St. Tamara, Queen of Georgia | Miniature icon on wood | Silver and gold foiled | Size: 2,5" x 3,5"

St. Tamara is commemorated on the Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women in addition to her regular commemoration on May 1. In 1166 a daughter, Tamar, was born to King George III and Queen Burdukhan of Georgia. The king proclaimed that he would share the throne with his daughter from the day she turned twelve.

The royal court unanimously vowed its allegiance and service to Tamar, and father and daughter ruled the country together for five years. After King George’s death in 1184, the nobility recognized the young Tamar as the sole ruler of all Georgia. Queen Tamar was enthroned as ruler of all Georgia at the age of eighteen. She is called “King” in the Georgian language because her father had no male heir and so she ruled as a monarch and not as a consort.