Queen Ketevan and Catholicism (A New Reading of the Problem)

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Based on primary source analysis, this article examines the question of whether Queen Ketevan (Ketevan the Martyr) converted to Catholicism during her captivity and martyrdom. Through careful research and analysis of contemporary documents, the author reaches several significant conclusions regarding the queen’s religious orientation and its broader implications.
The evidence suggests that Catholicism was neither alien nor unacceptable to Queen Ketevan. This conclusion is supported by her active assistance to Augustinian fathers in Shiraz, where she helped equip and decorate their Catholic church. The queen demonstrated particular favor toward the Portuguese Augustinian missionary Ambrosio dos Anjos, who played a crucial role in strengthening her resolve to maintain her Christian faith even unto death, thereby preventing Shah Abbas – the sworn enemy
of the Georgians – from achieving a decisive historical and psychological victory over Georgia.
At this tragic moment, Father dos Anjos perceived Queen Ketevan as a martyr not specifically for Orthodoxy or Catholicism, but for Christ himself. This perspective explains why Father dos Anjos does not explicitly state whether the queen converted to Catholicism, although he appears to assume such a conversion occurred. This ambiguous position likely prevented Rome from recognizing the queen as a Catholic saint. The author suggests that Father Ambrosio’s distribution of Queen Ketevan’s relics to various locations served to advance the cause of her potential canonization. The analysis indicates that Queen Ketevan would not have experienced significant internal conflict regarding her denominational allegiance during her final tortures, whether she offered her soul to the Lord as an Orthodox or Catholic believer. While the evidence does not conclusively establish that the queen formally converted to Catholicism, it demonstrates her profound love for Catholic missionaries and the Roman Church.
Therefore, the author proposes that Queen Ketevan can be understood as a martyr for the Universal Church of Christ, transcending denominational boundaries in her ultimate sacrifice for the Christian faith. This interpretation acknowledges both her Orthodox heritage and her evident openness to Catholic spirituality, presenting her martyrdom as a testament to Christian unity rather than confessional division.