Venerable Michael of Parekhi (VII–IX)
The Venerable Michael of Parekhi came from Shavsheti, from the village of Norgiali. He was tonsured a monk at Midznadzori and laboured there. It is known that he was one of the greatest ascetics, and at the same time a father who struggled for the revival of his country. When he heard of the monks labouring at Khandzta, he went there, settled at Parekhi and, at God’s call, made a small chapel and a dwelling for the brethren in a rocky place that no one could reach. He himself sought solitude and lived a life pleasing to God. He had many disciples, “perfect and radiant with virtues”. The blessed father’s labour was pleasing to the Lord, and He granted him the gift of “working miracles and signs”. By divine revelation Saint Michael received the command to send his disciples, Saint Serapion (commemorated 5 (18) October) and John, to Samtskhe to build a monastery. And they set out with the brethren for Samtskhe and built a splendid house at Zarzma.
The devil, the most wicked enemy of the human race, saw the good that came about as the disciples of the Venerable Michael of Parekhi multiplied, and tried with a thousand temptations to drive the holy father out of the desert.
Once Father Michael was praying on the top of a rock away from his cell. The devil threw the monk down from the height, but the Lord kept him unharmed. The frightened Michael sent a disciple to the Venerable Grigol of Khandzta, called him to himself and told him of the whole trial. The Venerable Grigol comforted the brother, set up two crosses on the right and on the left, and said to him: “Between these two crosses of Christ abide without fear, by the help of the Holy Trinity and the power of the precious Cross. But if thou go away, thou shalt again suffer worse than the first time.”
The brothers in Christ prayed and glorified God. After this blessed Michael found complete rest, for by humility he had cast down the proud enemy.
The Venerable Michael laboured long at Parekhi, reposed in deep old age, and was buried in the house he had founded.
According to Saint Basil of Zarzma (commemorated 6 (9) October), the life, labours, teachings and miracles of the Venerable Michael of Parekhi were written down by his disciples after his death. This work has not come down to us. Information about the venerable father Michael of Parekhi has been preserved in the Lives of Grigol of Khandzta and Serapion of Zarzma.
