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Venerable Nikoloz, Radiant Star of the Georgians (†1308)

Memory 3 (16) November

Saint Nikoloz was the author of many church services, but little else about his life is known.He lived in the second half of the 13th century, and the last years of his life coincided with the reign of King Vakhtang III (1298, 1302–1308), the son of the holy king Demetre the Devoted.

St. Nikoloz was one of the greatest hymnographers and spiritual figures of his time, but few of his works have been preserved. Catholicos Anton I writes that Nikoloz composed numerous canons and services, including a “Canon of Supplication for Rain.” St. Nikoloz enriched the spiritual literature of Georgia with his translations as well. Scholars and historians believe that, as the greatest liturgist of his time, he was probably asked to translate many prayers and services from Greek to Georgian. Among them, they believe, was the “Canon for the Blessing of Holy Water.”

The famous 19th-century historian Platon Ioseliani writes that other church services belonging to the pen of St. Nikoloz are included among the manuscripts of the Iveron Monastery on Mt. Athos.

St. Nikoloz reposed peacefully in the year 1308.

Thou didst glorify the Holy Trinity and emulate the angels, and thou art ranked among the saints, O thrice-blessed Father Nikoloz. We praise and glorify thee, who art the protector and preserver of those who celebrate thy holy name!

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

11/19/2007

The Hundred Thousand Martyrs of Tbilisi (†1227)

The Hundred Thousand Martyrs of Tbilisi (†1227)
Commemorated October 31/November 13

The Hundred Thousand Martyrs of Tbilisi (†1227)

The Hundred Thousand Martyrs of Tbilisi (†1227)
Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze
In 1227 Sultan Jalal al-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.

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.

Holy and Righteous Ioane, Stepane, and Isaiah the Georgians

Holy and Righteous Ioane, Stepane, and Isaiah the Georgians
Commemorated November 4/17

Holy and Righteous Ioane, Stepane, and Isaiah the Georgians

Holy and Righteous Ioane, Stepane, and Isaiah the Georgians
Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze
Among the multitude of saints we remember those Christianswho dedicated their earthly lives to glorifying Godand serving others. In a single lifetime they performed allthe spiritual feats of the venerable and devout fathers, confessors,and martyrs.

See also

An avenue now named after great Georgian elder Gabriel (Urgebadze)

An avenue now named after great Georgian elder Gabriel (Urgebadze)

An avenue now named after great Georgian elder Gabriel (Urgebadze)

An avenue now named after great Georgian elder Gabriel (Urgebadze)
It was the holy archimandrite’s sister and 3,000 parishioners of Georgian churches together with her who appealed to the Georgian Patriarchate and the municipal authority with the request to rename Cholokashvili Avenue to St. Gabriel Avenue.

Holy Martyr Nikoloz Dvali (†1314)

Holy Martyr Nikoloz Dvali (†1314)
Commemorated October 19/November 1

Holy Martyr Nikoloz Dvali (†1314)

Holy Martyr Nikoloz Dvali (†1314)
Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze
Nikoloz Dvali, one of the great saints of the Georgian Church, was distinguished by his love for Christ from his youth. His parents began preparing him for the monastic life on the day he was born. Thus he was dedicated to God from his infancy.

Venerable Ekvtime of Mt. Athos, the Translator(†1028)

Venerable Ekvtime of Mt. Athos, the Translator(†1028)
Commemorated May 13/26

Venerable Ekvtime of Mt. Athos, the Translator(†1028)

Venerable Ekvtime of Mt. Athos, the Translator(†1028)
Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze
Venerable Ekvtime of Mt. Athos was the son of St. Ioane of Mt. Athos, a military commander during the reign of King Davit Kuropalates, who abandoned the world to enter the monastic life.While St. Ioane was laboring on Mt. Olympus, the Byzantine emperor returned a large portion of the conquered Georgian lands, but in exchange for this benefaction he ordered that the children of certain eminent aristocrats be taken to Constantinople as surety.