E00133: The History of the Albanians, written in Armenian, recounts the martyrdom by the Huns of *T'aguhi (martyr in Caucasian Albania, S00598), an Albanian noble woman, of the subsequent conversion of the Huns, and of the collection of her relics. Written probably in Caucasian Albania, possibly in the 6th c. or 7th c.
Creators: name: Naleksidze
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2014
Subjects: History

description: History of the Albanians, Book 1, Chapter 29<br><br>The invasion of all the borders of Albania, Armenia, and Georgia by the Northerners, and the martyrdom of Saint Mesrob's students. <br><br>The Southern Caucasus was overrun by the 'northerners', the Huns. The lands were plundered and the holy relics were scattered over the hills, in spite of the attempts to bury all relics and treasure. Among the captives seized by the Huns was a certain noble woman called T'aguhi. The prince of the Huns became inflamed with passion towards her. One night the general ordered that she be brought to his place. Taguhi resisted and openly prayed to God. A local mob heard her prayer and immediately informed the princes. He was seized with anger and ordered her to be put to death through torture if she would not come to him in honour and respect.<br><br>(Text missing) Եւ յետ այնորիկ ՛ի նմին գիշերի մինչդեռ արթնական խնճոյիւք դեգերէին այլազուն իշխանքն հանդերձ զօրականօք եւ առնէին ծաղրական խընդութիւն, յանկարծակի նշան զարմանալի երեւեալ ՛ի Տեառնէ, ակն յայտնի ամենեքեան տեսանէին լոյս սաստիկ ծագեալ ՛ի տեղւոջն, ուր սուրբն Թագուհի վկայեաց եւ ուր ցրեալ պատառած հանդերձի նորա սփիւռ եւ տարած ընդ երեսս անտառին փայլէին որպէս աստեղք։ Եւ հարուստ ժամանակաւ լոյս աստեղանման ծագեալ ՛ի տեղւոջն փարէր ՛ի վերայ սրբոյ նահատակին, զոր տեսեալ բազմութեան մարդկանն՝ զանուն տեղւոյն Աստեղաբլուր անուանեցին մինչեւ ցայսօր։ Վասն որոյ աւետասքանչ հրաշիւք հիանայր իշխանն եւ ՛ի մեծի ահի եղեալ՝ հրամայէր առ ինքն կոչել զքահանայս Տեառն եւ ուսեալ ՛ի նոցանէ զփրկութեանն ճանապարհ՝ հաւատայր յԱստուած կենդանի, եւ հրամայէր ամփոփել զնըշխարս սրբոյն, պատել սուրբ կտաւօք եւ ծածկել ՛ի բլրին։ Եւ անդէն կատարէին յօդեաց եւ յայծեաց պատարագ օրհնութեան եւ զտէրունական զտօնն մեծապայծառ խմբէին յիշատակօք ՛ի նոցունց վկայելոցն։ <br><br>'His servants went and urged her to submit to the will of their prince. When they were unable to persuade the unwilling T'aguhi, they bound her hands behind her back, dragged her by the hair, tore her face with cruel thorns from the forest thickets, and together they lacerated the body of the Saint; then they beheaded her with a sword. Her battle was like that of Saint Hr'ip'sime, and the great T'aguhi was also crowned with the divine and victorious crown of Christ. That very night, while the foreign prince and his forces enjoyed themselves with sleepless joy and made merry, a marvelous sign suddenly appeared from the Lord. Everyone clearly observed a strong light shining from the place where the blessed T'aguhi had been martyred. The torn remnants of her clothes, scattered over the forest, shone like stars, and for a long time this starry light glowed above the holy martyrs. When they saw this, the people called the place Asteł Blur ('Star Hill'), as it is known to this day. The prince was amazed by these miracles of good tidings, and in great fear he ordered the priests of the Lord to be summoned before him. Learning from them the path of salvation, he believed in the living God and ordered that the scattered relics of the Saints to be gathered together, that Saint [T'aguhi] be wrapped in linen, and that they be hidden on the hill. Then with their flocks and goats [as sacrifices], they performed mass with great ceremony in commemoration of their martyrs.'<br><br>Text: Arakelyan 1983, 99-102. Translation: Bedrosian 2004, 46-47.