David of Gareji was a 6th-century monk, anchorite, and one of the thirteen Assyrian Apostles who spread Christianity throughout the Kingdom of Iberia. A disciple of John of Zedazeni, he established the David Gareji monastery alongside his followers, Dodo and Lukiane. He is famously known as a Desert Father and a wonderworker, recognized for his deep humility. After a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he returned to Iberia, where he lived and died within the monastic community he helped found.
Life and pilgrimage
During a journey to Jerusalem, David felt unworthy to enter the city gates, choosing instead to remain on a surrounding hill. He departed the Holy Land carrying three stones, though envoys from the Patriarch of Jerusalem reclaimed two of them. He returned to Iberia with a single stone, which became a celebrated relic. He remained at his monastery until his death in the latter half of the 6th century.
Veneration and legacy
Regarded as the founder of the Georgian Thebaid, David is a highly respected patron of the Georgian Church. His tomb became a site of public worship in the 9th century. The stone he brought from Jerusalem, often called the stone of grace, was historically hidden to protect it from raids and is currently kept at the Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi. Archaeological studies in 2000 confirmed the historical accuracy of his traditions.