Holy Martyr Cosmas of Kartli — October 17 / October 30 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, October 17 according to the Julian Calendar (October 30 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Holy Martyr Cosmas of Kartli.

No biographical information about Saint Cosmas has been preserved. The commemoration for this day says only that he was martyred in Kartli for the faith of Christ.

It is worth noting that, because of its geopolitical position, Georgia was constantly under the aggression of the infidels, and countless laypeople and clergy gave their lives defending the churches and monasteries of Georgia and preserving Orthodox holiness. This was so frequent and ordinary an occurrence that the Church of Georgia established commemoration days only for those among them who stood out for particular labor and significance.

Sadly, the ill fortune of the times has erased even the lives and labors of these distinguished martyrs from history. Today the only means of knowing them and communing with them is the bond of prayer that the Church has established with them on the days of commemoration preserved in the church calendars.