Isidore of Samtavisi

Holy Venerable Isidore of Samtavisi was one of the twelve disciples of Venerable John of Zedazeni, Syrian (Cappadocian) ascetics who laid the foundation of Georgian monasticism. He is commemorated on 20 May (new style).

Venerable John of Zedazeni and his twelve disciples, Abibus, Anthony, David, Zeno, Thaddeus, Ise, Joseph, Isidore, Michael, Pirrus, Stephen and Shio, came to Georgia from Cappadocia in the middle of the sixth century. The thirteen holy fathers were probably Georgians who had received their spiritual training in the famous Lavra of Saint Symeon the Stylite and in other monasteries of Syria and Mesopotamia, in order to return to their homeland and help its Christian enlightenment.

John, their head, had been trained at Antioch. While still young he took monastic vows and devoted himself to solitary life, gaining gentleness, humility and the gift of working miracles. The fame of his ascetic labours drew many disciples, from whom he chose twelve by lot and, at the command of the Mother of God, set out with them for Georgia. At Mtskheta, the old capital, they crossed the river Kura "with dry feet" and were received joyfully by the people, by King Parsman (542-557) and by the catholicos Eulavius (552-560). They asked the catholicos's blessing and settled on Mount Zedazeni, where there had once been a pagan shrine. The ascetics lived in huts, feeding on herbs and roots, in unceasing prayer and spiritual contemplation, and many sick people came to them and were healed through their prayers.

After Abibus and Ise had been chosen bishops, the Mother of God appeared to John in a dream and commanded him to send his disciples to different places in Georgia, to preach the Word of God. After John's instruction some went to Kakheti, others to Kartli, among them Pirrus, Michael, Thaddeus and Isidore. They taught the people, dispelled the darkness of superstition and destroyed idol worship and pagan shrines in the mountain gorges, raising in their place the holy cross and holy churches.

Saint Isidore, "the garden of virtues", after long apostolic labours founded the monastery of Samtavisi, in honour of the Image of the Saviour Not Made by Hands, where his relics rest. Between 557 and 560 Venerable John, informed of his death, commanded his disciples to bury him in a narrow cave on the mountain, at the place of his struggles. After a time the disciples moved him to the monastery at the foot of the mountain, but the earth began to shake and ceased only when the body was laid in the cave, as the venerable one had asked.