Akathist to Saint Gabriel, Confessor and Fool for Christ of Samtavro in Georgia
Kontakion 1
We praise thy life and miracles unceasingly with song, O all-praised Father Gabriel, for thou hast shown forth as a great luminary of Iberia, and now in heartfelt supplication we earnestly cry to thee, for thou art our all-powerful protector and mediator before the Lord, look down upon us, holy father, and protect us who are in sorrow and temptations, and with thy fatherly boldness defend us from sickness and misfortune, propitiate for us the all-powerful God that He keep us from wandering along sinful paths, and deliver from evil those who praise and chant to thee: Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ!
Ikos 1
As the Lord revealed the prophets to Israel as denouncers of evil and advocates before God, Christ blessed thee for great works, having beheld thine boundless heart. Thou wast revealed to us as a Fool-for-Christ, teacher, intercessor, and a rebuker of this iniquitous age and its generation. Wherefore from youth wast thou devoted to the service of God for the sake of our salvation, delivering us from sinful passions and danger. Even after thy holy death thou persistently fulfillest thy vow, warmly caring for those who come to thee, and as an eagle gives shelter beneath its wings thou dost help those in sadness and sorrow and those tormented by evil spirits, and generously thou bestowest healings on those who cry to thee:
Rejoice, thou who didst from youth love meekness and humility.
Rejoice, vigilant guardian of the purity of body and soul.
Rejoice, chosen vessel of holiness.
Rejoice, thou who from youth wast a great bearer of the mysteries of the Almighty.
Rejoice, double-edged sword of God destroying the danger of unbelief.
Rejoice, champion of truth and strengthener of those weak in faith.
Rejoice, all-wondrous preacher of love.
Rejoice, counselor of repentant sinners.
Rejoice, true servant of Christ the Savior in the struggle against the enemies of God.
Rejoice, radiant pillar of the last times.
Rejoice, great archimandrite and elder, spiritual father of Ιberia.
Rejoice, messenger from above who atoned for thy people.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ!
Kontakion 2
The enemies of the true faith who seized power in our land persecuted the Church of Christ and its flock, and only chosen people were able to endure such a trial, those who were unshakable confessors of the faith. But thou, although a son of unbelievers, wast a God-chosen vessel filled with the Holy Spirit, and in the time of persecution didst thou receive with gladness of the fragrant fountain of eternal life, at all times magnifying the Giver of Light and Creator of the world: Alleluia!
Ikos 2
From youth, blessed father, thou wast an image of humility and godly-mindedness, far from all childlike nonchalance; having heard in thine early youth the name of Christ, thou camest to the Church of Saint Barbara and beheld the Savior on the Cross, and with tears didst thou cry to Him as though He were alive: “Why wast Thou crucified?” And having heard the reply of a watchman, thou didst firmly decide to learn about Christ. Thus, on a divine impulse didst thou purchase a Holy Gospel and from that time to the end of thy days thou didst study the Word of God. Implore Him, merciful father, to sprinkle on us the dew of His grace, that our hearts may burn with the inextinguishable fire of the Holy Gospel as we thus praise thee in song:
Rejoice, thou who like Samuel the prophet wast dedicated to God from thy mother’s womb.
Rejoice, radiant spiritual light that shone as a ray of knowledge upon those in the darkness of godlessness.
Rejoice, thou who wast near to God and didst distance thy mind from worldly cares.
Rejoice, chosen one who from thy youth wast illumined by God’s grace.
Rejoice, thou who with a sincere soul and pure mind wast ever moved by thy thirst for the Word of God.
Rejoice, thou whose soul wast a dominion marked for Christ the King.
Rejoice, thou who from youth wast distinguished by thy yearning for God and quickening by the Holy Scriptures.
Rejoice, thou who as a child didst bear spiritual armor upon thy shoulders.
Rejoice, thou who didst exchange childlike playfulness for the building of churches.
Rejoice, thou who didst hate the joys that defile the soul.
Rejoice, thou who didst crucify thine heart and desires of the flesh.
Rejoice, for thou hast revealed the strength and wisdom of the Gospel as truth, and by thy life knowledge of holiness.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ!
Kontakion 3
Having beheld the unquenchable fire of thy love for the Lord, the insidious beast and enemy of holiness furiously assaulted thee, struck thy head with his unclean fist, and cried out indignantly: “Raise not thine eyes to the sky any longer!” But as a youth, boldly arming thyself with the Cross of the Lord and His strength, thou didst firmly stand up to the onslaught of the enemy. Having been directed in a heavenly vision to the Church of Saint George, which had been destroyed by thy forebears, with reverent prayer didst thou miraculously lift the stones of the church with thine own hands and lay them aside, in a feat beyond human comprehension, and with joy and love thou gavest thanks to the Lord, praising Him in song: Alleluia!
