21 gennaio feste santi e memorie

Mémoire de tous les MARTYRS qui sont morts pour la foi orthodoxe depuis le temps du premier-martyr Etienne jusqu'à nos jours (synaxe prévue par le calendrier hiérosolymitain et qui était célébrée à l'église Saint-Etienne de Jérusalem construite par l'impératrice Eudoxie, épouse de Théodose le Jeune; cf. Tsolakidhis p. 84).

Saint PUBLIUS, premier évêque de Malte (?), puis évêque d'Athènes (?), martyr sous Trajan (vers 112).

Saints HERMES et SOLUTEUR, martyrs en Afrique.

Saints FRUCTUEUX, évêque, AUGURE et EULOGE, diacres, martyrs à Tarragone (Espagne) sous Valérien (259). A Tarragona nella Spagna Citeriore, passione dei santi martiri Fruttuoso, vescovo, Augurio ed Eulogio, suoi diaconi: sotto gli imperatori Valeriano e Gallieno, dopo aver confessato la loro fede al cospetto del procuratore Emiliano, furono condotti nell’anfiteatro, dove, rivolta a chiara voce dal vescovo verso i fedeli presenti una preghiera per la pace della Chiesa, portarono a compimento il loro martirio gettati tra le fiamme e pregando in ginocchio.
Saint PATROCLE, martyr à Langres en Bourgogne (vers 259 ou vers 275).

 

 

Saints EUGENE, VALERIEN, CANDIDE, et AQUILAS, martyrs à Trébizonde lors de la persécution de Dioclétien (vers 303). (Canon des complies traduit en français par le père Denis Guillaume au tome I du Supplément aux Ménées.) The Holy Martyrs Eugene, Candidus, Valerian and Aquila suffered for their faith in Christ during the reign of Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (305-311), under the regimental commander Lycius. Valerian, Candidus and Aquila had hidden themselves in the hills near Trebizond, preferring life among the wild beasts to living with the pagans. They were soon found, however, and brought to Trebizond.

For their bold and steadfast confession of faith in Christ the holy martyrs were whipped with ox thongs, scraped with iron claws, then were burned with fire. Several days later St Eugene was also arrested, and subjected to the same tortures. Later, they poured vinegar laced with salt into his wounds. After these torments, they threw the four martyrs into a red-hot oven. When they emerged from it unharmed, they were beheaded, receiving their incorruptible crowns from God.

 

 

 

 

 

Sainte AGNES, vierge, martyre à Rome sous Dioclétien (vers 304). Agnese nacque a Roma da genitori cristiani, di una illustre famiglia patrizia, nel III secolo. Quando era ancora dodicenne, scoppiò una persecuzione e molti furono i fedeli che s'abbandonavano alla defezione. Agnese, che aveva deciso di offrire al Signore la sua verginità, fu denunciata come cristiana dal figlio del prefetto di Roma, invaghitosi di lei ma respinto. Fu esposta nuda al Circo Agonale, nei pressi dell'attuale piazza Navona. Un uomo che cercò di avvicinarla cadde morto prima di poterla sfiorare e altrettanto miracolosamente risorse per intercessione della santa. Gettata nel fuoco, questo si estinse per le sue orazioni, fu allora trafitta con colpo di spada alla gola, nel modo con cui si uccidevano gli agnelli

http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/22350

 

http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/icons/Icons-Agnes.htm##1

 

 

Saint NEOPHYTE, martyr à Nicée (vers 305). (Office traduit en français par le père Denis Guillaume au tome I des Ménées.)

QUATRE MARTYRS de Tyr (Liban).

Saint APOLLONIOS l'Anachorète (IVème siècle).

L'icône de la Mère de Dieu "DU FONDATEUR" ("KTITORSKAÏA" ) ou "DE L'AUTEL" ("ALTARNITSA") (IVème siècle).

Synaxe de la sainte Irène dont l'église, construite par saint Marcien (cf. 10 janvier) se trouvait au bord de la mer (cf. Tsolakidhis p. 83).

