John of Chkondidi

Venerable John of Chkondidi was archbishop of Chkondidi, in Georgia, a theologian and a patriot, and passed to the Lord around 1110, on 3 January. He seems to have come from a leading noble family and was one of the best-⁠educated theologians of his time. He is mentioned in the "Life of George the Athonite", written by George the monk.

In 1050, still a layman, he accompanied, with his brother Petrik, King Bagrat and Queen Mary to Constantinople, to the court of Emperor Constantine Monomachos. There they met George the Athonite, who had come from Athos, and sent rich gifts to Athos, and at Iveron a commemoration was established for them. In 1059, at the command of King Bagrat IV, he brought George the Athonite to Georgia, and on George's initiative he was consecrated Bishop of Chkondidi. From 1061 or 1065 he governed this increasingly important see with the rank of archbishop, and supported George in setting right the church affairs of the country. In 1065 he accompanied the king's daughter Martha to Constantinople, and in 1066 or 1067 he went there again, as envoy of the king and a leading hierarch of the Church of Georgia. On this occasion he asked George the priest-⁠monk to write the life of George the Athonite. From 1085 he was an assistant to Catholicos-⁠Patriarch Dimitri (1080 to 1090), with the rank of syncellus. According to a late note in the synaxarion compiled by George the Athonite, he died around 3 January 1110. He is commemorated on 3 January, old style (16 January, new style).