Venerable Simeon of Gareji, Abbot, Clairvoyant and Wonderworker (†1773) — September 4 / September 17 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, September 4 according to the Julian Calendar (September 17 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Venerable Simeon of Gareji.

Venerable Simeon of Gareji was born around the year 1700 in Kakheti. It is known that from his youth he labored at the Gareji Monastery. This most honorable man of God remained a simple monk into his old age, after which he was chosen as abbot of the monastery.

Distinguished by virtue and humility, the holy father had been granted by God the gift of working miracles.

Once Venerable Simeon fell ill and died. For more than an hour he lay without breath; then, by the providence of God, he rose, distributed with his own hands everything he possessed to the fathers of the monastery, and, already a man without possessions, renounced the needs of this world entirely.

When Father Serapion (commemorated August 24) learned of this, he came with the help of others and saw the abbot Simeon, and, enlightened by the grace of foreknowledge, said to him with consoling tears: “O beloved father, give me your holy hands that I may kiss them, for I had wished to be committed to the earth by your holy hands, I, worthless dust; but now you go before me into eternal life. You will depart, father, but I too shall not remain here without you; my soul will soon follow yours.” Thus, with tears of consolation, the blessed fathers embraced one another for the last time. Within a week Simeon set the affairs of the monastery in good order, and on September 4 (17), 1773, on the very anniversary of the day on which he had lain lifeless for an hour, he reposed in peace and committed his holy soul to the Lord. He is buried at Gareji.