Սուրբ Սանդուխտ
Holy Sandukht
The first saint In the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Virgin Sandukht, who was martyred for her faith, she was the daughter of the Armenian King Sanatruk in the first century AD.
The Armenian Church observes the Feast of St. Thaddeus the Apostle and St. Sandukht the Virgin. This Story sheds light on the early days of Christianity in Armenia.
St. Thaddeus and Saint Bartholomew, two of the twelve holy apostles of Jesus Christ, were charged by Saint Peter, leader of the disciples, to spread Christianity in Armenia in the 1st century A.D. St. Thaddeus converted King Abgar V the Black, the first Christian king and a historical Armenian ruler of the kingdom of Osroene, holding his capital at Edessa. A vassal of the kingdom of Armenia. The king along with Thaddeus baptised and converted of all the people of Edessa. Here St. Thaddeus built a church and ordained priests and deacons.
After leaving Edessa, the apostle traveled to northern Armenia, bearing the spear of christ given him by Peter and a letter from King Abgar. He finally arrived at the town of Shavarshan, where King of Armenia Sanatruk lived. Thaddeus preached in people’s homes, in hidden underground chambers, in marketplaces, and in the streets.
Sandukht learned about Christ, when her nurse confessed her commitment to the Christian faith, the princess sparked by curiosity, disguised herself as an ordinary woman and followed her nurse to a Christian gathering. Intrigued, Sandukht continued attending the Christian gatherings. The Christian faith made such an impact on Sandukht’s life that she decided to convert. She declared her belief in Christ and was baptized, But when the king’s spies reported the news to her father, Sanatrouk was enraged. In an attempt to discourage his daughter, he promised to allow her to marry the man she loved, an exceptional horseman named Zareh, and to enjoy life in a comfortable palace, surrounded by endless riches.
Sandukht declined his offer of this extravagant life, infuriated by his daughter, the king sentenced the princess to jail. Zareh visited her in prison, begging her to return to him and to her old Armenian faith, but nothing could sway Sandukht. Meanwhile, the news of Sandukht’s imprisonment spread throughout Armenia. Increasingly, people began to accept the Christian faith, and they prayed for Sandukht’s release. Even some of the king's soldiers became believers and converted. Further enraged, yet mostly moved by the love for his daughter, the King summoned Sandukht from prison to give her a last chance to renounce her new faith and to claim allegiance to her father and his pagan gods. He asked his daughter to choose between the crown and the sword,either she would renounce Christianity and serve as a pagan princess or face death.
Sandukht chose the sword, knowing that Christianity would soon blossom in Armenia. The young princess was ordered to be executed. During this difficult time, she drew strength from St. Thaddeus, who encouraged her to be firm, reminding her that she would soon be with her Saviour. Thaddeus was also executed by the king. Zareh was among the many Armenians who were moved by Sandukht’s faith, and who also converted to Christianity. King Sanatruk continued the orders for the executions of Christians, including Zareh. Their sacrifice planted the seeds of the Christian faith in Armenia
Legends say that immediately after one of the soldiers thrust his sword into the holy virgin's heart "a sweet fragrance filled the air and a light shone from heaven in the form of a fiery pillar that hovered over Santoukhd's body for three days and three nights." More than two thousand people that witnessed these events, it is said, all converted and were baptized that night. St. Sandukht’s body was buried and entombed by St. Thaddeus at the same site. St. Sandukht was martyred on the 15th of December.
