The Lives of the Georgian Saints

Lives of the Georgian Saints was translated into English in 2002, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the enthronement and the 70th anniversary of the birth of HIS HOLINESS ILIA II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia.

The new Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, consecrated in November, 2004.
“The whole mellow land of Georgia lies before, with its fresh meadows and its lusty uplands, its bright vineyards and its somber woods, its warm gracious sun and sudden looming storms. Georgia, like some other countries, has a color. Ireland is green and grey. Morocco is all red. Georgia is a fine yellow gold like the white wines of Burgundy. The impression of the color is partly of the sunlight and partly of the tincture of the soil, but also there is some property in the atmosphere, intangible and not easily described, a bouquet, almost imperceptible, which envelops and caresses, fragrant and soft, insidious. The Greeks spoke of the Land of the Golden Fleece, it is supposed because of the scant alluvial gold, filtered in sheepskins from the beds of the westward-flowing streams of the Caucasus.

But it may be that their fancy thus imaged as a Golden Fleece that aureous hue which lies over all the country like, as it were, to an illumined dew upon the surface of the land.”

W. E. D. Allen, A History of the Georgian People.

Translator' note

The task of translating a text of this nature presented us with a special challenge, since the nuances of the language contribute so much to its power. To translate Fr. Zakaria's text into English we drew on both the original, Georgian-language edition and its Russian translation. We discovered a stark contrast in style between the original and the Russian version: the Georgian text was full of color, ornamentation, and elaboration, while the Russian seemed to simply retell the facts of the saints' lives. In our own translation, we sought to strike a balance between the spirited Georgian edition and the rather bland Russian version and, in so doing, to preserve the unique tone of the original without appearing overly sentimental.

The national hero status of the Georgian saints, as presented in this book, testifies to the deep roots of Orthodox Christianity in Georgia and, accordingly, to the immutable bond the Church has forged with the national culture of the Georgian people. This translation is far from perfect, and we ask in advance for your forgiveness. We pray and supplicate our Lord Jesus Christ and all the holy men and women whose lives are recounted herein to pardon our errors as well. May it be, according to God's will, that the Georgian nation finds peace within its borders and that its Holy Apostolic Orthodox Church will prosper and continue to shine forth as a beacon of light and hope in our fallen world.

Through the prayers and intercessions of the Most Holy Mother of God and of all the saints commemorated in this book, Lord Jesus

Christ Our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen!

David and Lauren Elizabeth Ninoshvili

Christ our God was crucified for the sake of the world, and we likewise have been crucified for His sake. We bared our breasts for this small Georgia, and on our breasts, as on a rock, we erected a temple to the Christian God. Instead of stone we offered our bones, and instead of lime we offered our blood, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it!
—Saint Ilia Chavchavadze the Righteous

Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze. «The Lives of the Georgian Saints»
Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze. «The Lives of the Georgian Saints»
The Georgian land is soaked in the blood of its people — people who gave their lives for the peace of the Church and for their motherland. In a single day, one hundred thousand Georgians revealed their perfect love for our Lord, and each was in turn sanctified with the crown of martyrdom. In a single night, a mob of godless men slaughtered six thousand monks in the Davit-Gareji Wilderness^[1]. The monastery's environs, as a result, abound with sacred relics. Today, in the region of Atchara in southwestern Georgia, even those believers who were forcibly converted to Islam are healed of their infirmities when they venerate the relics of the local saints.More than a millennium later, the body of a ninth-century monk still lies incorrupt at ZarzmaMonastery, and even his garments are preserved by the Master of the Ages.

All those Georgians who suffered and were crucified for Christ have had their names and good works raised to the heavens, and among them the Georgian Church recognizes a few remarkable individuals whom the Lord has set forth as an example for generations to come.We are called to know them, to become familiar with their lives and their works, and to reverently honor their memories.

As early as the 10th century, St. Giorgi Merchule, who gave us The Life of St. Grigol of Khandzta, lamented that many good works and lives of righteous ones had already been lost with the passage of time.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Catholicos-Patriarch Leonid expressed a deep regret at the “crime, culpability, insolence, and negligence” plaguing his nation. He lifted up a prayer to all the saints of his beloved Georgia: “I beseech you, do not despise your prodigal, ungrateful, and unworthy spiritual children. Pray with all your compassionate zeal to our Hope, the Most Holy Theotokos, for through her can we rekindle our flame of love for the Christian Faith.”

