Arsen Iqaltoeli

Arsen Iqaltoeli or Arsen of Iqalto (; – 1127) was a Georgian churchman, theologian, calligrapher, and religious author who played a significant role in the ecclesiastic life of Georgia during the reign of David IV (r. 1089–1125), with whom he collaborated in developing Georgian monastic academies. His efforts in translating and compiling major doctrinal and polemical works from Greek gave a novel impetus to Georgian patristic and philosophical literature. Arsen was canonized by the Eastern Orthodox Church, which commemorates him on February 6.

Life Arsen is apparently the same person as Arsen Vachesdze mentioned in several manuscripts. Furthermore, some Georgian scholars identify him with Arsen Beri (Arsenius "the Monk"; fl. 1100), the author of the metaphrastic revision of The Life of Saint Nino. According to historic tradition, Arsen was born in Ikalto in the province of Kakheti, east of Tbilisi, Georgia's modern capital. He was educated in Constantinople at the Mangana academy, the centre of Byzantine philosophical activity and classical learning, and served as a monk on the Black Mountain near Antioch under the tutelage of Ephraim the Minor. Around 1114, Iqaltoeli, along with several other Georgian repatriate monks, responded to King David IV's call to join the reconstructed Georgian church. Along with John of Petrizos, Iqaltoeli brought the Byzantine philosophical tradition to the newly founded Georgian academe at Gelati and helped found a similar academy at Iqalto. Finally, he established himself at the Shio-Mgvime monastery in Kakheti.