Who is Gabriel Urgebadze
Goderdzi Vasilyevich Urgebadze is the name in the world of Archimandrite of the Georgian Orthodox Church Gabriel of Samtavria. Canonized as a saint in the 21st century with the rank of venerable (which means for his exploits in the name of the Lord in monasticism).
Brief biography
The saint was born in Tbilisi into a family where the father was a convinced communist and atheist, and the mother was a deeply religious Orthodox Christian. The boy, at her insistence, was baptized. At the age of 2, my father passed away. The mother was left with three children and soon married again.
At the age of 12, the boy read the Gospel on his own and became imbued with faith in God. He hid his faith from those around him, secretly attending services in Tbilisi churches, and made pilgrimages to monasteries in the vicinity of Tbilisi.
While serving in the army, he continued to observe fasts and attended church. Goderdzi’s behavior did not go unnoticed. He was sent for a medical examination, after which he was declared mentally ill and awarded a disability pension.
Upon his return, he began to build a chapel in the courtyard of the house. In the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he worked as a watchman, and then, with the blessing of Bishop Melchizedek III of the Georgian Church, he became a psalm-reader. The young man's piety and zeal for the faith were noted by the church fathers. The year 1955 was an important milestone in his life.
At the beginning of the year he was ordained to the rank of deacon. A month later he became a monk under the name Gabriel and a few days later he was elevated to the rank of hieromonk (a monk with the status of a priest). The following years were devoted to serving the Lord in the Tbilisi temple and the monastery in Bethany.
In 1965, he was brought to justice for an anti-Soviet act (destroying a portrait of Lenin). Gabriel explained his behavior as a counteraction to idolatry: only God can be deified. The saint was sent for treatment to a psychiatric clinic, where he was diagnosed with “mental insanity, close to schizophrenia.”
From that time on, he changed his spiritual ministry, becoming a fool for Christ's sake. (For Christ's sake, fools are people of sound mind who voluntarily took on the role of imaginary madmen to expose the vices of society).
In 1971, he was appointed spiritual mentor to the nuns of the Mtskheta Samtavro convent. Father Gabriel sought solitude, but the fame of his insight and healing spread throughout Georgia, and then throughout the Orthodox world. Pilgrims went to the saint to get relief from mental and physical suffering.
In 1995, several months before his death, St. Gabriel developed dropsy after a broken leg. He died in early November. He was buried, according to his will, on the territory of the Samtavro monastery. In 2014, after canonization, the saint’s relics were transferred to the Transfiguration Church at the monastery.
Veneration in Orthodoxy
The saint of God continued to work miracles even after death. After prayers at his grave, healings began to occur. After 17 years, the Georgian Church, based on repeatedly confirmed facts and remembering his asceticism, canonized Archimandrite Gabriel as a saint, setting the day of veneration on November 2. The opening of the grave confirmed the holiness of the archimandrite: the relics turned out to be untouched by decay.
2 years after the canonization of the Georgian Orthodox Church, St. Gabriel was recognized by the Russian Orthodox Church, setting the date of commemoration of the saint on November 2.
Iconography
After the death of the saint, photographs were preserved in which he was depicted in the last years of his life. The iconography style was determined from these photographs. The authors of the most famous iconographic images are Georgian artists Z. Zhgenti and G. Zakaidze. On all icons, Father Gabriel is depicted as an old man in the robe of an archimandrite, with a gentle smile on his lips and in his eyes, with a blessing gesture.
The meaning of the icon and what it helps with
The image of the Saint is revered throughout the Orthodox world. On faces he is always depicted with a blessing right hand, and on his face, in his gaze and smile, love for all people on Earth is imprinted.
Many parishioners come to pray to the Urbagadze Icons; they ask for help to get rid of many diseases, and they always receive it.
After praying to the Saint, warring people are reconciled, their minds are enlightened, and their hearts are filled with love and goodness.
Full texts of prayers to Saint Gabriel Urgebadze
People turn to the holy images of St. Gabriel of Samtavria with prayer requests and glorifications.
Prayer
At the icon of the saint of God they pray for healing of the sick, steadfastness in faith, mercy and forgiveness of sins from the Lord.