His Holiness Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia writes: “When we reflect on our past, we are astonished at how the Georgian nation has retained its language, its Christian Faith, and its culture despite all the resistance it has faced. Our fortitude and spiritual endurance appear to be rooted in the unshakable Christian soil on which we stand. Even in times of war, the Georgian people have built new churches and monasteries and continued to forge their extraordinary culture. We must continue the great works for which our forefathers died.”

We, the authors, have tried sincerely to gather information on the Georgian saints, to rectify our own “insolence and negligence,” and to continue in the great works of our ancestors. We have compiled the stories of our nation's saints and attempted to faithfully render their holy icons.

In the text that follows you will find many mistakes that are the result of ignorance and carelessness. We ask in advance for your forgiveness.

^[1] The Davit-Gareji Wilderness is located in southeastern Georgia. The area takes its name from one of the Thirteen Syrian Fathers, St. Davit of Gareji, who settled there. Some twenty monasteries and sketes, including the St. Davit Lavra (also known as Davit-Gareji Monastery) and the St. John the Baptist Monastery, are located within the Davit-Gareji Wilderness. Three of the monasteries are active today.

Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze

Tbilisi, Georgia

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

6 марта 2007 года

Код для блогов / сайтов

<table id="art3024" 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/put/3024.htm" style="color:black;text-decoration:none;border:none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/sas/image/pgsaints-cover.jpg" border=0 align="left" alt="The Lives of the Georgian Saints" 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;">The Lives of the Georgian Saints</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;">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.</a></span></td></tr></table>

Посмотреть анонс

Разместить анонс


Добавить ссылку

Печать

RSS

Archpriest Zakaria MachitadzeThe Lives of the Georgian SaintsSince 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.

Другие статьи автора

The Feast of the Robe of our Lord, the Myrrh-streaming and Life-giving Pillar, Equals-to-the-Apostles King Mirian and Queen Nana, and Saints Sidonia and Abiatar (4th century).
Commemorated October 1/14
During the reign of King Aderki of Kartli, the Jewish diaspora in Mtskheta learned that a wondrous Child had been born in Jerusalem. Then, thirty years later, a man came from Jerusalem to deliver this message: “The youth has grown up. He calls Himself the Son of God and preaches to us the New Covenant.

Holy Great-martyr Queen Ketevan (†1624).
September 13/26
Holy Queen Ketevan was the daughter of Ashotan Mukhran-Batoni, a prominent ruler from the Bagrationi royal family. The clever and pious Ketevan was married to Prince Davit, heir to the throne of Kakheti. Davit’s father, King Alexandre II (1574–1605), had two other sons, Giorgi and Constantine, but according to the law the throne belonged to Davit. Constantine was converted to Islam and raised in the court of the Persian shah Abbas I.

Holy Confessors Ioane (Maisuradze) and Giorgi-Ioane (Mkheidze) (†1957 & †1960).
Commemorated September 8/21
Archimandrite Ioane (Basil Maisuradze in the world) was born in the town of Tskhinvali in Samachablo around 1882. He was raised in a peasant family and taught to perform all kinds of handiwork. Basil was barely in his teens when he helped Fr. Spiridon (Ketiladze), the main priest at Betania Monastery, to restore the monastery between 1894 and 1896.

Holy Royal Martyr Queen Shushanik (†475)
Saint Shushanik was the wife of the Georgian prince Varsken, the ruler of Hereti. Having been raised in a pious Christian family, she was deeply penetrated with love and the fear of God.

Holy Hierarch Ioane of Khakhuli, Also Called Chrysostom (10th–11th centuries)
In the second half of the 10th century King Davit Kuropalates founded Khakhuli Monastery in the historical region of Tao, at the gorge of the Khakhuli River, where it joins the Tortumi River.

Saint Ekvtime (Kereselidze) the Confessor (†1944)
Abbot Ekvtime Kereselidze was born in 1865 in the village of Sadmeli (Racha region) to the pious Solomon andMarta Kereselidze. At birth he was given the name Evstate.

Venerable Anton of Martqopi, the Stylite (6th century)
Our holy father Anton of Martqopi arrived in Georgia in the 6th century with the rest of the Thirteen Syrian Fathers and settled in Kakheti to preach the Gospel of Christ. He always carried with him an icon of the Savior “Not-Made- By-Hands.” Anton made his home in the wilderness, and deer visited him every evening to nourish him with their milk.

