Saint Mamai, Catholicos (744)

Saint Mamai the Catholicos (+744) sat on the throne of the head of the Church of Georgia from 731 to 744.

No information about him has been preserved. Catholicos Mamai is mentioned in the list of the fathers of Zedazeni: “At Zedazeni Mamai sat [twenty-]three years; as catholicos of Mtskheta he sat fourteen years.” It seems that the abbot of the monastery of Zedazeni was chosen catholicos of Georgia for his outstanding spirituality and ascetic labours.

The Church of Georgia, grateful for the labours of Saint Mamai, looks to this day with hope to its wise chief shepherd: “We rejoice at thy memory, O holy father of God Mamai, and we ask for mercy: grant us everlasting love through thy holy prayer. Amen.”