Saint John of Zedazeni and his 12 disciples, who came from Cappadocia to Georgia in the mid-6th century, became the founders of Georgian monasticism. John, having received spiritual education in Antioch, chose 12 disciples and, following the command of the Mother of God, went to Georgia, where he was joyfully welcomed by the people and King Parsman. They settled on Mount Zedazeni, where a pagan shrine had previously been located, and led an ascetic life, healing the sick through prayers.
The holy disciples, such as Aviv, Zenon, Thaddeus, Isidore, Michael, Pirr, and Stephen, preached the Word of God, destroyed idolatry, and erected churches. Each of them founded monasteries and churches in various regions of Georgia, establishing Christianity.
Saint John, opposing evil spirits, healed a source of healing water on Mount Zedazeni. Before his death, he called his disciples and bequeathed to bury him in a cave on the mountain. He passed away between 557 and 560. The disciples, forgetting the bequest, moved his body to the monastery, but the earth trembled until they laid him 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, glorified by many miracles, are kept.
