[Readingsandsaints] Readings and Saints

Fri Nov 30 05:00:22 CST 2007

Scripture Readings and Saints for Fri Nov 30 2007

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------ READINGS FOR TODAY ----------------------------
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1 Peter 1:1-2:6  (Vespers, 1st Reading)
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion
in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in
sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the
blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade
away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready
to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need
be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than
gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to
praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet
believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith-the salvation of your souls.
10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched
carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who
was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings
of Christ and the glories that would follow.
12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they
were ministering the things which now have been reported to you
through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit
sent from heaven-things which angels desire to look into.
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your
hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the
revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former
lusts, as in your ignorance;
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your
conduct,
16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges
according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time
of your stay here in fear;
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like
silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from
your fathers,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot.
20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but
was manifest in these last times for you
21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and
gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the
Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently
with a pure heart,
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible,
through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
24 because "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the
flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away,
25 But the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word
which by the gospel was preached to you.
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and
all evil speaking,
2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may
grow thereby,
3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but
chosen by God and precious,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a
holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ.
6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in
Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him
will by no means be put to shame."
Scripture Reading 1 of 6

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1 Peter 2:21-3:9  (Vespers, 2nd Reading)
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He
suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges
righteously;
24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we,
having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you
were healed.
25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the
Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if
some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the
conduct of their wives,
2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.
3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging the hair,
wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-
4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the
incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very
precious in the sight of God.
5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in
God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,
6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are
if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor
to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of
the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one
another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;
9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the
contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may
inherit a blessing.
Scripture Reading 2 of 6

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1 Peter 4:1-11  (Vespers, 3rd Reading)
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves
also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has
ceased from sin,
2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for
the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of
the Gentiles-when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness,
revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with
them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living
and the dead.
6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead,
that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live
according to God in the spirit.
7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and
watchful in your prayers.
8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love
will cover a multitude of sins."
9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as
good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone
ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that
in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom
belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Scripture Reading 3 of 6

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Matthew 4:18-23  (Matins Gospel)
18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon
called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for
they were fishermen.
19 Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of
men."
20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of
Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father,
mending their nets. He called them,
22 and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed
Him.
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,
preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness
and all kinds of disease among the people.
Scripture Reading 4 of 6

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1 Corinthians 4:9-16  (Apostle)
9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men
condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world,
both to angels and to men.
10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are
weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are
dishonored!
11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly
clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless;
being persecuted, we endure;
13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the
world, the offscouring of all things until now.
14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved
children I warn you.
15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet
you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you
through the gospel.
16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.
Scripture Reading 5 of 6

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John 1:35-51  (Apostle)
35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.
36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of
God!"
37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What
do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when
translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"
39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was
staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth
hour).
40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew,
Simon Peter's brother.
41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have
found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).
42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said,
"You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is
translated, A Stone).
43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found
Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom
Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote-Jesus of Nazareth, the
son of Joseph."
46 And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of
Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an
Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"
48 Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and
said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig
tree, I saw you."
49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God!
You are the King of Israel!"
50 Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you
under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than
these."
51 And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you
shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending
upon the Son of Man."
Scripture Reading 6 of 6