About the health of the sick person
Holy Father, blessed Gabriel, like the ancient venerables and firm confessor, who from an early age received the words of the Lord and followed them zealously! Behold, we, lazy and wicked servants, stand before you in prayer, not having any of your exploits, below humility, but praising and magnifying ourselves in our souls every day, and also seeking enemies outside ourselves! It’s not imams who can justify themselves before God! But pray for us, Father, that the Lord may give us the strength to understand and fulfill His word, as it was revealed to you from infancy. May we, who call ourselves Christians, be not only hearers in dispersion, but also doers. Let us understand the face of our existence, as we can do nothing except God’s help. And may we seek him and may we love Him, and may we cleave to Him with all our souls, with all our hearts, with all our thoughts, and may our hearts, according to your word, be devoted to the Lord. And may he give us a guarantee of salvation in our souls, joy, peace and love in our hearts, reconciliation in all our troubles, consolation in all our sorrows, not from our works, but through your prayers, according to His ineffable mercy, to Him be glory and power in forever and ever. Amen.
In front of the icon
You shine with an essential light, our Father, the all-blessed wonderworker Gabriel, filled with God’s power, fulfilling our requests and granting peace with faith to those who flow to your holy image and bow before it with tenderness, and give a fervent prayer to you: do not reject us, being ashamed of our iniquities, even have mercy and strengthen, beg the Lord, so that we can withstand and defeat the demonic regiments, flattery and atrocities of this world, and give our people strength in overcoming insidious enemies and keep our Holy Orthodox Church in peace and unshakable.
Your holy and honest image, Our Father Gabriel, was revealed to us for our salvation, for the sake of perseverance in faith and service to God in anticipation of His mercy; You, faithful servant of Christ, all-validated Father Gabriel, now protect your flock from all sorts of misfortunes and troubles, so that through your prayers we will immaculately walk the path of our life and find the Heavenly Fatherland. Amen.
Before the icon is different
Oh, Holy Father Gabriel! Seeing your merits before the Lord, a feat similar to the apostles, and knowing about your great mercy towards us, according to your covenant, we humbly pray for the liberation from museum captivity of the Not Made by Hands Image of our Savior and its installation in the Cathedral Church of His Holy Name, on the eve of the appearance The Atskursky Icon of the Most Pure Virgin and the Glorious Return to the Iveron Country of the Image of Portaitissa, the Goalkeeper, “like the greatest helper of our deliverance from the satanic snares and temptations of the Antichrist,” according to the prophecy of our holy fathers, for as a sign of the onset of the last times, the image of this Mount Athos will leave and illuminate the packs Iberia, your chosen destiny. Moreover, wickedness is still rampant at the instigation of the devil in the Lot of the Mother of God, and our people are caught in the sins and evil snares of this world, and we, in laziness, embrace with fear the majestic and terrible Second Coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. We also pray to you, Holy Father Gabriel, to drive away from us the horror of God’s punishment for our unbelief and our iniquities, and with your mercy beg Christ, the All-Merciful God, to have mercy on our souls and enlighten our hearts with Orthodoxy and piety, so that we may grow in virtue, and, upon departure from this world, into the Kingdom of Heaven, pray for us to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, so that with the angelic hosts we may be singing to the Lord our God, in the bright villages of His eternal existence, together with our Saints, and with you, Father, to be chanting His most holy name, with His Beginning Father and Most Holy and Good and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Troparion
Desiring more than your own glory, only the glory of God, / a fool in Christ, like Father Gabriel, appeared, / and you did not worship an idol, you offered a burnt offering to God, / and the temple of God You have raised your soul, you have made a beautiful temple for your soul, / and a pure mirror of the Divine You appeared to love./ Blessed Father Gabriel, Confessor and Reverend,/ pray to Christ God to irrigate our souls with that love.
Akathist
Kontakion 1
He prefers the foolishness of the cross of Christ to the wisdom of this age, the whole sweet and flattering world, as you imputed the grave from the cave, Father Gabriel. And you took up your cross, you followed the one Christ from childhood until your last breath. And so you entered into the Heavenly Abodes, where you now stand before your Master, praying for us who sing to you: Rejoice, blessed Gabriel, leaving your love for us as a teaching.
Ikos 1
The Gospel was found, like a treasure hidden in the village, you squandered it all with joy, so that you gained Christ, and like a bought slave in the grapes of the Lord you did not be lazy. And we sing to you:
Rejoice, worker of the first hour;
Rejoice, as a servant, having done nothing, credit it to yourself.
Rejoice, like the Apostle Andrew, who did not hesitate to answer the call of Christ;
Rejoice, like Peter, who was received with his warm heart.
Rejoice, you have hidden nothing from Him;
Rejoice, for you have given up all your life as a gift to God as a gift to the widows.
Rejoice, good land, on which the seed grows and bears fruit;
Rejoice, God-given talents, which have increased many times over.
Rejoice, blessed Gabriel, for leaving your love for us to teach.
