her son, Teimuraz, the rightful heir to the throne. The Persian shah agreed. In 1614 the Persian shah informed King Teimuraz that his son would be taken hostage, and so he was forced to send his son and Ketevan to Persia. The Kings of Kakheti and Kartli joined forces and agreed to attack the Persian army. The Persian shah plundered all of Georgia and the defeated Kings of Kakheti and Kartli sought refuge with King of Imereti. St. Ketevan remained a prisoner of the Georgian imam Quli-Khan Undiladze, who regarded her with great respect. She spent 10 years in prison. After some time the Persian shah Abbas I resolved to convert Ketevan to Islam and to marry her. Ketevan refused. Her persecutors placed a red-hot copper cauldron on her head, tore at her chest with heated tongs, pierced her body with glowing spears, tore off her fingernails, nailed a board to her spine, and split her forehead with a red-hote spade. Her feast day is on September 13.