Ikos 3
Ashamed of thy zeal, thy mother casted the Holy Gospel to an unseemly place, but thou didst recover it like an honorable treasure that was made clean by thy tears, departed thy house in tears and hurried to a monastery as a youth of twelve years; thou didst greatly desire the monastic life, but didst not receive the blessing to embark upon it. Thou spent thy days and nights amidst the stones in the churchyards, magnifying God, giving no thought to the cold and hunger thou didst endure. And now, our father, entreat the Lord God that He grant us wisdom of the heart so that we may distinguish good from evil, travel the paths of our lives righteously, and that blessed inspiration be granted to us who praise and sing to thee:
Rejoice, fiery confessor who wast persecuted for the faith.
Rejoice, reprover of those raging with unbelief.
Rejoice, strong defender of those passionately seeking the faith.
Rejoice, thou who didst abhor empty desires and accept reproach with gratitude.
Rejoice, thou who didst spend nights in prayer and subjected thyself to rest upon a hard bed.
Rejoice, thou who didst defeat youthful nonchalance by fasting and hard work.
Rejoice, thou who dost protect us from legions of invisible demons.
Rejoice, imitator of Abraham’s hospitality.
Rejoice, thou who savest from hunger and art merciful to the poor.
Rejoice, thou who teachest sinners the sweetness of abstinence.
Rejoice, hope of the poor and afflicted.
Rejoice, thou who drivest away sinful thoughts.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ!
Kontakion 4
Thou didst always seek seclusion in a small cell, struggling in diligent prayer and reading the Holy Gospel. Thou keptest thine eyes fixed upon heaven, filling thy soul with the life-giving dew of the grace of the Holy Spirit, and remaining zealous in thy life of struggle didst thou acquire virtues abundantly; in thy humility thou didst reach the depths of the knowledge of God, and having beheld a radiant cross in the sky, thou didst accept the heavenly vision as a sign of thine own Golgotha cross, magnifying the Creator and Life-Giver Christ God: Alleluia!
St. Gabriel of Georgia (source)
Ikos 4
By God’s providence, father, thou camest to the holy mountain, Mtatsminda, to the Church of Saint David Gareja, learned to read the Psalter and established thyself in Christian teaching; sparing no effort, thou didst labor tirelessly serving the holy temple, and, by God’s providence, as a seedling near a brook, thou didst bear good fruit in due season. Thus protect us, blessed one, from sins and temptations of the world, that we may always live according to God’s will, acquiring heavenly blessings, lest we perish in feeblemindedness. For this we reverently cry to thee:
Rejoice, thou who didst unceasingly behold the Lord with noetic vision.
Rejoice, thou who wast clothed in humility as if by light.
Rejoice, thou who knewest what was hidden from the learned and wise.
Rejoice, for thou toughened thyself by zealous fasting and relentless works, and wast filled with ceaseless prayer.
Rejoice, thou who didst scorch emerging sins with sorrow, lamentations and tears.
Rejoice, unshakeable strength and helper of the fainthearted and weak.
Rejoice, thou who strengthenest the souls of the faithful and frightenest the evil forces.
Rejoice, extoller of Christ’s magnificence and defeater of the licentious enemies of God.
Rejoice, scorner of vainglory and worldly power that cometh from the evil one.
Rejoice, thou who didst encourage Christian souls who suffered long under the ungodly.
Rejoice, strengthener of the weak and feeble.
Rejoice, teacher of those seeking the Truth on the Lord’s path.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ!
Kontakion 5
With the increase of ungodliness and persecution of the faithful, many turned away from the monastic life, and out of fear of death settled in distant villages to begin worldly lives, but thou didst firmly choose for thyself the narrow path that leads to everlasting joy, and thus didst thou steadfastly guard the Sioni temple, faithfully serving in the altar. God’s temples were being destroyed by the ungodly, but thou didst build a church in thy house, and without rest didst thou seek icons and crosses; finding them profanely discarded in unseemly places, thou didst magnificently decorate them and place them in thy temple, where we now joyously venerate them, warmly chanting to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 5
With furious vengeance for thy fervor, the insidious beast heaped much tribulation upon thee to put out thy flame of zeal for the Lord. Like Job the Long-Suffering, the Lord permitted sorrows to befall thee so that, like Job, thy faith would be put to test, but thou wast not afraid of the demons’ schemes, and thou didst restore three ravaged churches such that they exceeded their original beauty. The Lord didst bless this good work, and by His grace sand filled buckets were lifted by angels for thee, who wast standing aloft; and now, father, pray to Christ God that He drive away from us all evil and that we be strengthened in our sorrows and put on the path of repentance, for with gladness and love we cry out to thee:
Rejoice, thou who didst reject the temptations of the world like a hermit while in the midst of a great city.
