Saint John of Zedazni and his 12 disciples, among whom were Aviv, the bishop of Nekresi, Anthony of Martkobi, David of Gareja, and others, came to Georgia from Cappadocia in the mid-6th century to promote Christian enlightenment. John, who received his spiritual education in Antioch, became the founder of Georgian monasticism.
On the way to Georgia, they received a blessing from Saint Simeon the Stylite the Younger and were joyfully welcomed in Mtskheta, where John settled on Mount Zedazeni. The disciples, following his teachings, dispersed to various regions of Georgia, preaching the Word of God and establishing monasteries.
Saint Zenon founded a monastery in Ikalto, Saint Thaddeus established a monastery at the foot of Mount Zedazeni, Saint Isidore in Samtavisi, Saint Michael in Ulumbi, Saint Pirr on the Dvanistskhali River, and Saint Stephen near Khirsa. All of them worked for the good of Christianity, and many were healed through their prayers.
Saint John, opposing evil spirits, received a revelation about his death and bequeathed to his disciples to bury him in a cave on the mountain. After his passing, the body was transferred to the monastery, but the earthquakes ceased only after he was buried in the cave, as he had instructed. In the 10th century, a church was built in honor of John the Baptist, where his holy relics, renowned for many miracles, are kept.
