Saint Arsen, Bishop of Ninotsminda (†1082)

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!

HTML code for blogs <table id="art7303" style="margin:20px;" border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;padding:30px 30px 20px 30px;border:1px solid #cccccc;background:#ffffff;"><a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/7303.htm" style="color:black;text-decoration:none;border:none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/sas/image/parsen.jpg" border=0 align="left" alt="Saint Arsen, Bishop of Ninotsminda (†1082)" style="margin:0px 10px 10px 0px;border:1px solid black;float:left;"><em style="display:block;color:#792e00;padding-bottom:2px;">Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze</em><strong style="display:block;font-size:17px;text-transform:uppercase;text-decoration:underline;">Saint Arsen, Bishop of Ninotsminda (†1082)</strong><em style="display:block;padding:2px 0px 0px 0px;line-height:103%;font-size:15px;text-transform:none;"></em><span style="display:block;padding:5px 0px 10px 0px;">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.</a></span></td></tr></table> See preview

Save link Add link

Print RSS

Archpriest Zakaria MachitadzeSaint Arsen, Bishop of Ninotsminda (†1082)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.