Kontakion 2
Having not yet known sin, you armed yourself with your flesh, for you desire the spirit, just as the apostle said. as a child, not knowing satiety, below a soft bed, diligent in reading the Gospel and fervent prayer. We are amazed at your zeal for God, saying to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Irritated by your exploits, the demon has appeared to you, wanting to take revenge. Moreover, the Lord has preserved you from birth, like His chosen vessel, preserving you with His grace. And we appeal to you like this:
Rejoice, have no pity for yourself from childhood;
Rejoice, boy, resist the demon.
Rejoice, and for your mother’s sake you did not deviate from your way of life;
Rejoice, you who hated your very soul in this world.
Rejoice, you who came in vigil and fasting according to the measure of the ancient fathers;
Rejoice, bless those who are able to strive.
Rejoice, O thy flesh, for thou hast offered a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to the Lord;
Rejoice, for the words of the Lord you have preserved the cruel ways.
Rejoice, blessed Gabriel, for leaving your love for us to teach.
Kontakion 3
You endured many wanderings, Father, while still a youth, going from monastery to monastery, until you came to Bethany, having found your spiritual fathers, with them you now eat Christ, then To my beloved, a song of praise: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Later you accepted the dignity of a monk and a priest, and now an archimandrite, but throughout your life for many years you had no refuge for yourself. And you lived a lot in the cemetery among the graves, feeding on alms, and thus following your Lord, having no place to bow your head. For this reason, through your march in Christ, we teach, we call to you:
Rejoice, persecuted one, for all who desire to live godly lives in Christ;
Rejoice, O Apostle of the Lord, sent without money or gold.
Rejoice, ascetic, until a time known to no one;
Rejoice, beloved and revered by all.
Rejoice, by living among the graves you have conquered fear forever;
Rejoice, having learned from here to fear one sin.
Rejoice, you who attribute hunger and filth to nothingness to love for Christ’s sake;
Rejoice, river, for through sorrow we learn faith and love.
Rejoice, blessed Gabriel, for leaving your love for us to teach.
Kontakion 4
The Church of Christ, which was in desolation, was built by you, Father Gabriel, while still playing in mockery, but this youth carried heavy stones and erected the destroyed church at the call of Saint Geo St. George, having created his own beautiful temple, even now the faithful come to sing praises to God : Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Father Gabriel, creating holy things and collecting images from house to house, you wished that the sacrifice of God would be offered and the sacraments performed, and so that the temples would be rebuilt in the souls of men. children, may the prayer of God ascend in them. For this reason, in gratitude, we cry out:
Rejoice, reverent guardian of the shrine;
Rejoice, icon, trustee of those who were neglected.
Rejoice, thou who hast seen the icon of God in every man;
Rejoice, bring back the image destroyed by man.
Rejoice, you who created and restored your magnificent temple;
Rejoice, for whom the angels serve as apprentices.
Rejoice, you have prepared your physical temple, holy and pure, for the service of God;
Rejoice, for today your relics exude grace.
Rejoice, blessed Gabriel, for leaving your love for us to teach.
Kontakion 5
Holy Father, you proclaimed that it is fitting for a monk to be firm in the truth. You, to the blood and to the death, testified to your faith, when you went out into the square, like a funeral funeral, like an ancient martyr, the death of Christ for the sake of preferring agreement with the worship of idols. We cannot imitate your boldness, but we cry to Him who strengthened you: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
You walked firmly, Father, towards torment and death, when you set fire to an idol’s image, saying the commandment of the Lord, “You shall not make for yourself an idol, nor any likeness of it, for your flock.” teaching God alone to give worship. Moreover, we, who have little faith, praise you:
Rejoice, God-inspired confessor of faith;
Rejoice, good shepherd, care for your flock.
Rejoice, you who wished to suffer for the sake of Christ;
Rejoice, you who endured extreme torment in prison and among the insane.
Rejoice, having escaped death only by the power of God;
Rejoice, thou who was imputed as a madman!
Rejoice, as the world has been cut off;
Rejoice, triumph of the Church in new times.
Rejoice, blessed Gabriel, for leaving your love for us to teach.
Kontakion 6
Like a meticulous monk, Father Gabriel, you kept all the commandments, especially humility, as I tell God unquenchable. Even when you were a young man, you made your seat a heap of rubbish, imputing it to yourself as nothing. Having experienced the feat of foolishness on myself, I showed myself like a madman and like a pianist, and like the last sinner. We exalt praise to such a feat of yours; we sing to God, who humbled Himself until the death of the cross: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
You said, Father, that you and your children would acquire humility, as if leading them into Paradise, and you taught many times against the sins of pride, and truly you showed that through your life, none other than your own. showing talents, but only carefully showing them for the benefit of the faithful. We, having been bound by our pride, like many bonds, cry out to you:
Rejoice, for I have destroyed the monk’s praise;
Rejoice, for those who offended, insulted and laughed at you, pity and love even more.