Rejoice, thou who didst burden thyself with the weaknesses of others.
Rejoice, thou who by zealous prayer didst drive away all despair that cometh from the evil one.
Rejoice, thou who wast inspired by the Holy Spirit and didst destroy the multitude of invisible enemies.
Rejoice, thou who wast fortified by the Holy Scripture and becamest perfect in wisdom.
Rejoice, cohort of angels and corrector of evil brethren.
Rejoice, thou who callest all to watchfulness and sobriety.
Rejoice, thou who didst love the miraculous Gatekeeper of Iveron, the chief protectress of Georgia.
Rejoice, thou who didst adorn thy church with sacred icons saved by thee.
Rejoice, thou who settest ablaze a fiery love for God in our hearts.
Rejoice, sweet intercessor before God for the Georgian people.
Rejoice, offeror of our love at the Lord’s banquet in heaven.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ!
Kontakion 6
Having seen thy zeal for God, Bishop Gabriel of Kutaisi appointed thee as a novice to Motsameta Monastery, for from youth thou camest to know Christ and desired His grace above all, and sought the monastic life to leave aside worldly cares, magnifying the Lord at all times, to save thy soul. And by God’s providence thou didst receive the blessing to be clothed in a monk’s cassock, and according to thy wish wast thou named in honor of Gabriel of Athos, and now together ye behold the glory of God our Savior; pray to Him, O ye saints, that according to your example we may walk the path of this fleeting life blamelessly, always praising God the Trinity in one essence: Alleluia!
Ikos 6
Having been ordained a priest by God’s goodwill, thou didst direct thy mind to God while serving the Liturgy and at the hour of prayer, never ceasing to call upon Him. But fearing the authorities, thy family plotted thy return to the world and intended to force thee into marriage, but thou didst pretend to be insane and by this didst thou destroy their schemes, for thou irrevocably dedicated thyself to the only Most High God, and thus thou wast victorious over thy family’s temptations and they no longer dared to go against thy will. Thus, we place our hope in thee, that by thy prayers our hearts may be ablaze with divine zeal, that we may please the Lord; wherefore we praise thee in song:
Rejoice, zealot of true monastic works known only to God.
Rejoice, thou who didst strengthen thy soul with harsh vows.
Rejoice, thou who didst manifest the strength of God through thine infirmities.
Rejoice, thou who didst tirelessly acquire heavenly gifts and study God’s precepts.
Rejoice, thou who sawest hidden kindness and gifts in others.
Rejoice, thou whose words didst disperse the darkness of sin like lightning.
Rejoice, thou who overcamest the eloquence of rhetoricians by true theology.
Rejoice, thou who wast a preacher of the holy Orthodox Faith equal to the apostles.
Rejoice, teacher of spiritual strength and humility.
Rejoice, thou who didst entreat the cruel and heartless by thy meekness.
Rejoice, thou who with the Word of God preparest salvation for the faithful.
Rejoice, quick hearer of those who are afflicted with sorrow and danger.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ!
Kontakion 7
Thou didst not renounce God despite calamities, tribulations, persecution and the devil’s intimidation, Father Gabriel, for from youth God called thee to serve as a priest, and zealously keeping God’s commandments and joyfully preaching the Gospel, thou didst always reveal sins, direct, warn and graciously console thy flock, and preaching like the Apostle Paul, thou didst gather many souls and turn them to Christ, visiting them on holy days in the holy monasteries and churches of the Iberian land, and teaching all to chant to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 7
Though scorned and insulted by the ungodly, thou didst keep thy resolve at all times, Father Gabriel. Thus, once at the Black Sea thou didst pray to God with tears for help in thy sufferings, but suddenly foundest thyself in the depths of the sea, because the shore collapsed beneath thee. The icon of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker wast in thy hands, and Saint Nicholas appeared to people standing nearby showing them the place of thy trouble; they hurried to thy rescue, and pulling thee ashore, they cried out in astonishment: “A magnificent elder called us to thine aid,” and together ye glorified God for this miracle. And now beseech the Lord to protect thy flock, enlighten our minds, and hasten to the aid of us who thus praise and magnify thee:
Rejoice, friend of Christ and tireless laborer of His vineyard.
