Ephrem Matskvereli

Venerable Ephrem Matskvereli, called "Ephrem the Great", was bishop of Atskuri (Matskveri) roughly in the years 845-885. Reports about him are preserved in the Life of Gregory of Khandzta, written by George Merchule. He was born in Kartli, in a noble family, grew up in the Khandzta monastery, then lived in the Nedzvi monastery and was a disciple of Gregory of Khandzta.

He enjoyed great authority. He dissolved peacefully a powerful faction raised against Catholicos Arsen I and reconciled with the catholicos the dissatisfied bishops and the chief prince Gvaram. According to one version, through his efforts the Church of Georgia received, with the consent of Patriarch Sergius of Jerusalem (843-859), the right to consecrate the chrism in Kartli, although some scholars think the Church at Mtskheta had this right earlier. He was buried in the church of Atskuri. The Church of Georgia counts him among the saints and commemorates him on 17 April (old style; 30 April new style).