Martyrdom of the Sukiaseans (Mytho-Ritual Aspect)

Abstract

It is a common belief that conflict, underlying the events described in the Martyrdom of Sukiaseans was based on apostasy. Yet, it is very likely that the fatal controversy between the Alan king and the Alan hermits, who converted to Christianity, his subjects, was caused by more complex set of factors without which it is impossible to adequately understand neither the essence of the conflict, nor the motives of its participants, nor the consequences to which it led. It seems that an integrated approach should pay a decisive role to developing an adequate methodology, according to which Martyrdom cannot be separated from Satenik’s wedding ceremony. It is only within the mytho-ritual framework of this wedding that five key motives, underlying the general plot of Martyrdom, can be singled out and explained.