Saint Anton of Martqopi 

Holy Father Anton of Martqopi arrived in Georgia with the Thirteen Syrian Fathers during the sixth century.  He carried with him an icon of Christ "Not Made By Hands."  He carried this icon with him at all times.  He settled in the wilderness of Kakheti, where deer visited him daily and allowed him to drink their milk.  One day the deer visited him earlier than usual followed by a wounded fawn.  Sensing their lingering fear, St. Anton retraced the deer path and discovered a nobleman hunting in the fields.  When the nobleman saw the saint holding the icon standing amidst a gathering of deer, he became frightened.  He ordered his servants to take St. Anton to the smith in the village.  The servants did so.  When the smith raised his sword to chop off the saint's hands, he fell and his arms became like wood.  The smith became mute.  St. Anton made the sign of the cross over him and he was healed immediately.  The nobleman hearing of these miracles and perceiving the monk's holiness, asked him what he needed.  St. Anton asked for a single piece of salt and they gave him two blocks.  He broke off a piece and put it by his cell for the deer.  After the news of this incident spread, many came to visit him in the wilderness.  St. Anton then built a monastery.  Not long after that, St. Anton being weary from the attention of those gathered at the monastery, fled to the peak of a mountain.  There he started preaching from the top of a pillar.  St. Anton remained atop the pillar for the last fifteen years of his life.  When the saint's end was near, he gathered his pupils, taught a final lesson, blessed them and gave up his spirit while kneeling in front of his beloved icon.  His body was taken down from the pillar and buried in front of the icon of the Theotokos in the monastery he founded.  

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