Stephen of Khirsa

Saint Stephen of Khirsa (Georgian Stefane Khirseli), a venerable father, was one of the disciples of Father John of Zedazeni who came from Syria to Georgia in the 6th century. He is venerated in the Georgian Orthodox Church; in our record he is remembered on 9 January.

According to hagiography he was born in Syria. In his youth he joined the monastery founded by the monk John and left the Syrian desert with him as one of the twelve chosen disciples. With the other monks of the community he lived on Mount Zaden (later Zedazeni), where the people regarded him as a holy ascetic and wonderworker. At John's command he left the mountain and went to Kakheti with the monks Anthony, Joseph and Zeno, where another disciple of John, Bishop Abibos, was already at work.

Orthodox hagiography calls him "the crown of strength and knowledge". He carried on missionary work in Kakheti, then founded the monastery of Saint Stephen at Hornabuji. There he died and was buried.