Bishop
Saint Neophytus, Bishop of Urbnisi, was a Persian military commander named Omar, who, participating in Sultan Ahmed's campaign in Georgia, saw a host of Angels above the Shiomghvimi Monastery and, struck by its beauty, decided to become a monk. He returned to the monastery, accepted Holy Baptism, and was tonsured with the name Neophytus.
Neophytus became the abbot of the monastery and became renowned for his angelic life. The Catholicos Samuel IV called him from the monastery and elevated him to the Urbnisi see. With apostolic zeal, he began to spread the Christian faith among pagans and fire-worshippers, which aroused hatred against him.
The pagans decided to kill him and, catching him while he was praying, subjected him to a torturous death by stoning in the year 587.
The body of the saint was transferred to the Shiomghvimi Monastery and laid under the altar of the cathedral church. His former servants, Christodoulos and Christopher, also became renowned in the monastery, and Christopher became the abbot.
The Georgian Church commemorates the memory of Saint Neophytus, Bishop of Urbnisi, on October 28/November 10.
