Feast of Hundred Thousand Martyrs of Tbilisi in Georgia Date in the current year: November 13, 2024

The first ruler of the Khwarezmian Empire Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu started conquering Georgia in 1225. In 1226 he marched on Tbilisi, forcing Queen Rusudan to flee. The soldiers were left to protect Tbilisi, but they couldn't resist the attack for a long time. Jalal's army broke into the city with the assistance of the local Muslims on March 9, 1226, starting massacre of Christians, who refused to be converted to Islam.

According to historians and anonymous chronicle Jalal destroyed the Sioni Cathedral (originally build in the 6th and 7th centuries) and replaced it with the throne for himself. The icons of the Virgin Mary and Christ were put on the bridge over the Kura River, forcing Christians to step of them. People, who refused to profane the icons, were immediately decapitated.

There is no exact death toll, the number, that is stated in the medieval Georgian chronicle may be translated as “ten thousand”.