Holy Martyr Nikoloz Dvali (†1314)

Memory 19 October (1 November)

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.

At the age of fourteen Nikoloz set off for the Klarjeti Wilderness and began to lead a strict ascetic life. Later he journeyed to Jerusalem and, having venerated the holy places, decided to remain there, where none of his loved ones could disturb him.

But before long even this failed to satisfy St. Nikoloz's desire to draw nearer to God, so he asked his spiritual father for a blessing to receive the crown of martyrdom and began to seek death for Christ's sake. He was arrested and tortured several times by the Muslims for publicly preaching the Christian Faith, but the local Christians always succeeded in setting him free.

On October 19, 1314, St. Nikoloz finally attained his goal — he was beheaded by the Muslims. The last words he spoke were: “Glory toThee, O Lord, Who hast accounted me worthy to die for Thy sake!” After they had beheaded him, the unbelievers burned the holymartyr's body.

(The life of St. Nikoloz Dvali is described in greater detail in the commemorations for February 12.)

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

09 / 11 / 2007

HTML code for blogs

See preview

Save link


Add link

RSS

Archpriest Zakaria MachitadzeHoly Martyr Nikoloz Dvali (†1314)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.

Also here you can read:

Rejoice, O Our Joy! Sermon on the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God

Patriarch Tikhon - His Missionary Legacy to Orthodox America

Saint John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist

Sergei of Radonezh, Saint of All Russia

The Conception of St. John the Baptist

St. Innocent of Alaska, Metropolitan of Moscow

The Spiritual Exaltation of the Cross

Exaltation of the Cross

The Holy Relics of Saints Joachim and Anna in California church

Sorrow and Joy: A Homily on the Day of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God

Discourse on the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God

The Orthodox New Year