Right-believing (Ruler) 12th century

Saint Demetre I (Damiane) King of Georgia

c. 1093 – 1156

Also known as Demetre I of Georgia · Damiane · Demetrius the Hymnographer

Son of St David the Builder and king of Georgia who, after a turbulent reign, laid down his crown to embrace the monastic life under the name Damiane; he is honored as a hymnographer, by tradition the author of the beloved hymn to the Mother of God, 'Thou art a Vineyard' (Shen khar venakhi).

Feast Day

May 23

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Commemorated as

The Holy Right-Believing King Demetre I of Georgia, the Monk Damiane and Hymnographer

Life

Demetre I (born c. 1093) was a king of Georgia and the son of David IV, known as David the Builder, under whom the medieval Georgian kingdom reached the height of its power. Proclaimed co-ruler by his father and crowned by David's own hand, Demetre continued the consolidation of the realm, leading campaigns in the surrounding territories and overseeing the repopulation and development of provinces won during his father's wars.

After a reign disrupted by noble conspiracies and the rebellion of his own son, Demetre laid aside the crown and was tonsured a monk, receiving the name Damiane. As a monastic he turned to hymnography, and tradition honors him as the author of the celebrated hymn to the Mother of God, 'Thou Art a Vineyard' (Shen khar venakhi). He reposed in 1156 and is venerated as a saint in the Orthodox Church, commemorated on May 23.

Timeline 8 moments Read Hide

c. 1093 Birth Demetre is born, the son of King David IV (David the Builder) of Georgia.
1117 Campaign in Shirvan As a young prince Demetre leads forces into Shirvan and captures Kaladzori Castle, returning with captives and spoils.
1121 Battle of Didgori By tradition Demetre takes part in the Battle of Didgori, commanding a concealed reserve that delivers a flanking attack against the Seljuk army.
1125 Co-ruler and accession Proclaimed co-ruler by his father and crowned by David's own hand, Demetre succeeds to the throne and presses back Seljuk forces, expelling them from the fortress of Dmanisi.
1139 Raid on Ganja Demetre raids Ganja and carries off the iron gate of the city, which he donates to Gelati Monastery.
1154 Abdication and tonsure Amid family conflict and the rebellion of his son, Demetre lays down the crown and is tonsured a monk in the Davit-Gareji wilderness, taking the name Damiane.
1155 Brief return to rule After the short reign of his son, Demetre leaves the monastery to secure the kingdom and crowns his younger son George as co-ruler.
1156 Repose Demetre, the monk Damiane, reposes and is buried at Gelati Monastery.

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributions Read Hide

Reign and Statecraft

Demetre inherited a kingdom that his father, David the Builder, had forged into the leading Christian power of the Caucasus. Sources record that David proclaimed him co-ruler and crowned him personally, expressing confidence that his son would govern well through his wisdom, chastity, bravery, and bearing.

His military activity began before his accession, with the 1117 campaign in Shirvan and a reported role at the Battle of Didgori in 1121. As king he continued to contend with the Seljuks, expelling them from Dmanisi, and in 1139 carried off the iron gate of Ganja as a trophy, which he gave to Gelati Monastery. Under his rule provinces including Hereti, Somkhiti, Tashiri, Javakheti, Artaani, and Tao were repopulated and developed.

Monastic Life and Hymnography

Beset by noble conspiracies and the rebellion of his son, Demetre withdrew from the throne and was tonsured a monk in the Davit-Gareji wilderness, taking the name Damiane. There he devoted himself to composing hymns for the Church.

Among these works, his hymn to the Theotokos, 'Thou Art a Vineyard' (Shen khar venakhi), is by tradition the most celebrated, a poem honoring the Mother of God that has remained beloved in the Georgian liturgical tradition.

Relics & Shrines

Demetre, the monk Damiane, was buried at Gelati Monastery, the great monastic and cultural center associated with his father's reign, to whose completion the sources connect him.

Notes

Demetre I, the monk-hymnographer (reposed 1156). Distinct from Demetre II the Self-Sacrificing / Tavdadebuli, commemorated Mar 12 (OS-0815). Previously conflated with that row.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints; en.wikipedia.org