Rejoice, for you have seen your exaltation as an abomination to the Lord;
Rejoice, for in condemnation there is only foolishness, even ignorance of oneself, you who have received the sight.
Rejoice, for he who comes to you, even if you are a sinner, inquired;
Rejoice, you who truly confess yourself as a sinner.
Rejoice, for through your humble preaching you showed the power of God;
Rejoice. like a child who entered the Kingdom of Heaven without being forbidden.
Rejoice, blessed Gabriel, for leaving your love for us to teach.
Kontakion 7
Carrying sorrow in the hearts of your people, Father Gabriel, about Georgia, the chosen destiny of the Mother of God, you fervently sent prayers, the verb, as woe to the monk, I do not pray for the people where to yours. For such filial zeal of yours, I sing with you to the Father of all, God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
Thou didst foretell, Father, of Georgia, in the darkness of the unbelief of those who exist, and persecuted her Church of the resurrection, like Lazarus, both through great trials. And you were bone of the bone of your people, and of Saint Nina and the host of holy Georgian spiritual children. Both the Egyptian Macarius and the Sarov Seraphim are a brother in Christ and a true keeper. And now all the ends of the earth sing to you:
Rejoice, until your death your heart aches for Georgia;
Rejoice, you did not desire to change to Athos.
Rejoice, you who forsee the spiritual enlightenment of your people;
Rejoice, you who proclaimed the glory of Georgia before the Second Coming.
Rejoice, for I carry away love for all the Orthodox people before my death
river;
Rejoice, for you have given your cross to all of Georgia and half of Russia.
Rejoice, faithful son of the suffering of Georgia;
Rejoice, Mother Gabrieli, loving father of children to all the Orthodox of the world.
Rejoice, blessed Gabriel, for leaving your love for us to teach.
Kontakion 8
From infancy you were merciful and merciful, Father Gabriel, but you passed through the fasting feat and through confession, through confession, you reached the love of Christ, which is the fulfillment of the law. With your love we have warmed those near and far, and we gratefully call all good things to the Giver: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
You showed us the image of the perfect love for Christ Jesus, O Reverend Father, who does not envy, does not think evil, but rejoices in the truth, endures everything, embraces all faith, even though he fell. gives. You took every person into the embrace of your soul. Moreover, we, your children, call to you:
Rejoice, whose heart is sorrowful for Christ, like the apostle on the way to Emmaus;
Rejoice, you who always see Christ in your neighbor.
Rejoice, to whom you have given sight of human souls;
Rejoice, for to him will you give a memory that will never weaken.
Rejoice, you have consigned to oblivion only once;
Rejoice, for the Father reproves their sins with love.
Rejoice, man without love is like a vessel without a bottom;
Rejoice, as Paisius the Elder, for the sake of your neighbor's soul.
Rejoice, blessed Gabriel, for leaving your love for us to teach.
Kontakion 9
Your prayer, O blessed one, reaches to heaven, because with humility, the fear of God and with tears, the gift of tears was given to you, and in your church-cell you shut yourself up for months, crying like and Elder Silouan, about his sins, about your fatherland, and about all Adam. For this reason, and today, pray for us, asking your prayers, and singing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
You especially called upon the zealous shepherd, so that prayer would not be a sin, and that good deeds would follow that prayer - this is how it is proper to pray. Pray and do not fulfill the commandments - he prays evilly, as you said and did. And we, like our shepherd, cry out to you:
Rejoice, you who commanded God to stand with fear;
Rejoice, instruct me to pray slowly and not to waste words.
Rejoice, for you forbade the cold in vain to God;
Rejoice, for you call prayer without works dead.
Rejoice, for you teach to pray for your neighbor, for prayer teaches love;
Rejoice, as you begin to pray for your neighbors, and thus even reach your enemies.
Rejoice, for in prayer you cry out like a baby to its mother, speaking far away from beings;
Rejoice, repent more with your heart, rather than with tears.
Rejoice, blessed Gabriel, for leaving your love for us to teach.
