Sarmean of Georgia

Holy Hierarch Sarmean of Georgia was patriarch (catholicos) of the Orthodox Church of Georgia from 767 (according to some reports from 760) until 774, when he departed to the Lord. These were years of Arab rule, when the Arabs cruelly persecuted Christians, pressed on the servants of the Church and tried by every means to spread Islam. Yet, in spite of the persecution, in the time of Sarmean's patriarchate, in Tbilisi itself, taken by the Arabs and made the residence of the emir, many churches were active.

Sarmean was a firm defender of Orthodoxy, but one day, on the Thursday before the fast, in the Shio-⁠Mgvime Monastery, he gave communion to some strangers who had come with gifts, without asking them to confess their faith. It turned out that they were Jacobites. That same night it was revealed to him in a dream how his carelessness had been unfitting to his rank. In the morning the catholicos gathered the bishops, told them what had happened, burned before them the gifts brought by the Jacobites, withdrew to a cave of the Shio-⁠Mgvime monastery and wept over his mistake with bitter tears. The merciful Lord soon gave him a sign and announced his forgiveness. From Mtskheta came a letter from the bishops: To our great master, Patriarch Sarmean, rejoice. We, your children and those who believe in your holiness, the whole council of bishops, tell you that St Shio appeared to five of us and told each that the Lord had forgiven the catholicos Sarmean.

With the fear of God, humility, faith and love, the holy catholicos Sarmean governed his flock wisely until the end of his days and departed in peace to the Lord in the year 774.

His name is not found in the present calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church. He is commemorated on 3 September, in the new style.