New evidence for determining of the date of adoption of Christianity as a state religion in Georgia

TL;DR

This paper presents new evidence suggesting that the adoption of Christianity as Georgia's state religion occurred around 319 AD, based on analysis of historical and astronomical data, specifically a solar eclipse observed by King Mirian.

Contribution

It provides a revised date for Georgia's Christianization, linking historical accounts with astronomical events to refine the timeline.

Findings

The eclipse observed by King Mirian likely occurred on 6 May 319 AD.

Christianity was officially adopted as the state religion in Georgia in 320 AD.

The study connects historical narratives with astronomical data to date religious events.

Abstract

At present it is considered that Christianity was declared a state religion in Georgia in circa 326 AD, during the reign of King Mirian and Queen Nana. In the Georgian Chronicle [1] (Kaukhchishvili, 1955) it is stated that this event is connected with the adoption of Christianity by King Mirian. Once he was hunting somewhere between Mtskheta (the ancient capital of Georgia) and Khashuri, near Mt. Tkhoti in dense woodland. It rapidly got dark and the Sun disappeared from the sky. Mirian began to ask his traditional pagan gods, but to no avail. Then he addressed the god whom Nino from Cappadocia believed in (subsequently she became Saint Nino, a woman whose name is inseparably linked with the spread of Christianity in Georgia) and there was a miracle; the darkness suddenly disappeared and the Sun began shining in the sky again. Then Mirian turned to the East and thanked "Nino's god". In the authors' opinion, the eclipse seen by King Mirian happened on the evening of 6 May, 319 AD. Later, in May 320 AD, cypress crosses were made and raised. Thus, we have answered the question raised 70 years ago by the Georgian historian Ivane Javakhishvili about the occurrence of a total solar eclipse in Georgia in the fourth century. The eclipse seen by King Mirian happened on the evening of 6 May, 319 AD. Later, in May 320 AD, cypress crosses were raised and Christianity was become the state religion of Georgia.