Samuel of Opiza

Venerable Samuel of Opiza (eighth century) was the first abbot of the Opiza Monastery, in Tao-⁠Klarjeti (today in Turkey), after its revival, about 750. He is venerated as a saint in the Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers and Mothers of Klarjeti of the Orthodox Church of Georgia, canonized in October 2002 (by other data in 2003); he is commemorated on 5 October (old calendar).

His name appears in the Life of Venerable Gregory of Khandzta, written by George Merchule in the year 951. The source shows that after Samuel the abbot of Opiza was Andrew, then Venerable George of Opiza, in whose time, about 780, Venerable Gregory of Khandzta came to Opiza. No other sources about his life survive.