The pillar of Svetitskhoveli church ('sveti' in Kartvelian is 'pillar') is considered to be sacred, hence, it's very close to be considered 'saint'.
Meanwhile in Slav languages 'sveti' means 'saint'. We may want to trace the shift of meaning from 'pillar' onto 'sacred' with further borrowing of this meaning into Slav languages as an adjective.
Anyway, the Slav word 'sveti' has no reliable etymology if any at all.
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