Historical Context
Sarmean's tenure fell within the era of Arab rule over the Georgian lands. The Arabs first appeared in Georgia in 645, and firm control was established by 735. The Arab Emirate of Tbilisi was established in 736, when Marwan II took Tbilisi and much of the surrounding territory and installed an Arab emir.
Over time Tbilisi became largely Muslim, but Muslim influence was strictly confined to the city itself, while the surrounding countryside remained largely Christian. The consolidation of Arab rule in Tbilisi during the eighth century caused the political capital of Kartli to shift to the southwest, even as Christian culture in the countryside persisted.
Despite Arab administration, the Georgian Christian community maintained its liturgy and prayers in the Georgian language. By this era, the bishops and the Catholicos were all ethnic Georgians, reflecting a shift toward a more ethnically Georgian church institution. It was within this setting — the Emirate of Tbilisi dominating the region during the period of roughly 760 to 774 — that Sarmean served as the head of the Georgian Church.