St. Vartan Mamikonian had two daughters: Vartanouhi or Vartouhi and Vartanoush. The eldest daughter Vartouhi, who was also called Shoushan or Shoushanig, was married to Varsken or Vasken of Georgia.
After the death of Vartan, Vasken went to the Persian king and denied Christ.
St. Shoushan went into mourning. She started to advise her husband, but he remained firm on his conviction. Shoushanig left her husband, thinking that maybe he might seek amends. However, Vazken had decided to Zoroastrianize his wife, too. Shoushnig chose Christianity over her life.
Like an executioner, Vazken kept her in chains and tortured her for years. However, Shoushanig’s patience and prayers of gratitude to God enraged him more. After 7 years of torture, Shoushanig died at the age of 45.
In 458 A.D., many priests and bishops took Shoushanig’s body to Georgia and buried her in glory as their queen.
The Shoushanig Chapter was established in 1948 in the Trad district of Bourj Hammoud.
The founding board included: Berjouhi Hayrabedian (chair), Berjouhi Haroutyounian (secretary), Vartouhi Yahniyian (treasurer), Berjouhi Meserlian, Siranoush Kaprielyian, Berjouhi Hintelian, Berjouhi Ayvazian, and Azniv Megerditchian.
The chapter operates at the “Nigol Touman” Center.
