Section 03: St. John of Zedazeni

The abba of the Thirteen. This section treats St. John (Ioane) of Zedazeni, the leader of the group and the father of Georgian monasticism, and the dispersal by which he sent his twelve disciples out from Mount Zedazeni to plant monastic life across Iberia. The first file follows John himself — the Syrian ascetic, the vision that sent him, the community on the mountain over the ruined temple of Zaden. The second follows the second sending, the moment at which one community became the network of foundations that is the Fathers’ real work.

Tradition: Georgian Orthodox

Contents

File Topic
The Leader of the Thirteen St. John of Zedazeni: the Syrian abba, the vision of the Theotokos, Mount Zedazeni and the community over the temple of Zaden, his repose and relics
The Dispersal of the Disciples The second sending: how John dispersed the twelve across Kartli and Kakheti, and the map of foundations that resulted

How to Use

  • Read The Leader of the Thirteen for St. John himself and the mountain that anchors the whole mission.
  • Read The Dispersal of the Disciples for the strategic act that turned a single community into a monastic civilization — and for the roster of where each disciple was sent.
  • The individual disciples are treated in Sections 04 (Shio), 05 (David), and 06 (Anton and the rest).

Cross-References