Literature
We discuss the historical, national and religious role of the martyr of the Georgian Orthodox Church – Queen Ketevan in the development of the Christian culture. Many cardinal questions of national policy, internal conflicts and international relations are directly connected with the name of Queen Ketevan.
In the historical, religious and secular literature of the XVII, XVIII and first half of XIX centuries, we found 22 works of 17 Georgian writers devoted to Ketevan. The information about her martyrdom crossed the national borders and soon was recognized as the deeds of the global Christian importance.
The Queen’s life was described in the works of West European, Russian and Armenian authors. Her actions were passed through generations and found their expression in plays, poems, ingravinings, miniatures, and monumental paintings.
The works of many Georgian authors were dedicated to her. The Georgian people and the whole Christian world should be proud of the Queen Ketevan.
Shota Rustaveli Institute of Literature
of Georgian Academy of Sciencis