Saint EPIPHANE, évêque de Pavie (496).Epifanio nacque a Pavia da genitori di nobile stirpe. Una luce miracolosa sarebbe stata vista risplendere sulla culla del bambino, felice presagio della sua futura grandezza. Ci sono noti i nomi dei genitori: Mauro il padre e Focaria la madre, che sarebbe stata della famiglia di s. Mirocle, vescovo cli Milano all'epoca dell'editto costantiniano del 313. I1 vescovo di Pavia Crispino I (v.) ricevette Epifanio, a otto anni d'età, tra i lettori della sua chiesa; successivamente lo ordinò suddiacono a diciotto anni, diacono a venti e lo raccomandò, sentendosi vicino alla morte, ad un certo Rusticio di Milano, illustris vir, affinché fosse il suo successore sulla cattedra episcopale pavese. Alla morte di Crispino, Epifanio fu consacrato vescovo in Milano dal suo metropolita, il cui nome, tuttavia, non ci è stato tramandato da Ennodio. La sua elezione episcopale era stata salutata con vera gioia dal popolo che altamente apprezzava la sua santa vita, i cui cardini erano: la preghiera, cui dedicava anche ogni minìmo ritaglio di tempo; la lettura attenta e devota della S. Scrittura; l'attività febbrile per il bene delle anime; la mortificazione corporea più austera, che comprendeva anche l'astensione dai bagni "ne nitorem animae et interioris hominis fortitudinem balnea magis sordibus amica confringerent".
Da vescovo fu incaricato più voite di ambascerie da e presso i diversi re germanici, che si erano insediati nel territorio dell'Tmpero romano d'Occidente ormai in sfacelo. Andò a Roma dall'imperatore Antemio (467-72) come legato di Ricimero e successivamente a Tolosa da Eurico, re dei Visigoti, per incarico dell'imperatore Giunio Nepote (474-75).
Lavorò attivamente alla ricostruzione di Pavia saccheggiata e distrutta nel 476 dalle armate rivali di Oreste e di Odoacre. Soccorse con inesausta carità ogni sorta di miserie e di sofferenze. Spesso si recò presso i vincitori a impetrarne ia clemenza per i vinti: in modo particolare implorò con successo la clemenza di Odoacre, di Teodorico e del re dei Burgundi, Gundobaldo, da cui ottenne la liberazione di seimila prigionieri da lui catturati in Italia nel 490 combattendo contro Odoacre. Di ritorno da Ravenna, ove si era recato per una ennesima legazione presso re Teodorico a favore di Pavia e di tutta la provincia della Liguria romana, a Parma si ammalò mortalmente a causa di un grave disturbo polmonare. Volle essere trasportato a Pavia, ove morì all'età di cinquantotto anni, dopo trent'anni di episcopato 
Sainte BRIGITTE de Kilbride (Irlande, VIème siècle).

Saint LAWDOG (Pays de Galles, VIème siècle).

Saint VIMIN, évêque en Ecosse (VIème siècle).

Saint APTAT, évêque de Metz (VIIème siècle). 

 

 

 

