Alexander Okropiridze

Saint Alexander Okropiridze (Alexei Davidovich Okropiridze, in the world) was bishop of Guria and Mingrelia (Samegrelo). He was born in 1824 in the village of Disevi, Gori district, Tiflis province, into a priest's family, and reposed on 9 (22) November 1907. He is a saint of the Church of Georgia, canonized in September 1996 by the Local Council of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

On 8 July 1845 he finished the Tbilisi seminary and in the same year was tonsured a monk at the Transfiguration monastery in Tbilisi. In 1846, as hierodeacon, he entered the Kazan Theological Academy, where on 6 October 1849 he was ordained hieromonk. In 1850 he graduated from the academy with the degree of candidate in theology. On 15 February 1851 he was appointed teacher at the Tbilisi seminary, then in turn superintendent of the theological schools of Abkhazia and Kutaisi. In 1854 and 1855 he was abbot of the first-⁠class Gaenati monastery. On 12 February 1855 he was raised to hegumen at the Abkhaz episcopal see, and in the next year, on 16 February 1856, to archimandrite, with the right to administer the diocese of Abkhazia, since Bishop German (Gogolashvili) had been moved to the see of Imereti.

On 4 March 1862 he was consecrated in the cathedral of Tbilisi bishop of Abkhazia. Governing this see until May 1869, he did much for the restoration of Christianity in that land, which had suffered greatly and was almost wholly laid waste by repeated Turkish invasions. Preaching the Gospel, he went through many villages, baptizing the Abkhazians, opened parish schools and, in the village of Ilori, a theological school for the Abkhazians. For his missionary labour Saint Alexander is often called the "second apostle of Abkhazia".

On 30 May 1869, when Bishop Gerontius retired, he was appointed bishop of Gori, vicar of the diocese of Georgia. In 1878, on his initiative and with his financial support, a diocesan school was opened at Tbilisi. From 1881 to 1886 he held the see of Guria. From 1886 to 1898 he was again bishop of Gori. On his initiative and with his financial support the monasteries of Shio-⁠Mgvime, Zedazeni and David Gareja were restored. He helped introduce the teaching of old Georgian church chant in the theological schools. On 20 March 1898 he was moved to the see of Guria and Mingrelia. He was an honorary member of the Kazan Theological Academy. On 4 November 1903 he was retired. He reposed on 9 November 1907 and was buried on 15 November in the cathedral of the Shio-⁠Mgvime monastery.