Samuel of Georgia

Holy Hierarch Samuel of Georgia was the second catholicos of Georgia, in the sixth century, the successor of Saint Peter. Like Peter, he was a native of Byzantium.

He came to Georgia as a bishop, together with Catholicos Peter, at the invitation of King Vakhtang Gorgasali and with the blessing of the patriarch of Constantinople. At that time the residence of the catholicos was Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta. After Peter's repose he ascended the throne, and King Dachi gave him the city of Mtskheta, according to the will of King Vakhtang. He led the Georgian Church in the reigns of King Dachi and his son Bakur. He began the building of the church at Tsqarostavi in the Javakheti region. What we know of his activity shows a pastor of great foresight who cared deeply for his flock; he was also a close acquaintance of the holy martyr Queen Shushanik. He faithfully served the autocephalous Church of Georgia and laboured to strengthen the Christian faith of the Georgian people to the end of his days.

The Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church canonized him, with Catholicos Peter, on 17 October 2002. He is commemorated on 30 November by the old style (13 December by the new style).