Saint MAXIME le Confesseur, moine qui souffrit les pires tourments pour avoir défendu l'Orthodoxie contre le monothélisme (662). (Office traduit en français par le père Denis Guillaume au tome I des Ménées.) San Massimo è detto “il Confessore†perché seppe fieramente difendere l’ortodossia cristiana, con la parola, con gli scritti, con la vita, contro il monotelismo (teoria religiosa elaborata nel VII secolo in seno alla Chiesa bizantina; riconosceva le due nature di Cristo, ma affermava che in lui, la volontà divina predominava su quella umana).
Nacque nel 580 a Costantinopoli da nobile famiglia, forse imparentata con l’imperatore Eraclio; ebbe una buona educazione culturale e solida preparazione e ben presto occupò una posizione rilevante nella corte imperiale, diventando un importante funzionario.
Ad un certo punto però lasciò gli incarichi, se ne ignora il perché e abbandonata la vita politica, si ritirò nel monastero di Crisopoli; gli è stato attribuito il titolo di abate, ma deve intendersi come segno di rispetto e non di conduzione della comunità.
A causa dell’invasione persiana del 626, che minacciava la capitale dell’impero bizantino, Massimo si allontanò dal monastero situato vicino al Bosforo e andò prima a Creta, poi a Cipro e infine in Africa, dove cominciò a conoscere la nuova eresia del monotelismo, che si andava diffondendo.
Si trovò immerso nelle dispute teologiche del tempo, che agitavano l’ortodossia cristiana, sfociando spesso in eresie, più o meno condannate da Concili, dal papa di Roma, da vescovi con idee contrapposte; ne nominiamo qualcuna senza approfondirne il pensiero, perché lo spazio consentito è poco: dottrina nestoriana, monofisita, origenista, platonismo, apocatastasi; a tutte queste si sovrappose una teoria del vescovo di Alessandria, Ciro di Faside, il quale volendo far chiarezza e raggiungere l’unione dei credenti, affermò che Cristo con una sola operazione teandrica, operava tanto le azioni divine che le azioni umane.
Massimo s’impegnò nelle controversie facendo sentire il peso della sua autorità di teologo sia in Africa sia in Oriente e a Roma; bisogna dire che all’epoca dell’impero bizantino, queste dispute teologiche soprattutto sulla natura divina e umana di Cristo, si intrecciavano ad interessi politici, per cui venivano coinvolti vescovi e autorità civili, fino alle persone dell’imperatore e dell’imperatrice, scatenando anche vere e proprie persecuzioni; questo l’ambiente in cui Massimo fu costretto a muoversi.
Nel 638 l’imperatore Eraclio (575-641) emanò un decreto religioso (Ecthesis) a favore della teoria del monotelismo
Ci fu chi l’accettò e chi invece la contestò e in questo quadro s’inserisce la famosa “disputa con Pirro†di Massimo; Pirro era il vescovo di Costantinopoli costretto a fuggire in Africa per gli intrighi di corte che portarono sul trono Costante II (642-668) e a Cartagine in Africa, davanti al prefetto e a molti vescovi, ebbe luogo nel 645 la disputa fra i due teologi, un tempo ambedue monaci di Crisopoli; Pirro sopraffatto dalle argomentazioni di condanna del monotelismo di Massimo, si dichiarò vinto.
Il successo ottenuto da Massimo, indusse molti vescovi a convocare dei sinodi e nel 646 l’eresia venne condannata.
Massimo poi lasciò l’Africa e si spostò a Roma presso la Sede Apostolica, che in quel momento nel sistema della pentarchia e della sinfonia sinodale era collocata giustamente a difesa della fede ed ivi  continuò la sua opera contro il monotelismo, che sebbene condannato più volte, anche per i suoi personali interventi, continuava a dilagare con l’appoggio dell’imperatore Costante II.
Fu accanto a papa Teodoro (642-649) e poi a papa s. Martino I (649-655), il quale rimase vittima della persecuzione scatenata dall’imperatore, fu condotto prima prigioniero a Costantinopoli, poi processato nel 653 e inviato in esilio nel Chersoneso dove morì dopo due anni.
Anche a Massimo toccò uguale sorte, pur essendo il più grande teologo del tempo, fu fatto prigioniero a Roma e nel 653 fu condotto a Costantinopoli, dove nel 655 subì un processo i cui Atti sono arrivati fino a noi, ed ebbe la condanna dell’esilio a Byzia nella Tracia; l’anno successivo subì un altro processo e fu esiliato a Perberis ai confini dell’impero.
Un terzo processo l’ebbe nella primavera del 662 a Costantinopoli, davanti al prefetto e ad un Sinodo e giacché rifiutò di accettare il ‘Typus’ (decreto di Costante II sulle verità di fede in discussione), insieme ai suoi due discepoli, Anastasio monaco e Anastasio apocrisario, fu sottoposto alla flagellazione, fu loro amputata la mano destra e mozzata la lingua e infine esiliati a vita sulle coste orientali del Mar Nero nella Colchide.
A giugno 662 raggiunsero la loro meta, ma sfiniti dal lungo viaggio e dai maltrattamenti subiti e feriti dai supplizi, il 24 luglio morì Anastasio monaco; il 13 agosto all’età di 82 anni, morì anche Massimo nella fortezza di Schemaris a Lazica e l’11 ottobre del 666 morì anche l’altro Anastasio.
Grande scrittore di quell’epoca, spaziò dalla morale all’ascetica, dalla dottrina mistica a quella tradizionale, teologo insigne, filosofo con la terminologia aristotelica; il punto centrale del suo pensiero fu Cristo, di cui contemplò profondamente i misteri, per difenderne l’integrità della natura umana.


