A Synaxarion Lesson of the History of St. Nino’s Cross and the Chronology of the Journey of the Cross

Abstract

In Armenian Synaxarion (Haimsavurks) on March 30 or 31, the lesson of St. Nino’s Cross is preserved, which tells the story of the cross from its erection in Mtskheta to its loss after the capture of Anis by the Mongols. It is believed that the history of the lesson of the Cross is based on the 10th century Armenian author Aharon of Vanand’s work “The story on the Holy Cross of Nune”. The work, the author of which is Aharon, a member of the brotherhood of the Vanand monastery, tells the story of the Holy Cross of “Nune, the leader of the Georgians”; the plot is as follows: Kartli becomes Christian with the help of Saint Nune (Nino), the cross is erected, which Saint Shushanik later sends to her homeland – Taron – due to the apostasy of her husband, with the help of monk Andreas, a disciple of Sahak, however, the cross does not reach Taron and stops in the Parkhali mountains, from where it is taken by the last living Mamikonian – Grigol, the son of Hmaik Mamikonian, to the Castle Kapuit after the death of Shushanik. On the way, Grigol has a fight with the Greeks, which ends with his victory. The cross is moved from the Castle Kapuit to Vanand and a monastery is built in its name. At the end of Aharon’s work, the cross is moved to the village west of the Castle Karin, which was named “Cross” in its honour. A special service is established in the name of the Holy Cross and the representatives of the Bagratuni dinasty donate this sanctity to the villages.

The comparison of the Synaxarion narrative and the story of Aharon shows that the Synaxarion version lacks several passages of the Aharon’s narrative (the raising of the cross in Mtskheta, the appearance of the miraculous pillar before the capture of Rome by Valentinian, etc.); however, the main line remains unchanged and the postcross adventure is added until the 1230s, when, according to the narrative, the cross that was moved to Anis in 1236, was lost after the capture of the city by the Mongols.

A detailed study of the chronology attached to the lesson shows that its author is well acquainted with both Armenian and Georgian historical sources and relies on those historical data (the Christianization of Armenia in 291; the death of Shushanik in 473/5; the rule of the Bagratuns in Vanan – 10th century; the years of the activity of Catholicos Barseg – 1081-1113, the capture of Anis by the Mongols – 1236), which were known and accepted by Armenian historians in the Armenian environment of the Middle Ages, thus building and giving more credibility to his narrative.