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Apostle Andrew, the Holy and All-Praised First-Called
The Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called was the first of the Apostles
to follow Christ, and he later brought his own brother, the holy
Apostle Peter, to Christ (John 1:35-42). The future apostle was from
Bethsaida, and from his youth he turned with all his soul to God. He
did not enter into marriage, and he worked with his brother as a
fisherman. When the holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John began to
preach, St Andrew became his closest disciple. St John the Baptist
himself sent to Christ his own two disciples, the future Apostles
Andrew and John the Theologian, declaring Christ to be the Lamb of
God.
After the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, St Andrew went
to the Eastern lands preaching the Word of God. He went through Asia
Minor, Thrace, Macedonia, he reached the River Danube, went along the
coast of the Black Sea, through Crimea, the Black Sea region and along
the River Dniepr he climbed to the place where the city of Kiev now
stands.
He stopped overnight on the hills of Kiev. Rising in the morning, he
said to those disciples that were with him: "See these hills? Upon
these hills shall shine forth the beneficence of God, and there will
be a great city here, and God shall raise up many churches." The
apostle went up around the hills, blessed them and set up a cross.
Having prayed, he went up even further along the Dniepr and reached a
settlement of the Slavs, where Novgorod was built. From here the
apostle went through the land of the Varangians towards Rome for
preaching, and again he returned to Thrace, where in the small village
of Byzantium, the future Constantinople, he founded the Church of
Christ. The name of the holy Apostle Andrew links the mother, the
Church of Constantinople, with her daughter, the Russian Church.
On his journeys the First-Called Apostle endured many sufferings and
torments from pagans: they cast him out of their cities and they beat
him. In Sinope they pelted him with stones, but remaining unharmed,
the persistant disciple of Christ continued to preach to people about
the Savior. Through the prayers of the Apostle, the Lord worked
miracles. By the labors of the holy Apostle Andrew, Christian Churches
were established, for which he provided bishops and clergy. The final
city to which the Apostle came was the city of Patra, where he was
destined to suffer martyrdom.
The Lord worked many miracles through His disciple in Patra. The
infirm were made whole, and the blind received their sight. Through
the prayers of the Apostle, the illustrious citizen Sosios recovered
from serious illness; he healed Maximilla, wife of the governor of
Patra, and his brother Stratokles. The miracles accomplished by the
Apostle and his fiery speech enlightened almost all the citizens of
the city of Patra with the true Faith.
Few pagans remained at Patra, but among them was the prefect of the
city, Aegeatos. The Apostle Andrew repeatedly turned to him with the
words of the Gospel. But even the miracles of the Apostle did not
convince Aegeatos. The holy Apostle with love and humility appealed to
his soul, striving to reveal to him the Christian mystery of life
eternal, through the wonderworking power of the Holy Cross of the
Lord. The angry Aegeatos gave orders to crucify the apostle. The pagan
thought he might undo St Andrew's preaching if he were to put him to
death on the cross.
St Andrew the First-Called accepted the decision of the prefect with
joy and with prayer to the Lord, and went willingly to the place of
execution. In order to prolong the suffering of the saint, Aegeatos
gave orders not to nail the saint's hands and feet, but to tie them to
the cross. For two days the apostle taught the citizens who gathered
about. The people, in listening to him, with all their souls pitied
him and tried to take St Andrew down from the cross. Fearing a riot of
the people, Aegeatos gave orders to stop the execution. But the holy
apostle began to pray that the Lord would grant him death on the
cross. Just as the soldiers tried to take hold of the Apostle Andrew,
they lost control of their hands. The crucified apostle, having given
glory to God, said: "Lord Jesus Christ, receive my spirit." Then a
blazing ray of divine light illumined the cross and the martyr
crucified upon it. When the light faded, the holy Apostle Andrew had
already given up his holy soul to the Lord. Maximilla, the wife of the
prefect, had the body of the saint taken down from the cross, and
buried him with honor.
A few centuries later, under the emperor Constantine the Great, the
relics of the holy Apostle Andrew were solemnly transferred to