Saint ZOSIME, évêque de Syracuse en Sicile (662). Zosimo, vescovo (VII secolo) era un giovane monaco cui era stata affidata per la sua inettitudine la custodia della tomba di Santa Lucia a Siracusa. Un giorno, desideroso di rivedere i genitori, lasciò il monastero senza avvertire i superiori. I genitori, vedendolo arrivare con aria di fuggitivo, lo rimproverarono e lo riaccompagnarono al monastero. Venne perdonato dall'abate e riconsegnato al suo compito di "guardiano della tomba", che tenne a lungo perché considerato incapace di altre e più impegnative mansioni.
Alla morte dell'abate, i monaci si recarono dal vescovo per conoscere il nome del successore. Fra loro non c'era Zosimo, rimasto a casa come "inutile". Quando il vescovo ebbe davanti i monaci, chiese: "Ci siete tutti?". "No, - risposero - a casa c'è il guardiano della tomba di santa Lucia, ma è di poco conto". "Fatelo venire" ingiunse il vescovo. E quando Zosimo arrivò: "Ecco il vostro abate" affermò solennemente il vescovo.
Così Zosimo, tra la sorpresa di tutti, divenne abate del monastero dimostrando presto di quanta saggezza e virtù fosse ricco, a tal punto che il popolo lo volle quale proprio vescovo. Confermato da papa Teodoro, egli rimase sulla cattedra episcopale siracusana dal 647 al 662 guidando la diocesi con bontà e saggezza

Sainte MILDGITHE, vierge en Angleterre (vers 676). 

Saint AVIT II, évêque de Clermont, qui eut saint Bonnet pour coadjuteur (vers 689). Icon of St. Avitus
(in centre)

 

L'icône de la Mère de Dieu de Vatopédi, "DE LA JOIE" ("OTRADA") ou "DE LA CONSOLATION" ("OUTIECHENIE") (807).
The Vatopedi "Comfort" or "Consolation" Icon of the Mother of God is in the old Vatopedi monastery on Athos, in the church of the Annunciation. It was called "Vatopedi" because near this monastery Arcadius, the son of Empreor Theodosius the Great, fell off a ship into the sea, and by the miraculous intercession of the Mother of God he was carried to shore safe and unharmed. He was found sleeping by a bush, not far from the monastery. From this event the name "Vatopedi" ("batos paidion," the bush of the child") is derived. The holy Emperor Theodosius the Great (January 17), in gratitude for the miraculous deliverance of his son, embellished and generously endowed the Vatopedi monastery.

On the Vatopedi Icon, the Mother of God is depicted with Her face turned towards Her right shoulder. This is because on January 21, 807 She turned Her face towards the igumen of the monastery, who was standing near the holy icon, about to hand the keys of the monastery to the porter. A voice came from the icon and warned him not to open the monastery gates, because pirates intended to pillage the monastery. Then the Holy Child placed His hand over His Mother's lips, saying, "Do not watch over this sinful flock, Mother, but let them fall under the sword of the pirates." The Holy Virgin took the hand of Her Son and said again, "Do not open the gates today, but go to the walls and drive off the pirates." The igumen took precautionary measures, and the monastery was saved.

In memory of this miraculous event a perpetual lamp burns in front of the wonderworking icon. Every day a Canon of Supplication is chanted in honor of the icon, and on Fridays the Divine Liturgy is celebrated. On Mt. Athos this icon is called "Paramythia," "Consolation" ("Otrada"), or "Comfort" ("Uteshenie").

