Venerable Michael of Ulumbo

Venerable Michael of Ulumbo (Ulumbi) was one of the Thirteen Syrian (Assyrian) Fathers, founders of Georgian monasticism, who labored in the sixth century. A Syrian by birth, he came to Georgia in the mid-sixth century together with his teacher, Venerable John of Zedazeni, and twelve other chosen disciples, during the reign of King Parsman of Kartli and Catholicos Eulabius. According to tradition, John of Zedazeni, following a command revealed by the Mother of God, sent each disciple by lot to a different region of Georgia to strengthen the Orthodox faith and root out remnants of paganism and heresy. Michael was sent to preach in the mountainous districts of Upper Kartli and Ossetia, where he founded a large monastery near the village of Ulumbo (Ulumbi), which became a center of monastic life and enlightenment for the local population. The exact years of his birth and death are unknown; his labors belong to the sixth century. Together with the other Syrian Fathers, Venerable Michael is venerated as one of the pillars of Georgian monasticism. His feast is kept May 7/20, together with Venerable John of Zedazeni and his other disciples.