Shio

Venerable Shio of Mgvime lived in Georgia in the sixth century and is commemorated on 4 January and 4 February (new style), together with his disciple Evagrius.

Evagrius had been duke of the Zhichandini district and a high official at the court of the kingdom of Kartli, in western Georgia, and he wished to become a monk. One day, out hunting, he saw a dove bringing food to the hermit Shio, and he took this for a miracle. Shio at first opposed it, since the decision was too hasty, but Evagrius insisted. Shio then told him to go home, settle his affairs, take leave of his family, and then go to the banks of the river Mtkvari and plunge into the water a staff he had given him. If the river dried up before his eyes, that would be a divine sign to begin monastic life; otherwise he must give up his aim. Evagrius did so and, by God's will, stayed with Shio. The number of ascetics around them grew, and the monastery was born.

Evagrius bought at his own cost the village of Saltemba, with its lands, for the community. After a while Shio, with the blessing of his spiritual father, withdrew to a cave and made Evagrius abbot of the community.