Mithridates V of Kartli

Holy Martyr Mithridates V of Kartli (Mirdat), king († 410/411), was the son of Varaz-⁠Bakur and was brought up from childhood by his maternal grandfather, King Trdat. The grandfather, believing, wise and prudent, taught the future king to love God and his people, and the young prince kept the grandfather's teachings for ever. He was endowed with all the qualities needed for royal greatness: wisdom, prudence, stature, fearlessness, valour and daring. Mithridates ascended the throne of Kartli in the year 409.

The young king burned with the wish to gain full freedom from Persia and prepared for revolt. Learning of it, the Persian king sent a numerous army to punish the Georgians, but King Mithridates, with his small army, courageously met the enemy at Gardabani. The devotion and daring of the Georgian army could not withstand the far greater numbers of the enemy, and the Georgians were defeated. The Persians took the young king captive and carried him off with them.

The Persian king demanded of Mithridates that he renounce Christ, but received a firm refusal. Neither persuasion nor the fear of death could break the king's will, ready to die for love of Christ. After long tortures the chained saint was thrown into prison, where, in prayer, he gave his soul to the Lord. This took place in Persia, in the year 410 or 411. The Azbyka page notes that his name is not found in the present calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church. Mithridates is commemorated on 21 July, in the new style.