Martyrs David and Tarichan of Georgia

Historical Context

The brothers belonged to a noble Georgian family connected by kinship to the king. Their early deaths in childhood of their father left their pagan uncle Theodosius as the controlling figure over the family's property, and the conflict that led to their martyrdom arose from his efforts to draw his nephews away from Christianity.

According to the accounts preserved in the OCA Synaxarion and in the writing of Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze, Theodosius offered the brothers inheritance and a place among his own sons if they would abandon the faith, telling them, 'Now you are my sons, and everything I have belongs to you.' The brothers answered that they would remain loyal to their faith until their souls departed from their flesh.

Martyrdom

Fearing retaliation from the Christian community, Theodosius resolved to kill the brothers secretly. Learning that they were herding sheep on a mountain, he arranged an ambush. David ran toward Theodosius and was stabbed before he could embrace him; Tarichan fled toward the village of Divri but was overtaken by his pursuers and stabbed to death.

The two sources place the martyrdom around the year 693.

Relics & Shrines

After his conversion, Theodosius is said to have erected a church in honor of his nephew Saint David. The mayor of Divri built a church over the relics of Saint Tarichan, dedicated in his name.

Miracles & Traditions

Traditional Accounts: By tradition, when David's staff fell to the ground after his death it was transformed into a large tree; two centuries later Christians are said to have divided the holy wood among themselves. After the murders Theodosius was struck blind, and his sight was restored when the brothers' mother Tagine anointed his eyes with earth from David's blood. It is also related that a divine light illumined the bodies of the brothers each evening when night fell.