Our Venerable Father John, Abbot of Zedazeni, Martyred by the Saracens (IX)

Saint John laboured in the monastery of Zedazeni, founded by the Venerable John of Zedazeni (commemorated 7 May), the monk who came from Antioch and who, at the appearing of the Mother of God, came to Kartli to strengthen the faith and to revive the monastic life in the land.

Little by little Zedazeni became an unquenchable lamp of Georgia’s spirituality and culture. The fathers of Zedazeni took care of the monastery’s welfare and carried on building work.

Saint John, distinguished for holiness and brotherly love, was appointed abbot of the monastery of Zedazeni. In the ninth century, after the Arab invasions, this, one of the greatest hearths of spirituality, became a target of Saracen raids. During one of the invasions the Arabs seized John, the abbot of the monastery, and put him to death by torture.

In the list of the abbots of Zedazeni compiled by Arsen II (first half of the 13th century), “The names of the holy fathers who reposed in Christ at Zedazeni after John”, there is mention of John, “who was killed by the Saracens at Zedazeni with the sword”. This happened in the ninth century.

The Church of Georgia numbered among the saints the monk who met his end at the hands of violent unbelievers.