Metropolitan Dositheus

Metropolitan Dositheus was a hieromartyr (d. September 11, 1795). During the raid on Tbilisi by Agha Mohammad Khan, the Qizilbash massacred the clergy with particular cruelty. Although, the names of all the martyrs have not been preserved, Metropolitan Dositheus is well known among them.

Metropolitan Dositheus was brought to the banks of the Mtkvari River with other captured clergymen and Qizilbash demanded that they renounce their faith, but no amount of torture could break them. The Qizilbash threw the bound church servants one by one into the overflowing river. Metropolitan Dositheus, who was already on the verge of death, was given the “priestly privilege” — he was thrown into the river unbound.

Metropolitan Dositheus is canonized by the Georgian Church. His memorial day is September 12 (25).

T. Margvelashvili