Orthodox Icon of St. Sukia

Saint Sukia

April 15th
Troparion
O Holy Sukia and thy Sixteen Companions, pray to Christ God to have mercy on our souls!

St. Sukia, along with sixteen others, were Georgian princes serving the Albanian government. While accompanying the daughter of the Albanian ruler to her groom, the Armenian king, they met Khrisos. The seventeen, including Sukia, became Khrisos' disciples and were baptized in the Euphrates. During the baptisms, the princes had a vision of Christ standing on the hill above them. Not wanting to leave the place, they planted a cross and called it "Cross of the Annunciation." After Khrisos and four of his disciples were killed by the Armenian King Artaksar, the surviving princes became ascetics. They established St. Sukia as abbot and moved to Sukaketi Mountain. They were strict, allowing themselves only plants and spring water to eat and drink. After many years had passed, a new ruler came to power in Albania, Datianos. Datianos ordered the remaining princes to return to the palace to be received with honor. St. Sukia refused, so Datianos' messenger ordered that the princes be bound and thrown into a fire. The prayers of the ascetics raised as they burned enraged the messenger. The ascetic princes were cut down with swords and their remains were scattered. They reposed around the year 123. The remains of St. Sukia and his brothers were finally gathered and buried in the fourth century. Later, St. Gregory, Enlightener of Armenia, built a church where they were buried and a spring of healing water came forth.

This Icon is by the hand of Lasha Kintsurashvili.

Order # lkg-12.