iberië 1

Upon the Lord’s Ascension...

the Apostles gathered to cast a lot in the Upper Room on Mount Zion... 

to find out to which country they would travel to preach the Gospel. 

The Mother of God said She also wished to accept, together with the other Apostles, the lot the Lord deigned to bestow upon Her. 

Iberia [nu Georgië] was given as Her lot. 

The Most Pure Theotokos joyfully accepted it... 

and, upon the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, voiced Her desire to start Her journey immediately to preach the Word of God there. 

The Angel of the Lord appeared to Her saying: “The country you received as your lot will become enlightened later and Your dominion will be established there. Yet, after a short while, You will need to evangelize the land to which God will lead You.” 

The Lord had announced His will for Her: “O Mother, I will neither cast your lot away nor leave Your people without Your intercession in their heavenly aspirations. But send instead Andrew, the First Called, to this domain of Yours.”

After this vision...

the Most Holy Theotokos summoned Apostle Andrew and said: “I will be the guardian of the people of Iberia, and by raising up prayers to My Son for them, I will seek protection in everything from Him.” 

Saint Andrew went on to preach the word of the Lord... 

and soon afterwards faith took root in Iberia. 

The land’s final conversion... 

and declaration of Christian state there... 

took place at the beginning of the 4th century. 

The enlightener of Iberia, the Equal-to-the-Apostles Saint Nino [296 - 339AD] received guidance from the Most Holy Theotokos: “Go to the Iberon country, My Domain. Preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ there, and you will obtain the grace of God, while I will be your Patron.” 

[bron]