Venerable Hieromonk Alexi (Shushania) (†1923)
Saint Alexi (Shushania) was born September 23, 1852, in the village of Noqalaqevi, in the Senaki district of Samegrelo, to a pious Christian couple. His father died in 1868, after giving the sixteen-year-old future hieromonk1 his blessing to care for the family.

Venerable Eprem the Lesser, the Philosopher (†1101)
Тoday little is known about the life of venerable Eprem the Lesser, the great 11th-century writer, translator, philosopher, and defender of the Georgian Church. His work Reminiscences and other sources, however, provide us with the means to speculate about the major periods of his life and labors.

Saints Salome of Ujarma and Perozhavra of Sivnia (4th century)
Saints Salome of Ujarma and Perozhavra of Sivnia were the helpers and closest companions of St. Nino, Enlightener of Georgia. St. Nino herself had converted them to the Christian Faith.

Venerable Giorgi the Scribe and His Brother Saba, of Khakhuli (11th century)
Saints Giorgi and Saba of Khakhuli were brothers of Iakob, the father of St. Giorgi of the Holy Mountain. Giorgi and Saba labored as monks at Khakhuli Monastery in southern Georgia.

Holy Martyr Ioane, Abbot of Zedazeni Monastery (9th century)
The Life of the holy martyr Ioane, Abbot of Zedazeni Monastery, has not been preserved, but the list recalling “the names of the holy fathers who reposed at Zedazeni Monastery after Ioane of Zedazeni,” which was compiled by Catholicos Arsen II, tells us that Abbot Ioane was “murdered at Zedazeni by Muslims.”

All Saints of Georgia
Saving examined the history of Georgia and the hagiographical treasures attesting to the faith of the Georgian nation, we become convinced that Heavenly Georgia — the legion of Georgian saints, extolling the Lord in the Heavenly Kingdom with a single voice — is infinitely glorious.

Saint Ise of Tsilkani (6th century)
Saint Ise of Tsilkani arrived in Georgia in the 6th century with the other Syrian fathers and companions of St. Ioane of Zedazeni. At the recommendation of St. Ioane of Zedazeni, Catholicos Evlavios of Kartli consecrated St. Ise as bishop of Tsilkani. The holy father traveled throughout his diocese preaching the Holy Gospel.

Holy Catholicos Petre and Holy Catholicos Samoel (5th–6th centuries)
Saint Petre was the first catholicos of Georgia. He led the Church of Kartli from the 460s through the beginning of the 6th century. According to God’s will, St. Petre inaugurated the dynasty of the chief shepherds of Georgia.

Holy King Vakhtang Gorgasali (†502)
The holy and right-believing king Vakhtang I ascended the throne of Kartli at the age of fifteen. At that time Kartli was continually being invaded by the Persians from the south and by the Ossetians from the north. The situation was no better in western Georgia: the Byzantines had captured all the lands from Egrisi to Tsikhegoji.

Holy Martyr Abibos of Nekresi (6th century)
Saint Abibos of Nekresi was one of the Thirteen Syrian Fathers who arrived in Georgia in the 6th century under the leadership of St. Ioane of Zedazeni.

Holy Hieromartyr Grigol (Peradze) (†1942)
Archimandrite Grigol (Peradze) was born August 31, 1899, in the village of Bakurtsikhe, in the Sighnaghi district of Kakheti. His father, Roman Peradze, was a priest. In 1918Grigol completed his studies at the theological school and seminary in Tbilisi and enrolled in the philosophy department at Tbilisi University.

Venerable Ilarion the Georgian (†875)
Saint Ilarion the Georgian was the son of a Kakheti aristocrat. There were other children in the family, but only Ilarion was dedicated to God from his very birth. Ilarion’s father built a monastery on his own land, and there the boy was raised.

Great-martyr Mikael-Gobron and His 133 Soldiers (†914)
In the year 914 a certain prince by the name of Mikael- Gobron distinguished himself in a battle against the Arab Muslim invaders. After they had captured the fortress of Kvelistsikhe in southern Georgia, theMuslims took captive those who remained alive, and Prince Gobron was among them. Deeply impressed by the Georgian soldier’s valor, the emir Abu al-Qasim ordered his army to treat him with respect.

Great-martyr Constantine-Kakhi (†852)
Тhe 9th century was one of the most difficult periods in Georgian history. The Arab Muslims wreaked havoc throughout the region of Kartli, forcibly converting many to Islam with fire and the sword. Many of the destitute and frightened were tempted to betray the Faith of their fathers.

Holy and Righteous Ioane, Stepane, and Isaiah the Georgians
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.

Далее...