 

Saint MEINRAD, issu de la famille de Hohenzollern (dont une branche donna les rois de Roumanie de 1866 à 1947 et une autre branche les empereurs d'Allemagne de 1871 à 1918), admirateur des écrits de saint Jean Cassien, fondateur du monastère de Notre-Dame-des-Ermites (Einsiedeln) en Suisse, assassiné par des brigands (861 ou 863). San Meinrado (o Meginrado) nacque da una famiglia di contadini a Sulichgau, nei pressi di Wurtemberg in Germania. Entrò nel monastero benedettino di Reichenau in Svizzera, ove ricevette l’ordinazione presbiterale. Divenne poi insegnante vicino al lago di Zurigo. Sognando una vita di solitudine, verso l’829 i suoi superiori acconsentirono al suo passaggio alla vita eremitica e si stabilì dunque in una vicina foresta. Divenne ben presto famoso per la santità e l’austerità che contraddistinguevano la sua vita. Cominciando ad affluire numerosi i visitatori, Meinrado preferì trasferirsi in un luogo ancora più isolato, nei pressi di Einsiedeln, ove rimase per venticinque anni sino alla morte. Due briganti, convinti che il santo eremita nascondesse un tesoro, andarono a trovarlo spacciandosi per pellegrini e ricevettero cortese accoglienza. Non trovando però alcun tesoro, lo bastonarono a morte per poi darsi alla fuga.

Saint NEOPHYTE du monastère de Vatopédi au Mont Athos. 

Saint MAXIME le Grec, originaire d'Arta, ancien compagnon de Savonarole à Florence, puis moine de Vatopédi au Mont Athos, puis traducteur et confesseur en Russie (Sergiev Possad, 1556). (Office traduit en français par le père Denis Guillaume au tome I du Supplément aux Ménées.) Saint Maximus the Greek was the son of a rich Greek dignitary in the city of Arta (Epiros), and he received a splendid education. In his youth he travelled widely and he studied languages and sciences (i.e. intellectual disciplines) in Europe, spending time in Paris, Florence, and Venice.

Upon returning to his native land, he went to Athos and became a monk at the Vatopedi monastery. And with enthusiasm he studied ancient manuscripts left on Athos by the Byzantine Emperors Andronicus Paleologos and John Kantakuzenos (who became monks).

During this period the Moscow Great Prince Basil III (1505-1533) wanted to make an inventory of the Greek manuscripts and books of his mother, Sophia Paleologina, and he asked the Protos of the Holy Mountain, Igumen Simeon, to send him a translator. St Maximus was chosen to go to Moscow, for he had been brought up on secular and ecclesiastical books from his youth. Upon his arrival, he was asked to translate patristic and liturgical books into Slavonic, starting with the Annotated Psalter.

St Maximus tried to fulfill his task, but since Slavonic was not his native language, there were certain imprecisions in the translations.

Metropolitan Barlaam of Moscow highly valued the work of St Maximus, but when the See of Moscow was occupied by Metropolitan Daniel, the situation changed.

The new Metropolitan ordered St Maximus to translate the Church History of Theodoritus of Cyrrhus into Slavonic. St Maximus absolutely refused this commission, pointing out that "in this history are included letters of the heretic Arius, and this might present danger for the semi-literate." This refusal caused a rift between Maximus and the Metropolitan. Despite their differences, St Maximus continued to labor for the spiritual enlightenment of Rus. He wrote letters against Moslems, Roman Catholics, and pagans. He translated St John Chrysostom's Commentaries on the Gospels of Matthew and John, and he also wrote several works of his own.

When the Great Prince wished to divorce his wife Solomonia because of her infertility, the dauntless confessor Maximus sent the Prince his "Instructive Chapters on Initiating Right Belief," in which he persuasively demonstrated that the Prince was obliged not to yield to bestial passions. The Prine never forgave Maximus for his audacity, and locked St Maximus in prison. From that moment a new period began in the life of the monk, filled with much suffering.

Mistakes in his translations were regarded as deliberate and intentional corruptions of the text by St Maximus. It was difficult for him in prison, but in his sufferings the saint also gained the great mercy of God. An angel appeared to him and said, "Endure, Abba! Through this temporary pain you will be delivered from eternal torments."

In prison the Elder wrote a Canon to the Holy Spirit in charcoal upon a wall, which even at present is read in the Church: "Just as Israel was nourished with manna in the wilderness of old, so Master, fill my soul with the All-Holy Spirit, that through Him I may serve Thee always...."

After six years, St Maximus was set free from prison and sent to Tver. There he lived under the supervision of the good-natured Bishop Acacius, who dealt kindly with guiltless sufferer. The saint then wrote in his autobiography: "While I was locked in prison and grieving, I consoled and strengthened myself with patience." Here are some more words from this vivid text: "Neither grieve, nor be sad, beloved soul, that you have suffered unjustly, for it behooves you to accept all for your benefit."

