Commemoration of All Saints: the Fathers and Mothers Martyred in Georgia and the Venerable
When one comes to know the monuments of Georgian hagiography and the history of Georgia, the thought rightly arises that heavenly Georgia is immeasurably great. No one knows how many washed away the stain of this earth by giving their lives for Christ in the struggle with the lawless, how many cleansed their souls by prayer, fasting and ascetic labour in the cold cells of monasteries; God alone knows of those laymen and women who laboured in silence and tirelessly forged the future of the Georgian Church and of our country.
“Since we have known the one God, we have never denied Him, nor has our nation ever inclined towards heresy”: so said in his time, with the self-awareness of his faith and nation, the holy father George the Athonite.
“We have not been false to thee, our mother in holiness, the Catholic Church, nor have we betrayed thee, our boast, Orthodoxy, whose betrayers we have never become since we were counted worthy of knowing thee; the truth is our witness”: so we read in the acts of the church council of Ruisi-Urbnisi, and this was the cornerstone of every Georgian’s life.
It is impossible to list the Christians who have been raised up from the Apostolic Church of Georgia into the heavenly Church in festival, and still more impossible to describe their labours: “Who can count the sand in the sea, or the stars in the sky? Who can worthily praise the shoulders and arms of Georgia’s heroes?” (A. Tsereteli). It is precisely because of this impossibility that the commemoration of this day says that “they are to be understood among the fathers and mothers martyred in Georgia”, and besides the names of the saints known to all, up to three hundred names of Georgian origin, of fathers and of mothers, are listed in the order of the Georgian alphabet:
— Abel, Abesalom, Abuser, Avag, Avgaroz, Avtandil, Almaskhan, Amiran, Amirando, Anduqapar, Arjevan, Aslan, Aspan, Aprasion, Aghbula, Baadur, Badri, Babila, Bakur, Barata, Bakhva, Bakhuta, Bebur, Beglar, Bedian, Beko, Bezhan, Beri, Beka, Beshken, Betsia, Birtvel, Bichia, Botso, Gaga, Garsevan, Gakha, Gela, Gemel, Givi, Goderdzi, Gostabash, Gocha, Gojaspir, Guguna, Gulbaat, Gurasp, Gurgen, Darispan, Darchia, Demur, Diasam, Dolenj, Durmishkhan, Edisher, Evdomos, Ezra, Elguja, Erekle, Vameq, Vamekh, Vazha, Varaza, Varazvache, Varam, Varden or Vardan, Vache, Vakhushti, Virshel, Zaal, Zaza, Zauta, Zebede, Zurab, Tadia, Tate, Tarkhan, Taqa, Teimuraz, Tengiz, Torghva, Iagor, Iakinte, Iase, Imeda, Iotam, Ioram, Kakhaber, Kviria, Kikola, Lasha, Levan, Liparit, Lomin, Lukhum, Malkhaz, Mamamze, Mamisa, Mamistval, Mamuka, Manuchar, Maqa, Makhare, Merab, Mindia, Mirmanoz, Murman, Murzaqan, Navroz, Nariman, Ninia, Nodar, Noshrevan, Nugzar, Otar, Oman, Onisime, Ose, Otia, Okropir, Paata, Papala, Papuna, Ramaz, Ramin, Rati, Roin, Roman, Roseb, Rostvan, Rostom, Savam, Savle, Sargis, Sardion, Saridan, Saurmag, Sese, Sekhnia, Siaosh, Sidamon, Sula, Sulmama, Sulkhan, Sumbat, Tariel, Tetia, Uplisa, Ushang, Paremuza, Parnaoz, Parsadan, Peshang, Piran, Piroz, Potskhver, Pridon, Kavtar, Kartlos, Kvabul, Kveli, Kobul, Kutsna, Ghvtisavar, Ghughun, Qaraman, Qaplan, Qaqita, Qvarqvare, Shabur, Shadiman, Shamadavle, Shanshe, Shermazan, Shergil, Shermadin, Shiaosh, Shota, Shoshita, Tsiskara, Tsotne, Tsate, Khareba, Khakhuta, Khosita, Chola, Jaba, Javakh.
— Agrafina, Anuka, Askila, Asmat, Aspiroz, Borena, Gvantsa, Gugula, Gulvardisa, Gulisa, Gulnaz, Gulnara, Gulkana, Guljavar, Darejan, Despine, Esma, Varskvlavisa, Zeinab, Tatia, Tamta, Teona, Tinatin, Tmagishera, Tuta, Tutia, Kesaria, Kravai, Lamaza, Lamara, Lela, Lertsmisa, Magdan, Maia, Maka, Manana, Margalita, Marekh, Mzetvala, Mzekala, Mzekha, Mzistanadar, Mnatob, Mnatobisa, Monavardisa, Nadia, Nargiz, Nestan, Pirimtvarisa, Pirimze, Rodam, Rusudan, Sagdukhta, Terezia, Umanko, Patman, Pakizo, Patsia, Kabato, Kalia, Kurtsik, Tsatso, Tsiskara, Tsitsino, Khatuta, Khvaramze, Khvashak, Khoreshan.
A fairly large part of Georgian Christians bear the names of the saints commemorated on this day and ask for their intercession.