Rejoice, thou who didst acquire heavenly grace by confession of the Orthodox Faith.
Rejoice, shining light of divine worship.
Rejoice, thou who didst conceal thy wisdom and holiness with great humility.
Rejoice, thou who didst bear the yoke of a cross adorned with sorrows for the salvation of thy people.
Rejoice, leader of the faithful and advocate of priests.
Rejoice, power and strength of the kings’ scepter.
Rejoice, powerful vanguard and helper of monks.
Rejoice, invincible warrior of Christ and great protector of the Georgian Church and people.
Rejoice, thou who wast likened to the fathers of old according to thy piety and courage.
Rejoice, thou by whose prayers all right-believing people shall trample upon the devil’s schemes, be united by love for Christ, and together serve Him in the struggle against the Antichrist and enemies of the Holy Church.
Rejoice, image of righteousness and courage, and the praise and glory of Georgia.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ!
Kontakion 8
Thou wast sent to the Betania Monastery to the venerable and God-bearing wonderworking fathers George and John, and having strengthened thyself by their prayers, thou didst proceed to serve God as a zealous monk, and in the fight with evil thou wast tempered more than steel; by the Lord wast thou granted the gift of seeing into the heart, thus attracting a storm of fury from the enemy forces, who in vain tried to turn thee away from the monastery since they could not overcome the power of thy prayer and hope in the Lord, nor tarnish thy purity; thou wast loved exceedingly by thy spiritual fathers for thy virtues and together with them we give thanks to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 8
Venerable John was first to stand before God; when George rushed to his grave and cried out to him, “Christ is risen!” he heard a voice gladly replying: “Truly He is risen!” Soon George’s strength left him and thou, O blessed one, didst administer to him the Holy Mysteries of Christ, and He in turn blessed thee for the last time and peacefully passed on, entrusting his pure soul to God. The authorities persecuting the Church rejoiced greatly at the death of the holy elders and hastened to end the monastery’s divine services, commissioning a guard for the monastery, thus converting it from a house of God to a museum. But thou didst return to Sioni, and again gathered thy flock at services. Likewise, support and teach us to place our hope in the wisdom and providence of God, that He lead along the path of righteousness those who sing to thee:
Rejoice, thou who wast likened to the ascetics of old.
Rejoice, great advocate and preacher of the Orthodox faith.
Rejoice, good shepherd of lambs of the chosen herd, for whom thou didst shine as a beacon in the darkness.
Rejoice, sure hope of sheep that have fallen away.
Rejoice, thou who returnest to the path of truth those who denied God and the faith.
Rejoice, God-bearing father who didst multiply the fruits of the Lord’s harvest by thy works.
Rejoice, faithful imitator of the Lord Who by His blood saved us from the curse of the law.
Rejoice, thou who hewest asunder the guileful powers of darkness by thy prayers.
Rejoice, thou who deliverest the Orthodox from the temptations of the adversary.
Rejoice, indestructible fortress, victor over godless authorities and conqueror of worldly passions.
Rejoice, bulwark and praise of the faithful and servants of God.
Rejoice, adornment of reverent priests and intercessor of meek servants.
Rejoice, thou who drivest away despondency and healest those condemned to death.
Rejoice, shelter and protection of travelers and calm harbor for the suffering.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ!
Kontakion 9
Seeing the increase of ungodliness taking hold of thy nation, good pastor, thou didst appear to a small flock, for faithlessness and abominable sin ensnared many, but thirsting for their return to piety, thou didst boldly call all to repentance, ceaselessly crying with sorrow: “O miserable ones sitting in darkness, ye are bound by your fear and silence, how could ye not see the light of Christ and His Glory? Receive your sight, and beholding Christ our God, repent, turn away from your evil paths and ceaselessly glorify God”: Alleluia!
Ikos 9
A storm of disquiet struck thee as a result of the ungodly iconoclasts, for they satanically desecrated the holy icons of the Master Lord Jesus Christ, His all-pure Mother and the saints of God, and persecuted those who venerated them. But thou, not fearing death, didst burn the image of the idol God-hater and servant of Satan as if it were a whole-burnt offering to God, and for this audacious deed the authorities possessed unrivaled hatred for thee, and so thou didst expect an inevitable death for Christ, boldly preaching: “Such grandeur is not befitting a human corpse, it is only meet for Christ our Savior and God, who wast resurrected from the dead!” Pray to Him now, all-praised father, for the salvation of our souls and to keep us from pernicious heresies, and bestow thy zeal for the Lord on those who thus praise thee:
Rejoice, shepherd of a small flock, who helped the unlearned understand the Word of God.