Only after twenty years at Tver did they decide to let Maximus live freely, and remove the church excommunication. St Maximus, now about seventy years of age, spent the final years of his life at the Trinity-Sergiev Lavra. Oppression and work took their toil on his health, but his spirit remained vigorous, and he continued with his work. Together with his cell-attendant and disciple Nilus, the saint translated the Psalter from Greek into Slavonic.

St Maximus reposed on January 21, 1556. He was buried at the northwest wall of the Holy Spirit church of the Trinity-Sergiev Lavra. Many manifestations of grace took place at the grave of St Maximus, and a Troparion and Kontakion were composed in his honor. St Maximus is depicted on the icon of the Synaxis of the Saints of Radonezh (July 6).


Saint ELIE, prêtre, martyr par la main des Communistes (Russie 1938).

 

 

St George (John) of Georgia

Archimandrite John (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. 

From his youth Basil was eager to enter the monastic life, and in 1903, according to God’s will, he moved to the Skete of St. John the Theologian at Iveron Monastery on Mt. Athos. Among the brothers he was distinguished for his simplicity and obedience. He was tonsured a monk and named John in honor of St. John the Theologian, whom he revered deeply and sought to emulate. 

The monk John was soon ordained to the priesthood. Throughout his life the holy father dedicated himself to serving God and his brothers in Christ in hopes that his own life might be fruitful for them. 

Fr. John remained on Mt. Athos for seventeen years. Then, due to the increasingly troubling circumstances there, he left the Holy Mountain with the other Georgian monks sometime between 1920 and 1921. He settled at Armazi Monastery outside of Mtskheta, where the Bolsheviks had left just one monk to labor in solitude. Once a band of armed Chekists broke into the monastery, led both Fr. John and the other monk away, and shot them in the back. 

Believing them to be dead, they tossed them in a nearby gorge. A group of people later discovered Fr. John’s nearly lifeless body and brought it to Samtavro Monastery in Mtskheta. The other monk suffered only minor injuries and returned to the monastery on his own. 

When his health had been restored, Fr. John went to Betania Monastery, where his first spiritual father was still laboring. He was appointed abbot shortly thereafter. Accustomed to hard work from his childhood, he skillfully administered the agricultural labors of the monastery. When visitors came to the monastery seeking advice or solace, Fr. John welcomed them warmly, spreading a festal meal before them. He enjoyed spending time with his guests, especially with children. 

It is said that he always had candy or a special treat to give to the little ones. The children loved him so much that on the feast of St. John the Theologian, while he was sprinkling the church with holy water, they skipped around him and tried to tousle his hair. The children’s parents were ashamed, but Fr. John cheerfully assured them that it was fitting to be so joyous on a feast day. 

Truly Fr. John was endowed with a deep love for young people, and he was also blessed with the divine gifts of prophecy and wonder-working. Once a certain Irakli Ghudushauri, a student at Moscow Theological Seminary, visited him at the monastery. Fr. John received him with exceptional warmth, blessing him with tears of rejoicing. This student would later become Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, the beloved shepherd who continues to lead the flock of the Georgian faithful to this very day. 

Fr. John disciplined himself severely. He worked hard all day and slept on a single piece of wood. He would spend entire nights praying. Many wondered when he rested and where he had acquired such a seemingly infinite supply of energy. 

Occasionally thieves would steal food or domestic animals from the monastery. But the monastery also had many protectors, even within the Soviet government. A group of Christians who worked for the government while secretly practicing their faith supported Fr. John and Fr. George (Mkheidze) (see below), explaining and justifying them to the government as “guardians of a national cultural monument.†

Many of the miracles performed by Fr. John are known to us today, though he was wary of receiving honor for his deeds. Frs. John and George healed the deaf, and many of the terminally ill were brought to them for healing. After spending several days in the monastery, the infirm would miraculously be cleansed of their diseases. Fr. John bore the heaviest workload in the monastery. He sympathized deeply with Fr. George, who was ailing physically and unfit for strenuous labor. But Fr. John departed this life before Fr. George. Fr. John became ill and reposed in 1957, at the age of seventy-five. He was buried at Betania Monastery. 

