In 2003 the Georgian Orthodox Church glorified as saints three spiritual strugglers of the 20th Century, and as martyrs thousands of Georgians who had died in the 17th Century for their refusal to convert to Islam.
Schema-archimandrites Ioann and Georgi of Betania have been glorified among the ranks of Saints. Venerable Ioann (Maisuradze) was born in Southern Ossetia, and as a youth moved to the ancient Monastery of Betania (Bethany), 20 km from Tbilisi. He later lived for several years on Holy Mount Athos, returning to Georgia as a hieromonk. In the 1920s he became rector of the Betania Monastery. Venerable Georgi (Mkheidze) was descended from an impoverished but princely clan. As a youth, he felt called to monasticism. After abandoning his studies in a St. Petersburg military school he lived for some time as an anchorite, and in 1924 settled in Betania.
It was through the efforts of Sts. Ioann and Georgi of Betania that over the course of many years of Communist persecution, the monastery nonetheless remained a monastic community: they both remained within its walls until their deaths. Officially, they were listed as "custodians of an architectural monument," and the monastery was listed as "not functioning." However, in the church, icons hung on the walls, vigil lamps burned before the icons, Divine Services and Processions of the Cross took place, and Baptisms and rites of Holy Matrimony were performed. For many years, the monastery was practically the only monastic community remaining in Georgia. Significantly, with the blessing of Patriarch Ilia II, it was Betania that was the first monastery in the country to be officially opened in 1978.
There exist eyewitness accounts of healings resulting from the prayers of Elders Ioann and Georgi. People noted that everything the Elders predicted - even passing comments - came to pass. Venerable Ioann reposed in 1957. Five years before his repose in 1962, Venerable George, was tonsured into the great schema with the name Ioann. Both Elders are buried in Betania, near the Eastern wall of the monastery church.
The Holy Synod also glorified as a saint the Abbot Ephrem (Kereselidze), who had served during Stalin's regime. He is famous for having saved the texts of unique Georgian chants from being destroyed by the Communist powers.
The Holy Synod also named into the ranks of Holy Martyrs tens of thousands of Georgians who refused to adopt Islam in the 17th Century during the Muslim invasion of the historic regions of Lazistan and Ferendan.
Source: Blagovest-info/www.pravoslavie.ru