Davit-Gareji Monastery was founded in the sixth century by St. Davit, one of the thirteen Syrian Fathers who are honored as the founding fathers of Georgian monasticism. The monastery is a rock-hewn complex with hundreds of cells, churches, refectories, and living quarters. It is located in the Kakheti region in eastern Georgia, about forty miles southeast of Tbilisi. Over the centuries, a whole host of venerable ascetics and martyrs have shone forth in the Gareji desert. This article is dedicated to these great men of God.

St. Dodo of Gareji

(†596; May 26/June 8)

Among the many great Gareji Fathers is St. Dodo of Gareji from the royal family of Andronikashvili, who first began his monastic life as a hermit at Ninotsminda in the province of Kakheti. It’s unknown where the name “Dodo” originated from, as the entomology of this name predates the now extinct flightless bird (from the 17^th century), and the name isn’t found previously in the Georgian or Syriac languages.

Upon hearing of the miracles and wisdom of St. Davit of Gareji, St. Dodo went on pilgrimage to see this holy elder for himself, with the venerable fathers greeting each other warmly. St. Davit was quickly impressed with his new disciple and tasked him with creating a new monastery where he could labor with other monks from the brotherhood. Before long, the number of cells reached two hundred, but St. Dodo didn’t let this hinder his asceticism aimed at the forgiveness of his sins, the strengthening of the faith of his brotherhood, and the strengthening of the Christian faith within Georgia.

He labored until the end of his life in a narrow crevice where there was hardly room for even one man. The strengthening of the Christian faith within Georgia would be soon realized when the son of Prince Bubakar was healed through the prayers of St. Davit and St. Dodo and was then baptized into the Christian faith. Having reached a venerable old age, St. Dodo peacefully reposed in the monastery that he founded, with his spiritual sons burying him in the cave where he had labored.

Within the Georgian nation, the monastery of St. Dodo of Gareji is one of the strictest, and pilgrims are only allowed to visit on major feast days, with no photographs being allowed.

Armed with holiness divine, O venerable and wonder-working Father Dodo, pray without ceasing to God on behalf of us all!

The Holy Martyrs Shio the New, Davit, Gabriel, and Pavle

(†1696; June 1/14)

Still, despite this devastating destruction of the brotherhoods in the Gareji wilderness, the flame of monasticism lived on in the seventeenth century, and this time, the servants of the evil one came from Islamic Dagestan to grant the crown of martyrdom to the monks Shio the New, Davit, Gabriel and Pavle.

St. Shio the New fled from the vanity of this world after seeing his biological brothers quarrel over their inheritance to the point of murder. He was known by his brotherhood for his tireless labors, humility, and manifest love for them.

Upon entering the monastery, the Dagestani robbers mercilessly martyred or enslaved every member of the brotherhood. The clerical vestments were either stolen or torn to pieces and thrown down the monastery well, and the holy icons were cut to pieces by the Saracens’ axes.

Later, with the blessing of the Patriarch and King, the relics of the holy martyrs were buried in the courtyard south of the grave of St. Davit of Gareji.

O Venerable Martyrs of Christ, Shio the New, Davit, Gabriel, and Pavle, entreat Christ Jesus, the Illuminator of the world, to have mercy on the children of His Church!

(K. Myazha)

(to be continued)