On February 21, 2024 on the eve of the feast of Saint Gabriel, we were in church, and, together with the other priests, we once again renewed the shrine with the relics of Father Gabriel. This is the story about what happened on Mount Athos, as Father Kirion related to us.

One of the Athonite elders prayed before God, and God made him worthy to ascend to Heaven to contemplate the Cherubim.

He cried out to the Lord that today Christianity is no longer what it used to be: it does not have the same spirit and grace of worship as before, and that everything has withered up.

And a voice was heard: “Gabriel from Georgia has risen to us. A man of such greatness and asceticism has not arisen to us for many centuries!”

That's how great Saint Gabriel is!

He achieved this through his labor, humility, love for neighbor, and remarkable diligence and zeal. It takes a lot of strength for a person to bear the cross of foolishness for Christ's sake. And if it weren't for love for others, Father Gabriel definitely wouldn't have carried it.
Let us also remember that from his youth he lived as a recluse in cemeteries for 25 years. And he still loved his neighbors, despite enduring humiliation and insults.

He was persecuted and insulted during his earthly life. But his love was so great that, as he himself said, many great holy fools, predecessors, were surprised at his deeds.

We should ask holy Father Gabriel to help us live a worthy Christian life.

Holy Father Gabriel loved humble people, and he brought those who did not humble themselves to their knees. Therefore, if you want to take away mercy, grace, kindness from here and for Father Gabriel to hear your prayers, you must become humble, bow your head, asking for forgiveness of your sins.

Ask him that although you are unworthy of grace, let him intercede with God.

May the Lord bless you, may our holy Father Gabriel help you! May God grant us to see our sins and repent.

Father Elijah (Tvaliashvili), clergyman of the Transfiguration Church of the Samtavro Monastery, Mtskheta, Georgia.