On May 23, Orthodox Christians of Abkhazia celebrate the Day of St. Apostle Simon Kananit.
This day is of great importance not only for Orthodox Abkhazia, but is also significant for the entire Christian world, because one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ preached in Abkhazia, and his relics rest here. In honor of this saint, a temple was erected at the site of his burial in New Athos in the 9th-10th centuries.
This is the patronal feast of the New Athos Monastery. One of the main holidays of the Abkhaz Church.
There is a legend that at the wedding of the Apostle Simon in Cana of Galilee, the Lord performed his first miracle, turning water into wine. Having despised everything worldly, Simon followed Christ.
The chronicles are silent about how long the Apostle preached in Abkhazia. It is only known that he glorified Christ the Savior with many wonderful signs, and divine teaching began to bring abundant fruits of faith among the people.
The apostle was subjected to countless sorrows and disasters for this. And during the persecution erected by the Georgian king Aderkiy, he was crowned with a martyr’s crown and buried not far from his cave, on the banks of the Psyrtskha.