Constantinople and placed in the church of the Holy Apostles beside
the relics of the holy Evangelist Luke and St Paul's disciple St
Timothy.
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St Frumentius the Archbishop of Abyssinia, Ethiopia
Saint Frumentius, Archbishop of Inda (Ethiopia, formerly Abysssinia),
was a native of the city of Tyre. While still a child, he came to
Abyssinia by divine Providence. Growing up near the imperial court, he
became a friend and chief counselor of the Abyssinian emperor, and
afterwards tutor to his son, who ascended the throne while still a
minor after the death of his father.
With the consent of the new emperor, St Frumentius journeyed to his
native land and afterwards visited Alexandria and its patriarch, St
Athanasius the Great (May 2). With the blessing of St Athanasius,
Frumentius was elevated to become Bishop of Abyssinia and he returned
to that country, which had sheltered him from his childhood.
After he returned from his consecration, St Frumentius began to
perform miracles, bringing many people to the Church. The emperor said
to him, "You have lived among us for many years, yet we never saw you
perform such wonders. Why is it that you do so now?" The saint
replied, "This has nothing to do with me, but is due to the grace of
the priesthood." Then the emperor and many of his subjects received
holy Baptism.
Having accomplished the apostolic task of converting the Abyssinian
nation to Christ, St Frumentius zealously and fruitfully guided the
Church entrusted him by God for many years, then peacefully departed
to the Lord in great old age.
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Entrance of the Apostle Andrew into Georgia
No information available at this time.
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St Vakhtang Gorgasali, King of Georgia
The holy and right-believing king Vakhtang I ascended the throne of
Kartli at the age of fifteen. At that time Kartli was continually
being invaded by the Persians from the south and by the Ossetians from
the north. The situation was no better in western Georgia: the
Byzantines had captured all the lands from Egrisi to Tsikhegoji.
After his coronation, the young King Vakhtang summoned his court and
addressed his dedicated servants with great wisdom. He said that the
sorrowful circumstances in which the nation had found itself were a
manifestation of Gods anger at the sins of the king and the people. He
called upon everyone to struggle in unity and selflessness on behalf
of the Faith and motherland.
King Vakhtang led a victorious campaign against the Ossetians, freed
the captive princess (his older sister), and signed several treaties
with the Caucasian mountain tribes to secure their cooperation in the
struggle against foreign conquerors. Then he carried out another
campaign in western Georgia, freed that region from the Byzantines,
reinforced the authority of KingGubaz, and returned in triumph to
Kartli.
King Vakhtang was remarkable in faith, wisdom, grace, virtue, and
appearance (he towered above all others at a stately seven feet ten
inches). He spent many nights in prayer and distributed alms to the
poor, in this way dedicating his life to God. King Vakhtang could
fight tirelessly in battle. Vested in armor and fully armed, he could
carry a war-horse on his shoulders and climb from Mtskheta to the
Armazi Fortress in the mountains outside the city. On foot he could
outrun a deer. The holy king was judicious in politics, displayed
great composure, and preserved a sense of calm even when critical
decisions needed to be made.
On the brow of Vakhtangs military helmet was depicted a wolf, and on
the back, a lion. Catching a glimpse of the helmet with the wolf and
lion, the Persians would cry out to one another: Dar az gurgsar!
(Beware of the wolf s head!) This was the source of King Vakhtangs
appellation Gorgasali.
During King Vakhtangs reign the Georgian Church was first recognized
as autocephalous. When the holy king banished the pagan
fire-worshippers from Georgia, he also sent a certain Bishop
Michaelwho was inclined to the Monophysite heresy, which had been
planted in Georgia by the Persiansto Constantinople to be tried by the
patriarch. The bishop had disgracefully cursed the king and his army
for rising up against the Monophysites. In fact, he was so infuriated
that when King Vakhtang approached him to receive his blessing, he
kicked him in the mouth and broke several of his teeth.
The patriarch of Constantinople subsequently defrocked Bishop Michael
and sent him to a monastery to repent.
More importantly perhaps, the patriarch and the Byzantine emperor then
sent to the patriarch of Antioch several clergymen whom King Vakhtang
had chosen for consecration. In Antioch the patriarch consecrated
