Life of st. David Garejeli

The life of Saint David, founder of the David Garejeli monastery in Eastern Georgia, belongs to the cycle of biographies known as The Lives of the Syrian Fathers, most of which were composed by the Catholicos Arsenius II of Georgia (955-980). To these Syrian Fathers is ascribed the introduction of monastic institutions into Georgia. The homeland of this worthy and marvel-working Father was the Mesopotamian valley of Assyria.

St. father David came to Georgia together with twelve other monks from Syria at the end or beginning of the 6th century. These 13 Syrian Fathers received ecclesiastic education in Syria, launched monastic activities in different parts of Georgia. St. father David departed to dwell in desolate and waterless places, so that by an ascetic way of life in this transitory world, he might win for himself eternal bliss and rest everlasting. He therefore chose to live outside in the wilderness, and for this reason his desert abode is called Garesja.