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The ninth century was one of the most difficult periods in Georgian history. The Arab Muslims wreaked havoc throughout the region of Kartli, forcibly converting many to Islam with fire and the sword. Many of the destitute and frightened were tempted to betray the Faith of their fathers.
At that time the valorous aristocrat and faithful Christian, Prince Constantine, was living in Kartli. Born in 768, he was the descendant of Kakhetian princes, hence his title “Kakhi.”
As is meet for a Christian believer, Constantine considered himself the greatest of sinners and often said, “There can be no forgiveness of my sins, except through the spilling of my blood for the sake of Him Who shed His innocent blood for us!”
While on a pilgrimage to the holy places of Jerusalem, Constantine distributed generous gifts to the churches, visited the wilderness of the Jordan, received blessings from the holy fathers, and returned to his motherland filled with inner joy. After that time Constantine would send thirty thousand pieces of silver to Jerusalem each year.
In the years 853 to 854, when the Arab Muslims invaded Georgia under the command of Buga-Turk, the eighty-five-year-old Prince Constantine commanded the army of Kartli with his son Tarkhuj.
Outside the city of Gori an uneven battle took place between the Arabs and the Georgians. Despite their fierce resistance, the Georgians suffered defeat, and Constantine and Tarkhuj were taken captive.
At that time the valorous aristocrat and faithful Christian, Prince Constantine, was living in Kartli. Born in 768, he was the descendant of Kakhetian princes, hence his title “Kakhi.”
As is meet for a Christian believer, Constantine considered himself the greatest of sinners and often said, “There can be no forgiveness of my sins, except through the spilling of my blood for the sake of Him Who shed His innocent blood for us!”
While on a pilgrimage to the holy places of Jerusalem, Constantine distributed generous gifts to the churches, visited the wilderness of the Jordan, received blessings from the holy fathers, and returned to his motherland filled with inner joy. After that time Constantine would send thirty thousand pieces of silver to Jerusalem each year.
In the years 853 to 854, when the Arab Muslims invaded Georgia under the command of Buga-Turk, the eighty-five-year-old Prince Constantine commanded the army of Kartli with his son Tarkhuj.
Outside the city of Gori an uneven battle took place between the Arabs and the Georgians. Despite their fierce resistance, the Georgians suffered defeat, and Constantine and Tarkhuj were taken captive.
The captive Constantine-Kakhi was sent to Samarra (a city in central Iraq) to the caliph Jafar al Mutawakkil (847-861). Jafar was well aware of the enormous respect Constantine-Kakhi received from the Georgians and all the Christian people who knew him. Having received him with honor, he proposed that Constantine renounce the Christian faith and threatened him with death in the case of his refusal. Strengthened by divine grace, the courageous prince fearlessly answered, “Your sword does not frighten me. I am afraid of Him Who can destroy my soul and body and Who has the power to resurrect and to kill, for He is the true God, the almighty Sovereign, Ruler of the world, and Father unto all ages!”
The enraged caliph ordered the beheading of Saint Constantine-Kakhi. Two noblemen from Somkhiti, who had agreed to convert to Islam, visited Constantine in prison, first to persuade him and a second time to behead him; in both cases they failed. Then the caliph sent his own servant who put the defiant prisoner to death. Bowing on his knees, the holy martyr lifted up a final prayer to the Lord. Saint Constantine-Kakhi was martyred at the age of 85 on November 10, 852, the day on which Great Martyr George is commemorated. The holy martyr’s body was hung from a high pillar to intimidate the Christian believers, but after some time it was buried.
The Life and Passion of Constantine-Khaki ends as follows:
"The transient warmth of the sun's orb did not seem sweet to him, he looked with indignation at the rising sun, its light was like a storm-cloud looming and for the love of Christ he spat out all of life's pleasures like the blood of [extracted] teeth in the great desire of his heart and the wisdom of his repudiation of deceit."
A few years later a group of faithful Georgians translated Saint Constantine’s holy relics to his motherland and reburied them there with great honor. In that same century the Georgian Orthodox Church numbered Prince Constantine-Kakhi of Kartli among the saints.
The enraged caliph ordered the beheading of Saint Constantine-Kakhi. Two noblemen from Somkhiti, who had agreed to convert to Islam, visited Constantine in prison, first to persuade him and a second time to behead him; in both cases they failed. Then the caliph sent his own servant who put the defiant prisoner to death. Bowing on his knees, the holy martyr lifted up a final prayer to the Lord. Saint Constantine-Kakhi was martyred at the age of 85 on November 10, 852, the day on which Great Martyr George is commemorated. The holy martyr’s body was hung from a high pillar to intimidate the Christian believers, but after some time it was buried.
The Life and Passion of Constantine-Khaki ends as follows:
"The transient warmth of the sun's orb did not seem sweet to him, he looked with indignation at the rising sun, its light was like a storm-cloud looming and for the love of Christ he spat out all of life's pleasures like the blood of [extracted] teeth in the great desire of his heart and the wisdom of his repudiation of deceit."
A few years later a group of faithful Georgians translated Saint Constantine’s holy relics to his motherland and reburied them there with great honor. In that same century the Georgian Orthodox Church numbered Prince Constantine-Kakhi of Kartli among the saints.