twelve of these clergymen as bishops and enthroned a certain Petre as
the first Catholicos of Georgia.
Vakhtang fulfilled the will of Holy King Mirian by founding the
Georgian Holy Cross Monastery in Jerusalem. In addition, he replaced a
wooden church that had been built in Mtskheta at the time of St. Nino
with a church made of stone. During his reign several new dioceses
were founded. King Vakhtang built a cathedral in Nikozi (Inner Kartli)
and established a new diocese there, to which he translated the holy
relics of the Protomartyr Razhden.
King Vakhtang built fortresses at Tukhari, Artanuji, and Akhiza;
founded monasteries in Klarjeti at Artanuji, Mere, Shindobi, and
Akhiza; and established many other strongholds, churches, and
monasteries as well. He built a new royal residence in Ujarma and laid
the foundations of the new Georgian capital, Tbilisi. His political
creed consisted of three parts: an equal union of the Georgian Church
with the Byzantine Church, national independence, and the unity of the
Church and nation.
In the year 502 the sixty-year-old King Vakhtang was obliged to defend
his country for the last time. In a battle with the Persians he was
fatally wounded when a poisoned arrow pierced him under the arm.
Before he died, King Vakhtang summoned the clergy, his family and his
court and urged them to be strong in the Faith and to seek death for
Christs sake in order to gain eternal glory.
All of Georgia mourned the passing of the king. His body was moved
from the royal residence in Ujarma to Mtskheta, to Svetitskhoveli
Cathedral, which he had himself built. There he was buried with great
honor.
Some fifteen centuries later, with the blessing of
Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, an addition was built onto the Sioni
Patriarchal Cathedral in Holy King Vakhtang Gorgasalis name, and a
cathedral in his honor was founded in the city of Rustavi.
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Hierarch Samuel, Second Catholicos of Georgia
Saint Peter was the first catholicos of Georgia. He led the Church of
Kartli from the 460s through the beginning of the 6th century.
According to Gods will, St. Peter inaugurated the dynasty of the chief
shepherds of Georgia.
It is written in the biography of Holy King Vakhtang IV Gorgasali that
the king was introduced to Peter, a pupil of St. Gregory the
Theologian, during one of his visits to Byzantium, and he became very
close to him. At that time he was also introduced to the future
catholicos Samuel.
The close spiritual bond of the holy king and the catholicos, combined
with their concerted efforts on behalf of the Church, contributed
immeasurably to the establishment of friendly political relations
between Georgia and Byzantium and the proclamation of the autocephaly
of the Georgian Apostolic Church.
Having returned to his own capital, King Vakhtang sent an envoy to
Byzantium to find him a wife. He also sent a request that the hierarch
Peter be elevated as catholicos and that the priest Samuel be
consecrated bishop. He pleaded with the patriarch to hasten the
arrival of Catholicos Peter and the twelve bishops with him.
The patriarch of Constantinople approved King Vakhtangs request to
institute the rank of catholicos of Georgia. Since the Georgian Church
was still under the jurisdiction of Antioch, Peter and Samuel were
sent to the Antiochian patriarch himself to be elevated. The
autocephaly of the Georgian Church was proclaimed upon the arrival of
the holy fathers in Georgia.
St. Peter ruled the Church according to the principle of autocephaly
and established a form of self-rule that would later help to increase
the authority of the Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church.
The mutual respect and cooperation of the catholicos and the holy king
laid the foundations for future, harmonious relations between secular
and Church authorities in Georgia. Their example defined the authority
of the Church and a national love and respect for the king.
Peter accompanied Holy King Vakhtang Gorgasali to war with the
Persians in 502. It is written that the fatally wounded king Vakhtang
summoned the catholicos, the queen, his sons and all the nobility. St.
Peter heard the kings last confession, granted the remission of his
sins, presided at his funeral service, and blessed the prince Dachi
(502514) to succeed him as king of Kartli.
Holy Catholicos Peter led the Georgian Church with great wisdom to the
end of his days.
St. Samuel ascended the throne of the Apostolic Orthodox Church of
Georgia in the 6th century, after the holy catholicos Peter.
Like St. Peter, Samuel was a native of Byzantium. He arrived with
Catholicos Peter in Georgia as a bishop, at the invitation of King
Vakhtang Gorgasali and with the blessing of the patriarch of
Constantinople.
