This day is in remembrance of the slaughter of 100,000 Georgian Christians. In 1227 Sultan Jalal ai-Din of Khwarazm and his army of Turkmen attacked Georgia. On the first day of the battle the Georgian army valorously warded off the invaders as they were approaching Tbilisi. That night, however, a group of Persians who were living in Tbilisi secretly opened the gates and summoned the enemy army into the city. While many suffered mutilation, others were killed differently.

The enemy took down icons from the cathedral church, placed them in the center of the bridge which crossed Mtkvari River and forced the people cross the bridge over them. Making them to spit and trample the religious icons. Those who didn't were beheaded, with the heads and bodies tossed into the river. Those who renounced their faith were spared.

A manuscript from the time reads: babies were dash upon the bridge, women raped and stabbed. their bodied thrown upon their dead children, children castrated. A river of blood flowed through the city. Oct 31 has since been revered to honor those slain for their faith.