Golindouch

Golindouch, Golindukht, Golindokht, or Dolindokht (died 591) was a noble Persian lady who converted to Christianity and became a saint and martyr.

She converted from Zoroastrianism to Christianity in the reign of Khosrau I.^[1] She was persecuted under Khosrau I and Hormizd IV and died in Mabbog (Hierapolis Bambyce).

Sources

There is a Passion in Greek by Eustratios of Constantinople, which may be based on a lost version by Stephen of Hierapolis written in Syriac shortly after her death.^[2] The author of this document writes that he heard the facts from persons acquainted with the saint herself, in particular Saint Domitian, her bishop. In Greek, she is known as Αγία Γολινδούχ η Περσίδα που μετονομάστηκε Μαρία 'Saint Golindouch the Persian who was renamed Maria'. Her feast day is July 13.

There is also a Passion in Georgian.

Theophylact Simocatta discusses Golindouch at length.^[3]

Evagrius Scholasticus mentions her briefly in his Ecclesiastical History, referring to Stephen of Hierapolis's Life of Golindouch.

Notes

1. Michael G. Morony, Iraq after the Muslim Conquest, p. 299
2. Angelo di Berardino, Patrology, p. 107
3. Thérèse Olajos, Les sources de Théophylacte Simocatta historien, p. 67ff

Bibliography

• L. Bardou, "Sainte Golindouch", Échos d'Orient, 4:18 (October 1900-October 1901)
• P. Peeters, "Sainte Golindouch, martyre perse", Analecta Bollandiana 1944