Սուրբ ՍանդուխտHoly SandukhtThe first saintInthe Armenian Apostolic Church, the Virgin Sandukht,who w

Սուրբ ՍանդուխտHoly SandukhtThe first saintInthe Armenian Apostolic Church, the Virgin Sandukht,who was martyred for her faith, she was the daughter of the Armenian KingSanatruk in the first century AD.TheArmenian Church observes the Feast of St. Thaddeus the Apostle and St. Sandukhtthe Virgin. This Story sheds light on the early days of Christianity inArmenia. St.Thaddeus and Saint Bartholomew, two of the twelve holy apostles of Jesus Christ, werecharged by Saint Peter, leader of the disciples, to spreadChristianity in Armenia in the 1st century A.D. St. Thaddeus converted King AbgarV the Black, the first Christian king and a historical Armenian ruler of thekingdom of Osroene, holding his capital at Edessa. A vassal of the kingdom ofArmenia. The king along with Thaddeus baptised and converted of all the people ofEdessa. 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 ArmeniaSanatruk lived. Thaddeus preached in people’s homes, in hidden underground chambers, in marketplaces, and in the streets.Sandukhtlearned about Christ, when her nurse confessed her commitment to theChristian faith, the princess sparked by curiosity, disguisedherself as an ordinary woman and followed her nurse to a Christian gathering. Intrigued,Sandukht continued attending the Christian gatherings. The Christian faith madesuch an impact on Sandukht’s life that she decided to convert.  Shedeclared her belief in Christ and was baptized, But when the king’s spies reported the news toher father, Sanatrouk was enraged. In an attempt to discourage his daughter, hepromised to allow her to marry the man she loved, an exceptional horseman namedZareh, and to enjoy life in a comfortable palace, surrounded by endless riches.Sandukhtdeclined his offer of this extravagant life, infuriated by his daughter, theking sentenced the princess to jail. Zareh visited her inprison, begging her to return to him and to her old Armenian faith, but nothingcould sway Sandukht. Meanwhile, the news of Sandukht’s imprisonment spreadthroughout 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 choosebetween the crown and the sword,either she would renounce Christianity andserve as a pagan princess or face death.Sandukht chose the sword, knowing thatChristianity would soon blossom in Armenia. The young princess was ordered tobe 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 whowere moved by Sandukht’s faith, and who also converted to Christianity. King Sanatruk continuedthe orders for the executions of Christians, including Zareh. Their sacrificeplanted the seeds of the Christian faith in ArmeniaLegends 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. -- source link

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