Rejoice, thou who didst ceaselessly admonish sinners on God’s path.
Rejoice, bold accuser of hateful rulers and dishonest judges.
Rejoice, chastiser of evildoers and guide of heretics to the path of Truth.
Rejoice, thou who didst reprove those who turned away from the hand of God and the worldly-hearted.
Rejoice, reproach of the rising pride of this age.
Rejoice, destruction of the iconoclasts’ sedition.
Rejoice, protector against Satan’s schemes and foreign invasion.
Rejoice, calmer of unbridled people and abolisher of the trickery of superstition.
Rejoice, thou who awakenest thy people from spiritual sleep by reproof.
Rejoice, thou who healest prideful souls and scatterest the darkness of our minds.
Rejoice, thou who dost bless faithful spouses and reproach adulterers.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ!
Kontakion 10
Ungodly blasphemers of Christ and servants of the atheistic authorities who hated thee sought to drive thee from the path of truth by submitting thee to temptations, and locked thee in prison, but courageously didst thou denounce their craftiness and thou didst instruct and strengthen those imprisoned for the sake of their faith in Christ, and together with them thou didst glorify God. The pride of those who tried to ruin thee in their rage was soon abated, for they could do nothing to thee because the Lord miraculously protected thee from death by thy confinement to a medical ward, amongst the lowly of this world, the rejected, unpredictable and insane, where thou didst endure innumerable tortures. But this satanic cruelty shook not thine unbreakable faith, O holy father, and amidst the tortures, like the three youths in the Babylonian furnace, thou didst continue to glorify and magnify God: Alleluia!
Ikos 10
Granted freedom by the patriarch’s intercession, thou didst straightway hasten to the Church of Saint Barbara seeking the Lord’s consolation, and in exhaustion thou didst fall asleep and heard a wondrous voice say thrice: “Gabriel, I cry for thee!” and upon wakening didst thou hurry to a crucifix and behold a miracle: Jesus weeping tears; kneeling in tears, thou didst offer praise and prayers to the Lord. Having received such consolation, thou didst return to serve at Sioni, and nourished a multitude of people, preaching repentance and administering to them the Holy Mysteries. But even there the enemy drove thee away from serving the Lord, according to the will of the ungodly authorities, and thou becamest poor and shelterless for many years, enduring unbearable heat and deadly cold, remaining amongst the tombs, taking up the cross of foolishness-for-Christ, preaching the Kingdom of Heaven and delighting the heavens by thy ceaseless prayer. People saw the beauty of thy soul, served thee with love, and desired to meet thee, a zealous servant of God and defeater of passions. Thus we marvel at thy Godly resolve and we cry to thee:
Rejoice, thou who scorchest like fire the thorns of passions with few words.
Rejoice, fierce reproacher of clergy that have fallen into temptations of the world.
Rejoice, reprover of those who have fallen away from God.
Rejoice, thou who wast humiliated and insulted by priests.
Rejoice, knower of inner thoughts, who protectest the people from temptations and offenses.
Rejoice, thou who, deified by grace, richly bestowest treasures of the Spirit.
Rejoice, thou who didst acquire heavenly gifts by honesty and goodness of soul and abidest in heaven.
Rejoice, thou who didst understand the language of the birds of the sky and beasts of the earth.
Rejoice, thou who didst open the closed church gates by the sign of the cross.
Rejoice, successor of the immortal podvig of thy spiritual fathers and brothers-in-Christ John and George of Betania, with whom thou wast bound by an oath in the struggle for truth.
Rejoice, thou who revealest the ungodly enemies of Christ and the chosen land of Iberia.
Rejoice, thou who like Saint Spyridon of Trimythous didst glorify the miraculous power of the Holy Consubstantial Trinity by changing bread into wheat, fire and water.
Rejoice, thou who by wise counsel didst edify many priests and form true monks.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ!
Kontakion 11
Thou wast a chosen light among the holy fathers, O wondrous elder, for words of heavenly wisdom and the vision of the Holy Spirit were granted thee, and thou didst help others by thy gift of healing, seeing into peoples’ hearts, the gift of healing the soul, and the exalted gift of love. But as God marked thee with especial humility and wondrous modesty, thou didst deign to live according to the teaching of Saint Paul the Apostle that “The wisdom of the world is madness in the eyes of God,” and thou didst appear to others as a Fool-for-Christ, pretending to be a good-for-nothing and drunkard, calling thyself a dog of the Savior, but in thine heart singing to God: Alleluia!
