Melchizedek I (Georgian: მელქისედეკ I) was the first Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, from 1010 to 1033,[1] reigning from Ani. He is revered as a saint by the Georgian Orthodox Church. Before him, heads of the Georgian Church only bore the title of Catholicos of Kartli. The unification of Georgia into a single kingdombyBagrat III (r. 975–1014) led to the change in title.
St. Melchizedek I
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Icon of Melchizedek
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| Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia | |
| Died | 1033 |
| Venerated in | Georgian Orthodox Church |
| Canonized | October 17, 2002, Georgia by Georgian Orthodox Church |
| Feast | October 1 |
In 1031, Melchizedek successfully petitioned Bagrat III for tax immunity for the Church, demonstrating the important power the Church had at the time and its influence over the State.[2]
He visited Constantinople several times, and met with the Byzantine Emperor Basil II.[citation needed]
Melchizedek was glorified by the Georgian Orthodox Church on October 17, 2002. His feast is celebrated on October 1.[3]
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