At that time Svetitskhoveli in Mtskheta was the residence of the
catholicos.
After the repose of Catholicos Peter, Samuel succeeded him, and King
Dachi bestowed upon him the city of Mtskheta, according to the will of
King Vakhtang. St. Samuel led the Georgian Church during the reigns of
King Dachi and his son Bakur. He initiated construction of Tsqarostavi
Church in the Javakheti region.
What we know of St. Samuels activity paints him as a pastor who
demonstrated great foresight and cared deeply about his flock. He was
also a close acquaintance of the holy martyr Queen Shushanik.
St. Samuel faithfully served the Autocephalous Church of Georgia and
labored to strengthen the Christian Faith of the Georgian people to
the end of his days.
The Holy Synod of the Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church canonized the
holy catholicos Peter and the holy catholicos Samuel on October 17,
2002.
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Hierarch Peter, First Catholicos of Georgia
Saint Peter was the first catholicos of Georgia. He led the Church of
Kartli from the 460s through the beginning of the 6th century.
According to Gods will, St. Peter inaugurated the dynasty of the chief
shepherds of Georgia.
It is written in the biography of Holy King Vakhtang IV Gorgasali that
the king was introduced to Peter, a pupil of St. Gregory the
Theologian, during one of his visits to Byzantium, and he became very
close to him. At that time he was also introduced to the future
catholicos Samuel.
The close spiritual bond of the holy king and the catholicos, combined
with their concerted efforts on behalf of the Church, contributed
immeasurably to the establishment of friendly political relations
between Georgia and Byzantium and the proclamation of the autocephaly
of the Georgian Apostolic Church.
Having returned to his own capital, King Vakhtang sent an envoy to
Byzantium to find him a wife. He also sent a request that the hierarch
Peter be elevated as catholicos and that the priest Samuel be
consecrated bishop. He pleaded with the patriarch to hasten the
arrival of Catholicos Peter and the twelve bishops with him.
The patriarch of Constantinople approved King Vakhtangs request to
institute the rank of catholicos of Georgia. Since the Georgian Church
was still under the jurisdiction of Antioch, Peter and Samuel were
sent to the Antiochian patriarch himself to be elevated. The
autocephaly of the Georgian Church was proclaimed upon the arrival of
the holy fathers in Georgia.
St. Peter ruled the Church according to the principle of autocephaly
and established a form of self-rule that would later help to increase
the authority of the Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church.
The mutual respect and cooperation of the catholicos and the holy king
laid the foundations for future, harmonious relations between secular
and Church authorities in Georgia. Their example defined the authority
of the Church and a national love and respect for the king.
Peter accompanied Holy King Vakhtang Gorgasali to war with the
Persians in 502. It is written that the fatally wounded king Vakhtang
summoned the catholicos, the queen, his sons and all the nobility. St.
Peter heard the kings last confession, granted the remission of his
sins, presided at his funeral service, and blessed the prince Dachi
(502514) to succeed him as king of Kartli.
Holy Catholicos Peter led the Georgian Church with great wisdom to the
end of his days.
St. Samuel ascended the throne of the Apostolic Orthodox Church of
Georgia in the 6th century, after the holy catholicos Peter.
Like St. Peter, Samuel was a native of Byzantium. He arrived with
Catholicos Peter in Georgia as a bishop, at the invitation of King
Vakhtang Gorgasali and with the blessing of the patriarch of
Constantinople.
At that time Svetitskhoveli in Mtskheta was the residence of the
catholicos.
After the repose of Catholicos Peter, Samuel succeeded him, and King
Dachi bestowed upon him the city of Mtskheta, according to the will of
King Vakhtang. St. Samuel led the Georgian Church during the reigns of
King Dachi and his son Bakur. He initiated construction of Tsqarostavi
Church in the Javakheti region.
What we know of St. Samuels activity paints him as a pastor who
demonstrated great foresight and cared deeply about his flock. He was
also a close acquaintance of the holy martyr Queen Shushanik.
St. Samuel faithfully served the Autocephalous Church of Georgia and
labored to strengthen the Christian Faith of the Georgian people to
the end of his days.
The Holy Synod of the Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church canonized the
holy catholicos Peter and the holy catholicos Samuel on October 17,
2002.
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