Ikos 11
Like Saint Andrew the Blessed, thou didst acquire thy good name by meekness and humility, and according to the multitude of thy virtues thou becamest a Fool-for-Christ, O our brave elder, and bore the double burden of life as a hermit and Fool-for-Christ, unfathomable to the world, often feigning drunkenness, whereby thou didst conceal thy holiness and spiritual gifts. And though, O wise monk, thou didst appear as a fool to the world, now thou art numbered among the saints of the Church, and having great boldness before the Lord, pray to Him to again reveal to us worthy fathers and wise leaders, lest Iberia, the Mother of God’s possession, be corrupted, and that we do what is right before God; wherefore with tenderness we thus call upon and praise thee:
Rejoice, thou who revealest heavenly mysteries, for thou didst shine with divine light in the wicked times of persecution of the truth and denigration of piety, and hast enlightened thy people by thy holiness.
Rejoice, our astute father full of prayer and spiritual wisdom, for the mind of man cannot attain to the unreachable heights that were revealed to thee.
Rejoice, thou who wast engulfed with divine fire, who didst reproach clergy that were wolves in sheep’s clothing, as did the prophet Elias to the priests of Baal.
Rejoice, thou who like Moses didst bear thy cross for forty years, for thou kept within thyself the word of God, an indestructible pillar, revealing not the strength of man but of God.
Rejoice, thou who like David the Prophet didst receive God’s mercy, and as if with a sling, didst defeat the godless by preaching the Gospel of Christ.
Rejoice, thou who like John the Baptist didst tirelessly take sinners from the devil and by repentance returned them to God.
Rejoice, thou who like St. John the Theologian, the apostle of love, wast granted together with the gift of love the mysteries of God and power over unclean spirits.
Rejoice, thou who didst rejoice in tribulations and teach us to strengthen ourselves in sufferings by patience and faith.
Rejoice, thou who like the first martyrs wast always persecuted and in sorrows, always weeping only for thine own sins.
Rejoice, thou who wast in sorrow concerning thy soul as over one dead, weeping and crying out like the good thief: “Remember me, O Savior, in thy kingdom!”
Rejoice, heavenly man who didst avoid worldly greatness, for thus from this time forth and forevermore people flock to thee to praise thy wondrous deeds.
Rejoice, thou who didst entreat the most pure Mother of God for the increase of the Georgian people, and saw a vision of countless infants killed in their mothers’ wombs, and being horrified, beheld the most pure Queen with angels and heard her mournful voice say: “Why art thou asking me to multiply thy people while infants are being killed in their mothers’ wombs?”
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ!
Kontakion 12
In thy humility and meekness, thou didst patiently wait many years for the blessing to again serve in church, and seeing thy modesty and burning desire to serve God, Patriarch Ephraim invited thee again to the altar, clothed thee in priests’ garments, and administered to thee the Mysteries of Christ, and inspired by God he sent thee to the holy Samtavro Monastery in Mtskheta, where thou didst settle in a small cell, O resident of the heavenly New Jerusalem, near the bush of Saint Nino the Enlightener of Iberia, where thou didst again devote thyself to offering the bloodless sacrifice and preaching the Kingdom, enlightening the nuns and thy flock, and teaching them about visible and invisible enemies. By ceaseless prayer didst thou protect the monastery from trouble, and thou didst adorn the tower of Saint King Mirian with crosses and icons found by thee, day and night glorifying the one God in Trinity: Alleluia!
Ikos 12
Thou didst see the future as though present, O wondrous father, and by power from on high didst thou work many miracles out of love for us, strengthening faith and revealing the power of God made perfect in weakness; being gravely ill, our blessed elder, thou didst endure insufferable pains, and until the end of thy days didst thou bear the cross of grievous bodily suffering. When the time of thy death wast revealed to thee by the Holy Spirit, O holy father, thou didst pray before the icon of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker for the Georgian nation and quietly departed this world, filled with thy good works, and thou didst join the great ranks of holy fathers, and according to thy will, like a monk of old wast thou buried wrapped in a mat. Thy holy relics became an inexhaustible source of miracles for the people of God and a fount of healing from illness and disease, like a treasury of grace of the Holy Spirit and sign of the forgiveness of our many sins and deliverance from sicknesses of body and soul. Therefore, we hasten with great joy to the Samtavro Monastery, thy resting place, where every person that cometh to thee with faith, being anointed with oil from thy lamp, as a blessing from thee, receives the healing of soul and body, and we thus ceaselessly glorify thee:
Rejoice, thou who by patience didst acquire graceful peace, and as an elder often stood against evil at the risk of thine own life, always praying to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.
