Nazarius of Kutaisi-⁠Gaenati

New Martyr Nazarius of Kutaisi-⁠Gaenati, Metropolitan, and his companions, of Georgia, were killed on 14 August 1924. Nazarius (in the world Joseph Lejava) was born in 1872 in the village of Didi Jikhaishi in Imereti. His forefathers belonged to a long lineage of clergy, and the future metropolitan was nurtured in the Church from the earliest years. He was educated at Kutaisi Theological School, and in 1892 graduated with honors from Tbilisi Seminary. He served first as a deacon and later, from 9 February 1893, as a priest. In 1904, after a series of personal tragedies (first his wife died, then his two daughters), he was tonsured a monk. On 4 November 1918 he was enthroned Metropolitan of Kutaisi.

The years 1922 to 1923 were a difficult period for the Georgian Church. The Bolsheviks razed twelve hundred churches, destroyed much of the Church's wealth, burnt many rare manuscripts and persecuted spiritual leaders, particularly Georgian nationalists. On 10 February 1921, after the Red Army's invasion, the treasures of the Sioni and Svetitskhoveli cathedrals were carried to Kutaisi for safekeeping. Patriarch Leonid gave his blessing for four boxes of holy objects to be buried under the porch at Metropolitan Nazarius's residence, on the grounds of the Bagrati Cathedral. After the Bolsheviks secured their occupation, they discovered where the treasures had been buried and arrested the metropolitan, accusing him of agitating against the government and concealing the possessions of the Church. In court, asked for whom he had hidden the treasure, he answered: "For the Church and the Georgian people." The court sentenced him to execution by firing squad, but the sentence was rescinded; in the end the Bolsheviks imprisoned him and confiscated his belongings. In April 1924 he received amnesty and was released after two years in prison. He returned to his diocese, which was undergoing many trials. He was not permitted to return to his own residence but obliged to live with his brother, while his former home was turned into a storage facility.

On 14 August 1924 a delegation from the village of Simoneti came to the metropolitan to ask him to consecrate their church. At the appointed time he arrived with his retinue and consecrated it. That night a group of Chekists broke into the house where he and his entourage were staying, bound and beat them and dragged them to the village council. Without an investigation, the troika sentenced to death Metropolitan Nazarius and four other clergymen: Priest Herman Jajanidze, Priest Hierotheos Nikoladze, Priest Simon Mchedlidze and Archdeacon Besarion Kukhianidze. A layman was also sentenced. They were shot in the Sapichkhia Forest. In 1994, with the blessing of Catholicos-⁠Patriarch Ilia II, the Council of the Georgian Church resolved with one accord to canonize Metropolitan Nazarius and the clergymen martyred with him, and at the same time all the Orthodox Christians who, for their faith and the independence of their homeland, became victims of the totalitarian regime, proclaiming them the New Martyrs of the Georgian Church. He is commemorated on 14 August (new style; 27 August on the old calendar).