Mirdat of Kartli

Royal Martyr Mirdat of Kartli, King of Kartli (408 to 410), the son of Varaz-⁠Bakur, was the first martyred king of Georgia. He was raised by his maternal grandfather, King Trdat, who taught the future king to love God and his nation, and the young prince mindfully preserved his grandfather's wisdom throughout his life. Mirdat was endowed with the greatest of a nobleman's virtues: wisdom, discretion, physical prowess, fearlessness, valor and courage. He liberated Klarjeti from the Byzantines, abolished the tribute system by which Georgia was required to pay taxes to Persia, and prepared for war against the Persians.

The Persian king gathered an enormous army to punish the Georgian nation, and King Mirdat courageously marched toward Gardabani (in eastern Georgia) with his much smaller army. But the selflessness and bravery of the Georgian soldiers were no match for the multitude of Persian warriors. The Georgians were defeated, and the Persian conquerors captured the young king. The Persian king demanded that Mirdat renounce the Christian faith, but was firmly rebuffed. Neither intimidation nor fear of persecution broke the king's will. After torturing him for his love of Christ, the Persians bound him in chains, tormented him almost to death and cast him into prison, where he gave up his soul to the Lord. The martyrdom of King Mirdat took place at the beginning of the fifth century, in the year 410. He is commemorated on 8 July (new style; 21 July on the old calendar).