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Saint Arsen, Bishop of Ninotsminda (†1082)

Memory 31 July (13 August)

Arsen of Ninotsminda was an ascetic who labored in the 11th century. History tells us that he was a brilliant translator, writer, calligrapher, and theologian, and indeed one of the greatest Church figures of his time.

St. Arsen was tonsured a monk in Jerusalem, and after some time he returned to Georgia, where he was consecrated bishop of Ninotsminda. But the venerable Arsen longed to lead a life of solitude, so he approached King Davit Kuropalates for permission to resign from the bishopric and settle at a monastery. The king honored Arsen’s request, and the pious man set off for the monastery with Ioane Grdzeslidze, a man of letters and another great figure in the Church. When the news of his decision reached the Iveron Monastery on Mt. Athos, Sts. Ioane and Ekvtime invited the fathers to Mt. Athos, and the next year Arsen and Ioane arrived at the Holy Mountain.

There they assisted St. Ekvtime in his translations of the Holy Scriptures and many theological books.

St. Arsen labored fruitfully at the Iveron Monastery for many years and reposed peacefully at an advanced age. He was buried on Mt. Athos at the monastery’s church of St. Simeon the Stylite. St. Giorgi of the Holy Mountain later translated his relics to the ossuary of the monastery’s catholicon.

Outstanding in virtue and a fulfiller of Christ’s commandments, O Holy Father Arsen, pray to God for us!

Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze

For further information on the book THE LIVES OF THE GEORGIAN SAINTS by Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze contact St. Herman Press:
St. Herman Press, P.O. Box 70, Platina, CA 96076
http://www.stherman.com/catalog/chapter_five/Lives_of_the_georgian_saints.htm

8/15/2007

Saint Tsotne Dadiani the Confessor (13th century)

Saint Tsotne Dadiani the Confessor (13th century)
Commemorated July 30/August 12

Saint Tsotne Dadiani the Confessor (13th century)

Saint Tsotne Dadiani the Confessor (13th century)
Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze
Saint Tsotne Dadiani, a virtuous military leader and the prince of Egrisi, lived in the middle of the 13th century. During that time Georgia languished under the yoke of Mongol oppression.

The Lives of the Georgian Saints

The Lives of the Georgian Saints
Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze

The Lives of the Georgian Saints

The Lives of the Georgian Saints
Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze
Since the time of the ancient Greek historians, Georgia has been viewed as an enigma hidden behind impenetrable mountains and a complex language. Little has been written about this small country and its saints. Now, Pravoslavie.Ru presents the entire collection of the Lives of the Georgian saints which has been translated for the first time into English. These lives encompass the seventeen hundred years of Orthodox Christianity in Georgia. The stories of ascetics and bishops, warriors and noblemen are intertwined with the tumultuous history of the Georgian land.

Saint Razhden, Protomartyr of the Georgian Church (†457)

Saint Razhden, Protomartyr of the Georgian Church (†457)
Commemorated August 3/16

Saint Razhden, Protomartyr of the Georgian Church (†457)

Saint Razhden, Protomartyr of the Georgian Church (†457)
Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze
Saint Razhden the Protomartyr was descended from a noble Persian family. When Holy King Vakhtang Gorgasali married the daughter of the Persian king Hormuzd III Balunducht, the queen took Razhden with her to Georgia.

See also

Venerable Ioane of Zedazeni and His Twelve Disciples (6th century)

Venerable Ioane of Zedazeni and His Twelve Disciples (6th century)
Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze

Venerable Ioane of Zedazeni and His Twelve Disciples (6th century)

Venerable Ioane of Zedazeni and His Twelve Disciples (6th century)
Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze
Our Holy Father Ioane of Zedazeni and his twelve disciples, Abibos of Nekresi, Anton of Martqopi, Davit of Gareji, Zenon of Iqalto, Tadeos of Stepantsminda, Ise of Tsilkani, Ioseb of Alaverdi, Isidore of Samtavisi, Mikael of Ulumbo, Piros of Breti, Stepane of Khirsa, and Shio of Mgvime, were Syrian ascetics and the founding fathers of Georgian monastic life. St. Ioane received his spiritual education in Antioch.

Venerable Ioane of Shavta, Bishop of Gaenati, and Evlogi the Prophet and Fool-for-Christ (13th century)

Venerable Ioane of Shavta, Bishop of Gaenati, and Evlogi the Prophet and Fool-for-Christ (13th century)
Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze

Venerable Ioane of Shavta, Bishop of Gaenati, and Evlogi the Prophet and Fool-for-Christ (13th century)

Venerable Ioane of Shavta, Bishop of Gaenati, and Evlogi the Prophet and Fool-for-Christ (13th century)
Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze
The great Georgian hymnographer, philosopher, and orator St. Ioane of Shavta labored in the 12th and 13th centuries, during the reign of the holy queen Tamar. Few details of his life have been preserved, but we know that he received his education at Gelati Academy, where he studied theology, ancient and Arabic history, philosophy, and literature. He was later tonsured a monk and labored at Vardzia Monastery.

Venerable Hieromartyr Gabriel the Lesser (†1802)

Venerable Hieromartyr Gabriel the Lesser (†1802)
Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze

Venerable Hieromartyr Gabriel the Lesser (†1802)

Venerable Hieromartyr Gabriel the Lesser (†1802)
Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze
Saint Gabriel the Lesser was a major figure in the eighteenth- century Georgian Church. Few details of his life are known, but it is evident that the education he received was quite good for the period. Striving toward the monastic life but still living in the world, Gabriel tried in every way to close himself off from the vanity of the world. He kept a small sewing shop in Tbilisi and distributed most of his profits to the poor.