Given the Russian intervention — which now appears to be an invasion — in Georgia (roundup HERE), how relevant is it that today the Church commemorates “the New Martyrs of Georgia who suffered under the atheist yoke”?

I don’t pretend to know that history, but here’s the story of five of those new martyrs from today’s “Daily Lives”:

 Martyrs Metropolitan Nazar, Priests German, Ieroteos, Simon and Archdeacon Bessarion

In the 20th century country of Georgia, Nazar was educated at the Theological School and graduated the seminary with honors. When his wife and two daughters died, he became a monk and later was made metropolitan.

During the Bolshevik Revolution in 1922 and 1923, twelve hundred churches were destroyed along with church wealth, manuscripts and spiritual leaders. Four boxes of holy objects were buried under Nazar’s porch for protection. When the Bolsheviks discovered them, they sentenced Nazar to death by firing squad. However, this sentence was rescinded, and after two years of prison Nazar was again free.

Several months later, a certain village asked him to consecrate their new church. Nazar and his priests did this, but at night after the service Soviet agents broke into the house where the metropolitan and his entourage were staying, bound and beat them, and dragged them before a Soviet council. They were sentenced to death and executed in the Sapichkhia Forest.

In 1994, all of these men were canonized as martyrs along with all the Georgian Christians who were killed for their faith. They became known as the New Martyrs of the Georgian Church.

And how timely is it as well that in the course of my daily readings, I happened to read psalm 34 today:

O Lord, judge those who injure me;
Make war on those who make war on me. …

All my bones shall say, “O Lord, who is like You?
You who deliver a poor man from hands stronger than he,
And a poor and needy man from those who plunder him.”

Unjust witnesses rose up against me,
Asking me things I knew nothing about;
They repaid me evil for good. …

They were delighted, and were gathered together against me;
Whips were gathered together against me, but I did not know it;
They were torn asunder, yet they were not pierced to the heart.
They tempted me; they mocked and sneered at me;
They gnashed their teeth at me.
O Lord, when will You look on this? …

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, in the great church;
I will praise You among a mighty people.

Let those who desire my righteousness greatly rejoice and be glad.
And let them say continually, “The Lord be magnified,”
Those who desire His servant’s peace.
And my tongue shall meditate on Your righteousness.
And on Your praise all the day long.

Ps. 34: 1, 10-11, 15-18, 27-28

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May their memory be eternal.

Icon image from the OCA website HERE
Longer version of the story of New Martyr Nazarius and others HERE.