Bidzina Cholokashvili

Saint Bidzina Cholokashvili, martyr, was a Georgian nobleman and one of the leaders of the Bakhtrioni Uprising of 1659. He died around the year 1660, tortured and killed, and was canonized by the Georgian Orthodox Church. He is commemorated on 18 September by the old calendar, which is 1 October by the new.

In the 1630s he was sakhltukhutsesi (chief steward) of the Kingdom of Kakheti. In the struggle between Teimuraz and Rostom he sided with the former. In 1648, by order of Teimuraz, he invaded Ertso in order to make Ertso-⁠Tianeti subordinate to the King.

After the uprising the Shah summoned Bidzina, as well as Shalva and Elizbar Eristavi. These were pressed to renounce their faith, but none of them accepted. As a result they were given to tribes whose members had been slaughtered in the uprising. Bidzina was tortured and killed.