Kontakion 10
You firmly preserved the Orthodox faith, betrayed from your fathers, like Gabriel the Reverend, like the fathers of the verb, you cannot be a fornicator, less than a heretic; salvation except the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is Truth and Life. Moreover, learning from your standing in faith, we offer a song of praise to the zealous God: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
Loving every person, Father, filled with love, you advertised to sweep away heretics, the verb: as the Lord commanded, do not give what is holy to a dog, lower than casting pearls before swine, that You also warned against the heresies of heresies, which is ecumenism, denouncing treason against Christ. Moreover, we, who are more human than those who please God, call to you:
Rejoice, you allowed your faith to be scolded and equated with destruction;
Rejoice, you who live without the church like blasphemers are responsible.
Rejoice, for you commanded to give thanks to God for your birth in the Orthodox faith;
Rejoice, for you are concerned about whether those who are not commanded will be saved in other faiths.
Rejoice, extend your love even to the enemies of God;
Rejoice, by your example you convert me to the right faith.
Rejoice, for she who foretold the times of the Antichrist will soon come;
Rejoice, have faith in the hearts, and not in the mind, in order to recognize it, call upon it.
Rejoice, blessed Gabriel, for leaving your love for us to teach.
Kontakion 11
O wondrous ascetic, the Lord, lift up the humble to you, and enrich the humble with gifts of calico, just as those who stayed in your cell had their hearts touched by the consciousness of their sins. For you had the power to remove all evil from your thoughts and leave only what was useful for the Kingdom of Heaven. By the power of the Lord that acted in you there was amazement, the voice of the Lord, marvelous in His saints: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
You have healed many, Father, by revealing to them their thoughts and their secret souls. Through your prayer, the great rain has ceased, when it is time to bury the deceased. But you were diligent in fasting and vigil; you hid your gifts and the radiance of your soul through foolishness. Now, worshiping your icon and asking for help from you, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, you who have bestowed the measure of mortals with your gifts;
Rejoice, for through your conversation you have given deep repentance.
Rejoice, in contemplation in another monastery you visited and told what was there;
Rejoice, blessed one who listened to the word of God in the womb of the mother.
Rejoice, for whom the Lord has given insight into the depths of human souls;
Rejoice, as an apostle of love, recline on the Lord’s breasts,
Rejoice, for like him, the Lord has revealed His unknown and secret presence to you;
Rejoice, for God's wiser man can bear witness.
Rejoice, blessed Gabriel, for leaving your love for us to teach.
Kontakion 12
Of late times, O ascetic, thou hast taught thy flock, that now God will require from us love, even more than the iniquities of many, for by love a man will be able to stand in faith before the end according to the rank of the century. And as a doer and teacher, now from the faces of the bodiless bring to the Most Holy Trinity the blessed song: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
You taught, Holy Father, that in love there is a union of perfections, and this is the final deification. Therefore, the human enemy, in opposition to her, raises the highest possible battle, greatly grieving over her. Therefore, for the sake of everything, deeds should be preferred over love, since without deeds one is dead. We, who want to inherit a drop, sing to you:
Rejoice, thou art like the five wise virgins;
Rejoice, thou who created and taught.
Rejoice, wise one who loves the doer and calls to action;
Rejoice, love, like a feat given to our time, is called.
Rejoice, teach her to make her your primary concern;
Rejoice, for you have edified the petition for alms as if it were the mercy of God.
Rejoice, loving servant and zealot, for this is the Lord Himself;
Rejoice, for without Christ all things are nothing, Commander.
Rejoice, blessed Gabriel, for leaving your love for us to teach.
Kontakion 13
Oh, blessed father, ascetic and confessor, faithful servant of Christ, who treasured all his life to Him and, after his death, found his treasure in Him, as You yourself had prophesied. Now, with the angels and with all the saints, standing before the Throne of the Lord, pray for us, Mother Gabrieli, who come running to you with prayer, beg the merciful Lord, and pour into our hearts, withered by pride This is a drop of your blessed hope, faith and love. Let us sing with you: Alleluia. (Thrice)
(This kontakion is read three times. Then Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1)
Famous images of the saint
The most famous icons of the elder were painted by artists Zure Zhgenti and Giorgia Zakaidze in our days, because Urgebadze’s canonization took place only in 2014.
Both images of the Saint are half-length; Zhgenti was especially able to convey the character of the elder: a kind look, a smile hidden under a gray beard, with his right hand Saint Gabriel blesses people.
On the second icon, Gabriel is depicted in monastic clothes with a blue cloak thrown over it. In the hands of the monk there is a communion cup and a spoon.
There are also known full-length images where the elder is dressed in a black robe, with a cross and an icon of the Holy Mother of God on his chest, one of his hands is frozen in a blessing gesture, and the other is clutching a staff. Georgian landscapes are depicted in the background of the icon.
Modern icon painters have tried to convey in their works as much as possible the human qualities of St. Gabriel that the righteous man possessed.
