Thaddeus of Stepantsminda

Venerable Thaddeus of Stepantsminda was a Cappadocian monk of the sixth century, a disciple of Venerable John of Zedazeni and one of his twelve disciples, called the Cappadocian ascetics. He is venerated in the Orthodox Church, and his commemoration is on 7 (20) May.

With John, among his twelve disciples, he came to Georgia and became one of the founders of Georgian monasticism. At first he lived at Mtskheta, where he founded a monastery. After John's death he preached in Kartli. He founded the church of Saint Stephen at Urbnisi. Then he lived in a cave on Mount Tsklevi, near the town of Kaspi, where he was also buried.

Venerable John of Zedazeni and his twelve disciples, who came from Cappadocia to Georgia in the middle of the sixth century, became the founders of Georgian monasticism. John, who had received his spiritual education at Antioch, chose twelve disciples and, following the command of the Mother of God, went to Georgia, where the people and King Parsman received him with joy. The saints founded monasteries and preached Christianity, overcoming paganism and raising churches. Each of the disciples, among them Habib, Zeno, Thaddeus and Isidore, founded monasteries and churches in different regions of Georgia, such as Ikalto, Urbnisi and Samtavisi.