Saints Salome of Ujarma and Perozhavra of Sivnia (IV)

Saints Salome of Ujarma and Perozhavra of Sivnia were the closest helpers of Saint Nino, the enlightener of the Georgians (commemorated 14 January and 19 May). Together with Saint Nino they endured a great many afflictions and trials for the spreading of the faith of Christ.

Salome of Ujarma was the wife of Rev, the son of King Mirian (commemorated 1 October). Perozhavra too was the wife of an eristavi of Kartli. Together with the honour of queens they took upon themselves the service of the “captive woman” — Saint Nino — and were constantly trained by Saint Nino in prayer, fasting and other good works.

After the conversion of Kartli, by the inspiration of Saint Nino and at the command of the holy King Mirian, Saint Salome raised up the precious Cross at Ujarma.

By God’s providence Saint Nino fell ill in the village of Bodini (Bodbe). Those who venerated her holiness gathered in haste around the sick woman, among them Salome of Ujarma and Perozhavra of Sivnia. From the queens’ eyes “flowed streams of tears for their parting from their teacher, the ascetic and healer of the sick”. They asked the saint, bound to her deathbed: “Whence and how did you come to our land? Tell us your story! What do you mean by captivity, blessed deliverer of captives?”

Saints Salome of Ujarma and Perozhavra of Sivnia wrote down the life of the enlightener of the Georgians, the holy Nino, equal to the apostles. The Apostolic Church of Georgia keeps their memory on 15 January, the day after the commemoration of Saint Nino.