The Cross of St. Nina

Icons of St. Nina are written with her holding her grapevine cross and scroll. According to the Life of St. Nina, she had two visions in which she was called to evangelize the people of Georgia. In the first she received instructions from the Theotokos to preach and was presented with a vine-covered cross as a pledge of her special protection. In the second vision she received a scroll on which were written the quotations below. St. Nina is called Equal-to-the-Apostles because she preached the gospel in Georgia. Her title, her cross, and her scroll are the manifestations of her working with God to spread His word and to bring into His fold a new land.