Basil Ratishvili

Holy Venerable Basil Ratishvili lived in the thirteenth century, was the uncle of Euthymius III, catholicos of all Georgia, and struggled in the Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos. Gifted with foresight, he was visited by the Most Holy Mother of God, who called him to rebuke the immorality at the royal court of Georgia.

Arriving in Georgia, Saint Basil visited King Demetrius and fearlessly rebuked him for his unblessed marriage, but promised him that if he turned from his dissolute life he would find great happiness and success. Besides the king, he rebuked the apostate feudal lords and revealed their secret plans. The king and his court rejected the old man's admonition, and the saint foretold the king's future: "You will be killed by robbers, without honour, your kingdom will be left without shelter, your children will be scattered, others will subject your realm and your wealth will be plundered." The prophecy was soon fulfilled, but King Demetrius gave his life willingly into the hands of the Mongol conquerors and so washed away his former sins. Saint Basil returned to Athos and passed away in peace in the Iviron Monastery.

He is commemorated on 1 May, in the new style, but his name is not included in the present calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church.