Rejoice, thou who hast remained close to us even after thy death as an angelic helper in this difficult age.
Rejoice, thou who wast crowned with thorns, and after death shineth upon us like a hot ray of sun, ceaselessly calling us to Christ.
Rejoice, for thy resting place near a blackberry bush is a wondrous tower and strength, and for those who visit it a fragrant treasury and source of true grace for the glory of God.
Rejoice, for by God’s providence thy mother followed thee on the path of confession and monastic struggles, and wast buried in the holy monastery near thy relics.
Rejoice, thou who art a refuge for those in misfortunes, whose tomb emanates divine fire scorching the wiles of the godless and shining like a warm jubilant light protecting us from sinful darkness.
Rejoice, for not only believers, but also the lazy and those of little faith hasten to venerate the vessel of thine incorrupt blood, and pray to thee for mercy; and thou hearest their prayers, fulfilling their good wishes and giving joy abundantly to those in sorrows.
Rejoice, for hierarchs beheld the miracles flowing from thy tomb and the multitude of miracles occurring by thy mercy, and they glorified thee as a great monk, confessor and Fool-for-Christ, numbering thee among the saints.
Rejoice, for many priests saw healings occur from venerating thy tomb, and now together with their flock glorify thee as a great saint, offering prayers and praise to thee.
Rejoice, thou who didst work miracles for the people of God abundantly, and whose icons and images stream myrrh by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, for now the royal city of Mtskheta is full of joy and the Samtavro Monastery rejoices at the presence of thy holy relics, and the Georgian people tirelessly gather there praising thy holiness, healings and prophecies.
Rejoice, calm harbor of salvation for those perishing and the hope of the hopeless, for thou hast been revealed as a great intercessor for those suffering in misfortune; thou givest divine strength abundantly to all who come to thee, and soarest watchfully above thy homeland and people.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ!
Kontakion 13
O most glorious and most wonderful shepherd and pleaser of Christ, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ, our Father Gabriel! Our Lord Jesus Christ blessed thee to do great works, unfathomable to the mind of man, and He granted thee rich mercy in this temporal life and upon thy death He granted thee the gift of boldly interceding for the souls of sinners. And now accept our small prayer that we offer thee with love, and as thou art a fervent intercessor, implore Christ God to deliver us from sin and wickedness, from trouble and tribulations, and that He make us heirs of the Heavenly Kingdom, so that together with thee we may cry out to God:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
(Repeat the above Kontakion 13, 3 times)
(Then continue below)
Ikos 1
As the Lord revealed the prophets to Israel as denouncers of evil and advocates before God, Christ blessed thee for great works, having beheld thine boundless heart. Thou wast revealed to us as a Fool-for-Christ, teacher, intercessor, and a rebuker of this iniquitous age and its generation. Wherefore from youth wast thou devoted to the service of God for the sake of our salvation, delivering us from sinful passions and danger. Even after thy holy death thou persistently fulfillest thy vow, warmly caring for those who come to thee, and as an eagle gives shelter beneath its wings thou dost help those in sadness and sorrow and those tormented by evil spirits, and generously thou bestowest healings on those who cry to thee:
Rejoice, thou who didst from youth love meekness and humility.
Rejoice, vigilant guardian of the purity of body and soul.
Rejoice, chosen vessel of holiness.
Rejoice, thou who from youth wast a great bearer of the mysteries of the Almighty.
Rejoice, double-edged sword of God destroying the danger of unbelief.
Rejoice, champion of truth and strengthener of those weak in faith.
Rejoice, all-wondrous preacher of love.
Rejoice, counselor of repentant sinners.
Rejoice, true servant of Christ the Savior in the struggle against the enemies of God.
Rejoice, radiant pillar of the last times.
Rejoice, great archimandrite and elder, spiritual father of Ιberia.
Rejoice, messenger from above who atoned for thy people.
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ!
Kontakion 1
We praise thy life and miracles unceasingly with song, O all-praised Father Gabriel, for thou hast shown forth as a great luminary of Iberia, and now in heartfelt supplication we earnestly cry to thee, for thou art our all-powerful protector and mediator before the Lord, look down upon us, holy father, and protect us who are in sorrow and temptations, and with thy fatherly boldness defend us from sickness and misfortune, propitiate for us the all-powerful God that He keep us from wandering along sinful paths, and deliver from evil those who praise and chant to thee:
Rejoice, O venerable Father Gabriel, holy confessor and Fool-for-Christ!
