November 20, 2010

Grave of St. Maximus the Confessor Discovered in Tsageri, Georgia


The name of Maximus the Confessor is closely linked with Georgia: after the Church Father was exiled from Byzantium in 662 with two of his disciples, he spent his last days in Lazica, Western Georgia, and was cast in the fortress of Schemarum, perhaps Muris-Tsikhe near the modern town of Tsageri. He died there on 13 August 662. It is interesting that the monastery where his grave was discovered is named after Saint Maximus.

October 26, 2010
Rustavi 2

French anthropologists have confirmed that the grave of Saint Maximus the Confessor is in Tsageri, Svaneti Region, Georgia. A special conference dedicated to the discovery was held in the Youth Centre of the Saint Trinity Cathedral yesterday. The participants have discussing the details of the discovery and history of Saint Maximus. They said the only holy part of Saint Maximus` body has been so far held in Israel.

French scientists presume that after popularizing the discovery, the Tsageri monastery will become a place of pilgrimage for many worshippers due to the grave of the Saint Maximus.

For the video news report, see here.