Venerable George of Chqondidi (+1118)

The Venerable George of Chqondidi, the mtsignobartukhutsesi — “a man perfect in every good of soul and body, full of wisdom and understanding, discerning, fortunate and prudent” — was born in the first half of the eleventh century. It is supposed that George was of the family of the princes of Mingrelia.

Vladyka George of Chqondidi was “the tutor and fellow-labourer in all the ways, deeds and labours” of David the Builder. George was “as a father to the king, and no business was done without him”. Vladyka George was “a just judge of the helpless and a protector of widows”.

The “Canons” of the church council of Ruisi-Urbnisi, called in 1104, name Saint George of Chqondidi “the eye of the council” and mention his lordship with a blessing: “To our worthy master and the eye of this holy council, the renowned George, monk and mtsignobartukhutsesi, many years.”

Under the leadership and through the shrewd actions of Saint George of Chqondidi the Georgians recovered the city of Samshvilde, which had been captured by the Turks, and in 1115 they liberated the city of Rustavi, which was of the greatest importance for the state.

In 1118 George of Chqondidi went with King David the Builder to bring Kipchak warriors to Georgia. Unhappily this proved to be his last earthly labour: Vladyka George, who was in Ossetia, died suddenly.

The death of Vladyka George of Chqondidi, the mtsignobartukhutsesi, was a great loss for the country and the Church, and “the whole kingdom mourned him, and the king himself, as a father and more than a father, in black garments for forty days”.

The grieving King David the Builder brought Saint George of Chqondidi back to western Georgia and buried him with great honour in the monastery of Gelati.