Additional General Prayers
O, all-praised Father Gabriel, confessor and Fool-for-Christ! The adornment of monks, crown of priests and friend of angels, chosen warrior of the God-protected Georgian land and indestructible defender from trials and tribulations to those who pray to thee, bold advocate before God on behalf of those who are hopeless and come to thee faithfully, shelter for the doomed and benefactor of the weak!
O thou who standest amongst the ranks of confessors and Fools-for-Christ, all-miraculous Father Gabriel! Having from youth chosen the angelic life, thou wast clothed in the monastic schema in a time when iniquity triumphed, and now by thine aid thou hast given us wisdom, and fortitude, and invincible power to protect our faith and homeland, for now countless enemies of the Truth have set upon Holy Orthodoxy and, as before, are cunningly trying to do evil, acting craftily and by the power of the evil one, to corrupt God’s people and turn them into servants of darkness. For we, dwelling in sinful darkness, have not the strength to oppose them, but by thine intercession, holy father, beseech Christ God to grant us the fulfillment of thy prophecies and reveal to us a king, anointed by God to rule the kingdom as a valiant ruler and leader. That He reveal one, as King David wast revealed to Israel, who shall rule in faith, kindness and by the truth, and live to care for our people, the people of the chosen lot of the Mother of God, that he may bear the Cross of Christ, unwaveringly following Him in the Orthodox Faith, that he may raise Georgia to its former honor and strength, so that countless demons with their unholy deeds may not blaspheme Christ God and the Holy Faith within her borders. By thine all-powerful and warm prayer, protect and strengthen the Most Holy and Blessed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, the Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi and Metropolitan of Pitsunda and Tskhum Abkhazia, our father Ilia II, all patriarchs of the Holy Orthodox Church, and all clergy thereof: metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, and all the priestly and monastic order, and all who pray and toil in the Holy Orthodox Church, and all Orthodox Christians!
O Holy Father Gabriel! According to thy works before God, similar to the apostles’ struggles, and knowing thy great mercy, according to thy will we humbly pray that thou wilt deliver the icon of our Savior Not Made with Hands from museum imprisonment and establish it in the Catholic Church for His holy name’s sake, in anticipation of the appearance of the Atskur Not Made With Hands icon of the Most Pure Virgin and glorious return to the land of Georgia of the Portaitissa, Gate-Keeper, “the greatest deliverer from the satanic traps and temptations of the Antichrist,” according to the prophecies of our holy fathers, for as a sign of the onset of the last times this icon shall depart Mount of Athos and again illumine Iberia, her chosen lot. But ungodliness instigated by the devil is still rampant in the lot of Mother of God, and our people are ensnared in sin and the evil traps of this world, and we, overcome with laziness, fearfully await the great and terrible Second Coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Wherefore we beseech thee, holy Father Gabriel, to deliver us from God’s dread punishment for our faithlessness and iniquities, and by thy mercy pray to Christ, the All-Merciful God, to have mercy on our souls and enlighten our hearts with Orthodoxy and piety, that in us virtue may be increased, that upon our repose we may be enjoined to the Heavenly Kingdom and be numbered among the angelic hosts who always sing to the Lord our God, in the bright abodes of His eternal being, together with our saints, and with thee, ceaselessly glorifying His all-holy name, together with His unoriginate Father and All-Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen!
Prayer in front of Saint Gabriel’s icon
Above all, our father, all-blessed wonderworker Gabriel, who art radiant with light full of divine power, grant us our requests and give peace to those who with faith come to thy holy icon and kneel before it with tenderness, praying to thee with zeal. Spurn us not, being ashamed of our iniquities, but be merciful, give strength, and pray to God that we may obtain victory over the regiments of demons, flattery and wickedness of this world, and grant our people the strength to overcome cunning enemies, and keep our Holy Orthodox Church unshakeable by the world.
Thy holy and honored image wast revealed to us for our salvation, for a firm faith and worship of God in expectation of His mercy; protect thy flock from all trials and tribulations, faithful servant of Christ, all-praised Father Gabriel, so that we may walk the path of life blamelessly by thy prayers and be granted the Heavenly Homeland.
It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim and incomparably more glorious than the Seraphim; who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the very Theotokos, thee do we magnify.