Our Venerable Father Gabriel the Less, Hieromartyr, Ascetic of the Desert of the Forerunner, Martyred by the Leks (+802)

The Venerable Gabriel the Less was a native of Tbilisi and earned his living by sewing. For a man distinguished by high spirituality and honesty, the restless life of the city was hard to bear. One day he left everything, went to David Gareja, to the desert of the Forerunner, and was tonsured a monk.

In the monastery the venerable father set his hand to the work of books, and his writing left a due mark on Georgian sacred literature. He compiled several collections of a liturgical and moral character, reworked from the writings of well-known theologians, and also composed original sacred works, among them: 1) A Symbolic Explanation of the Hierarchical Liturgy, How Every Sacred Action of It Holds Power Mystically; 2) On the Canons of the Sixth Ecumenical Council; 3) Spiritual Narratives of God-loving Souls; 4) The Life and Labours of Our Venerable Father Onesiphorus the Ascetic; 5) A Short Account of Porphyry.

Abiding in unceasing labour, in fasting and prayer, the venerable father was also distinguished by a wonderful love and service towards the brethren: he helped everyone, cared for everyone, encouraged everyone.

Once, in the days of Great Lent, a protodeacon from Tbilisi came to the desert of the Forerunner to labour there. After some time the deacon began to long for his family, could stay in the monastery no longer, and decided to return to Tbilisi. The Venerable Gabriel went to see him on his way, but on the road the Leks met them and killed Gabriel.

The brethren brought the holy body of the blessed father back to the monastery and buried him there.