Hieromartyr Neophytus, Bishop of Urbnisi (7th c.) — October 28 / November 10 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, October 28 according to the Julian Calendar (November 10 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Hieromartyr Neophytus, Bishop of Urbnisi.

The holy hieromartyr Neophytus was Persian by birth. In the seventh century, by order of the emir Mumin, ruler of “the Arabs, Syrians and Medes,” the commander Ahmad invaded Georgia with a great army. After laying waste the Liakhvi Gorge, Ahmad sent two commanders, Omar and Buruli, toward Mtskheta. Near the village of Tsikhedidi, at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, the soldiers saw across the river, among the rocks of Sarkineti, “hewn-out caves.” Considering it a disgrace, and an offense before the sultan, to leave them unplundered, they entered the Mtkvari to cross over, but could in no way ford the river.

Bewildered, the Saracens asked their captives: “Is there anything within those caves?” The captives answered that it was the monastery of blessed Shio the Cave-Dweller, where lived “men who were penitents of God,” deprived of every worldly comfort.

The news of them greatly astonished the unbelieving host. The commanders resolved to report everything to Ahmad. Ahmad, seized with fear by the divine power, sent Omar to the monastery with gold and many useful things, and with this request for the monks: “Pray for me, penitents of God, accept this gift of mine, and offer aloe and frankincense as incense at the tomb of your teacher.”

Approaching the caves of Sarkineti, Omar sent a man ahead to the monks to announce that he came to offer comfort and service, and not to do harm.

At the monastery gate the commander beheld “a multitude of bodiless horsemen of light, marvelously walking upon the air, and among them an elderly monk of great beauty of countenance.” The humility of the monastery’s dwellers, and a manner of life so reverent that it seemed “angels were shining forth in bodies,” made a profound impression on Omar. He understood that the strange horsemen were angels of the Lord, and that the elderly monk was the abbot of the monastery, and he said to the brethren: “Holy ones of God, why do you fear men? For I truly see guardians of your monastery — horsemen of light, flying through the air to guard you, and among them a wondrous monk with a hoary beard and hair, whose beauty of appearance I cannot put into words. And I believe that those horsemen are angels of God and that monk is your teacher.”

Omar made a vow before the monks: “When a favorable time comes for me, I will come to you and become a Christian, and be baptized, and become a monk, and remain with you until my death.” He forsook ungodliness, homeland, rank and riches, went to the retreat of Shio the Cave-Dweller, and was baptized. Two of his servants were baptized with him. At baptism Omar was named Neophytus (“new plant”), and his friends Christodoulos (“servant of Christ”) and Christophoros (“clothed in Christ”).

By God’s providence, Saint Neophytus was appointed bishop of the see of Urbnisi. All marveled at the bishop’s wisdom and zeal. He was a true father to his flock: he strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the broken, set right the one who suffered wrong, turned back the erring and sought out the lost; he remained among them, guarded them and did not let them be scattered.

The enemy could not bear the apostolic labors of the Persian. The Mazdeans resolved to kill the bishop who preached Christ.

The ungodly found a convenient moment and fell upon Neophytus as he was praying in solitude. They knew that Saint Neophytus longed for the death of the First Martyr Stephen, and so they sentenced him to be stoned. The saint answered in a gentle voice: “Sweet to me is death, O ungodly ones, sweet to me. I long for the severing of the bonds between the immortal and the mortal nature… From now on I will confirm with my blood the holy Church that I have labored for, which the Son and Word of God gathered through my preaching with His own precious blood; and whatever God has ordained for me, let it be, for He has called me from ungodliness to His own light.”

The raging ungodly stoned the saint. The last words of the holy hieromartyr were: “Lord Jesus Christ, receive my spirit.”