Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel

The Lord chose the Archangel Gabriel to announce to the All-holy Virgin, and with her to the whole world, the incarnation of the Son of God; therefore, on the day after the feast of the Annunciation, the Church glorifies the Lord and venerates His good messenger, the Archangel Gabriel.

The Archangel Gabriel announced the incarnation of the Son of God to the mankind of the Old Testament; he inspired the Prophet Moses to write the book of Genesis, and revealed to the Prophet Daniel the future of the Hebrew people (Dan. 8:16; 9:21–24); he appeared to the righteous Anna and announced to her the birth of the All-holy Virgin; he never left the child Mary in the temple of Jerusalem. The Archangel Gabriel appeared to the high priest Zacharias and foretold the birth of the Forerunner of the Lord, John the Baptist. The Lord sent Gabriel to Joseph the carpenter to announce to him that the All-holy Mary would give birth to the Son of God; he warned him of Herod’s treachery and commanded him to flee into Egypt with the Child Saviour and the Mother of God. When the Saviour was praying in the garden of Gethsemane, according to the teaching of the Church, God the Father sent the Archangel Gabriel to strengthen Him.

It was from the Archangel Gabriel that the myrrh-bearing women learned of the radiant Resurrection of the Lord.

The Orthodox Church calls her children to pray with faith to the holy Archangel Gabriel, to ask him for intercession and for protection from enemies visible and invisible.