Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze
Saint Serapion of Zarzma was the son of a Klarjeti aristocratfamed for his wealth and good deeds. Serapion had twobrothers, who were still young when their mother died.Their father also reposed soon after.
The holy hieromartyr Neopite of Urbnisi descended from a line of Persian fire-worshippers. In the 7th century, by order of the Saracen emir Mumni (Mu’min), the military leader Ahmad attacked Georgia with an enormous army. After overrunning the central part of Shida (Inner) Kartli, Ahmad dispatched two of his commanders, Omar and Burul, to the capital city of Mtskheta.
The holy hierarch Alexandre (Alexi Okropiridze in the world) was born in 1824, in the village of Disevi in the Gori district, to the family of the village priest. Growing up around the church, he received his primary education at Gori Theological School and later continued his education at Tbilisi Seminary.
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.
The Life of St. Kozman has not been preserved. In the commemorations for this day it is mentioned only that he died a martyr’s death in the region of Kartli. Here it is fitting to note that, due to its geopolitical circumstances, Georgia has throughout history been a constant victim of foreign aggression. To give one’s life for his motherland and Faith became so customary for the Georgian people that the Georgian Church is unable to commemorate all of its martyrs by name.