New Martyr20th century

New Martyr Nazarius Metropolitan of Kutaisi-Gaenati, and his companions

1872 – 1924

Also known as Metropolitan Nazarius · Joseph Lezhava

Metropolitan Nazarius and his companions suffered during the anti-Church persecution in Georgia after the Russian Revolution.

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August 27Old Calendar

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Commemorated as

The Holy New Hieromartyr Nazarius, Metropolitan of Kutaisi-Gaenati, and his Companions

Life

Nazarius, Metropolitan of Kutaisi-Gaenati, was a hierarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church martyred during the Soviet persecution of the Church in Georgia in the years following the Russian Revolution. Born in 1872 in the village of Didi Jikhaishi in Imereti, with the baptismal name Joseph, he was educated at the Kutaisi Theological School and graduated with honors from the Tbilisi Seminary in 1892. He began serving as a deacon and priest from February 9, 1893; after the deaths of his wife and two daughters, he was tonsured a monk in 1904, and on November 4, 1918, he was enthroned as Metropolitan of Kutaisi.

After the Red Army invaded Georgia in February 1921, treasures of the Sioni and Svetitskhoveli Cathedrals were concealed at the metropolitan's residence. The Bolsheviks discovered the treasures and imprisoned Nazarius for roughly two years on charges of agitation against the state and of hiding the property of the Church; he was released under an amnesty in April 1924. On August 14, 1924, after consecrating a church in the village of Simoneti, he and his companions were seized by Soviet security agents, condemned by a Troika tribunal without investigation, and shot in the Sapichkhia Forest. He is commemorated together with the priests and the archdeacon who suffered with him, and in 1994 the Georgian Orthodox Church numbered them among the New Martyrs of the Georgian Church.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide

TroparionTone 4

Your holy martyrs Nazarius, and those with him, O Lord,
through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God.
For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries,
and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through their intercessions, save our souls!

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline9 momentsReadHide

1872Birth in ImeretiBorn in the village of Didi Jikhaishi in Imereti, Georgia, with the baptismal name Joseph.
1892EducationAfter studying at the Kutaisi Theological School, he graduated with honors from the Tbilisi Seminary.
February 9, 1893Ordination to the clergyHe began serving as a deacon and then priest from this date.
1904Monastic tonsureFollowing the deaths of his wife and two daughters, he was tonsured a monk.
November 4, 1918Enthroned Metropolitan of KutaisiHe was enthroned as Metropolitan of Kutaisi.
February 1921Red Army invasion and concealment of cathedral treasuresAfter the Red Army invaded Georgia, treasures of the Sioni and Svetitskhoveli Cathedrals were buried at the metropolitan's residence on the grounds of Bagrati Cathedral.
c. 1922 – April 1924Imprisonment and releaseThe Bolsheviks discovered the hidden treasures and imprisoned him for about two years on charges of agitating against the government and concealing Church property; he was released under an amnesty in April 1924.
August 14, 1924Martyrdom at Sapichkhia ForestAfter consecrating a church in the village of Simoneti, he and his companions were seized by Chekists, sentenced to death by a Troika tribunal without investigation, and shot to death in the Sapichkhia Forest.
1994GlorificationThe Ecclesiastical Council of the Georgian Orthodox Church, with the blessing of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, canonized Metropolitan Nazarius and his companions, numbering them among the New Martyrs of the Georgian Church.

Contributions & Legacy

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Life and Ministry

Born in 1872 in the Imeretian village of Didi Jikhaishi, the future metropolitan bore the baptismal name Joseph. He received his early education at the Kutaisi Theological School and completed his studies with honors at the Tbilisi Seminary in 1892. Entering the clergy, he served as a deacon and then a priest from February 9, 1893.

After his wife and two daughters died, he was tonsured a monk in 1904, taking the name Nazarius. His monastic and pastoral service led to his elevation to the episcopate, and on November 4, 1918, he was enthroned as Metropolitan of Kutaisi, a see also styled Kutaisi-Gaenati.

Persecution and Martyrdom

The Red Army's invasion of Georgia in February 1921 brought the Church under Soviet pressure. Treasures of the Sioni and Svetitskhoveli Cathedrals were buried for safekeeping at the metropolitan's residence on the grounds of Bagrati Cathedral. When the Bolsheviks discovered the hidden treasures, they arrested Nazarius, accusing him of agitating against the government and of concealing the property of the Church. He was imprisoned for about two years and released under an amnesty in April 1924.

On August 14, 1924, after consecrating a church in the village of Simoneti, Metropolitan Nazarius and his entourage were attacked in the night by Chekists, who bound and beat them and dragged them to the village council. A Troika tribunal sentenced them to death without investigation, and they were shot to death in the Sapichkhia Forest. Suffering with him were Priest Herman (German) Jajanidze, Priest Hierotheos Nikoladze, Priest Simon Mchedlidze, and Archdeacon Besarion Kukhianidze.

Veneration

In 1994 the Ecclesiastical Council of the Georgian Orthodox Church, with the blessing of Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II, canonized Metropolitan Nazarius and his companions, numbering them among the New Martyrs of the Georgian Church. They are commemorated on August 14 (August 14/27 in the old calendar), together with the wider Synaxis of the New Martyrs of Georgia who suffered under the Soviet regime for their faith and the independence of their homeland.

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Whom he tonsured to the monastic life.

George (John)of Georgia

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints