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Cross of St. Nino (Mtskheta, Georgia)

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description Cross of St. Nino (Mtskheta, Georgia) Overview

The Cross of Saint Nino is a significant Christian relic associated with the Christianization of the Kingdom of Iberia, modern-day Georgia, in the 4th century. According to tradition, Saint Nino, a female evangelist from Cappadocia, fashioned the cross from grapevines bound with her own hair. She used this symbol to convert King Mirian III and the Iberian population to Christianity around 327 AD. The original relic is historically said to be preserved in the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, Georgia.

help Cross of St. Nino (Mtskheta, Georgia) FAQ

Why are the arms of St. Nino's cross bent downward?

The cross is traditionally made from two grapevine branches, so its horizontal arms curve rather than forming a rigid straight bar. Georgian tradition says St. Nino bound the branches together with strands of her own hair.

Where is the original Cross of St. Nino kept?

The revered cross is kept at Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi. Mtskheta remains central to Nino's story because it was the royal capital of Iberia and the location of Georgia's Svetitskhoveli Cathedral.

How did St. Nino help convert the Kingdom of Iberia?

Tradition credits Nino with converting Queen Nana and later King Mirian III in the fourth century. Their conversion helped establish Christianity as the religion of the eastern Georgian kingdom of Iberia.

Is St. Nino's grapevine cross used as a Georgian symbol today?

Yes, its distinctive drooping arms appear in Georgian churches, devotional objects, and representations of St. Nino. It symbolizes both Georgia's conversion to Christianity and the country's ancient wine-growing culture.

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