Fr. George (Mkheidze) was born in the village of Skhvava in the Racha region around 1877. He received a military education—a highly esteemed commodity among the Georgian aristocracy—but instead of pursuing a military career in defense of the Russian empire, he dedicated himself to Georgia’s national liberation movement. At one point the pious and learned George worked for St. Ilia the Righteous as his personal secretary. He often met St. Ilia’s spiritual father, the holy hierarch Alexandre (Okropiridze), and the holy hieromartyr Nazar (Lezhava), and he was acquainted with other important spiritual leaders of the time as well. 

Desiring to sacrifice his life to God, George was tonsured into monasticism by the holy hieromartyr Nazar. His rare character combined a nobleman’s deportment with a monk’s humble asceticism. Fr. George was ordained a priest and soon after elevated to the rank of archimandrite. 

Filled with divine love and patriotic sentiment, the holy father willingly endured the heavy burdens and spiritual tribulations afflicting his country at that time. 

In 1924, while Fr. George was laboring at Khirsa Monastery in Kakheti in eastern Georgia, an armed Chekist mob broke into the monastery. The perpetrators beat him, cut off his hair, shaved his beard, and threatened to take his life. He sought refuge with his family, but to no avail—his brothers, who were atheists, shaved off his beard while he was sleeping. (One of Fr. George’s brothers later committed suicide, and the other, together with his wife, was shot to death by the Chekists.) In the same year, Fr. George visited Betania Monastery and was introduced to Fr. John (Maisuradze), with whom he would labor for the remainder of his life. 

Fr. George’s health was poor, and he was able to perform only the lightest of tasks around the monastery. He tended the vegetable garden and took responsibility for raising the bees. He was extremely generous. At times he would give all the monastery’s food to the needy, assuring Fr. John that God Himself would provide their daily bread. 

Tall, thin, and with an upright posture, Fr. George was strict in both appearance and demeanor. He spoke very little with other people, and children did not play with him as they did with Fr. John. Knowing his character, they tried to please him by reciting prayers and behaving themselves. Fr. George did not like to leave the monastery, but it was often necessary for him to travel to Tbilisi to visit his spiritual children— among whom were many secret Christians who worked for the government. 

Fr. George was endowed with the gifts of prophecy and healing, but he was careful to hide them. When constrained to reveal them, he would pass them off as though they were nothing extraordinary. Once a certain pilgrim arrived at the monastery and was surprised to discover that Fr. George knew him by name. Sensing his great amazement, Fr. George told the pilgrim that he had attended his baptism some thirty years earlier, thus concealing his God-given gift. Fr. George knew in advance when his nephew was bringing his sisters, whom he had not seen in forty-eight years, to visit him at the monastery during Great Lent. 

Enlightened with this foreknowledge, Fr. George prepared fish and a festal meal in honor of the occasion. 

The prayers of Fr. George and Fr. John healed the former’s nephew, who was afflicted by a deadly strain of meningitis. They restored hearing to a deaf child and healed many others of their bodily infirmities. 

In 1957, when Fr. John reposed in the Lord, Fr. George was tonsured into the great schema. He was given the name John in honor of his newly departed spiritual brother. Fr. George-John now bore full responsibility for the affairs of the monastery. His health deteriorated further under the weight of this heavy yoke. His spiritual children began to come from the city to care for him. 

Once a twenty-year-old girl arrived at the monastery, complaining of incessant headaches. She had been told that the water from Betania Monastery would heal her. She remained there for one week and was miraculously healed. When she left to return home, Fr. George-John walked five miles to see her off, in spite of his physical frailty. 

The Theotokos appeared to Fr. George-John in a vision and relieved his terrible physical pain. The protomartyr Thekla also appeared to him, presenting him with a bunch of grapes. Several days before his repose, the holy father was in the city when an angel appeared to him and announced his imminent repose. The angel told him to return to the monastery to prepare for his departure from this world. 

St. George-John (Mkheidze) reposed in 1960. He was buried at Betania Monastery, next to Fr. John (Maisuradze). These venerable fathers were canonized on September 18, 2003, at a council of the Holy Synod under the spiritual leadership of His Holiness Ilia II, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia. Frs. John and George-John have been lovingly deemed “one soul in two bodies.â€