Festal Service to Our Holy Father Gabriel, Bishop of Imereti

— “O come, let us worship” — is sung.

— “Bless the Lord, O my soul” (Psalm 103) — is sung.

— “Blessed is the man” — the first antiphon of the first kathisma.

— “Lord, I have cried” (sung in Tone 5).

— Of Bishop Gabriel. — On 8.

O all-praised hierarch Gabriel, springing from a root of servants of God, from thy youth thou wast like a tree planted by the rivers of water, and in thy season thou didst bring forth fruit fair and worthy of the heavenly treasuries: now intercede with Christ that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.

O all-praised hierarch Gabriel, when divine watchfulness was given thee, thou didst swiftly learn all the orders and chants of the Church, and the word of God was thy food and delight: now intercede with Him that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.

O all-praised hierarch Gabriel, being established on the unshaken rock of the commandments of Christ, thou didst complete thy theological studies in Petersburg, and didst advance also in the secular and philosophical sciences; and when thou didst return to thine own homeland, thou didst multiply with wisdom the grace given thee by God, and didst labour unceasingly for the upbringing of the souls and minds of the young: now intercede with Christ that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.

O all-praised hierarch Gabriel, for the righteousness and humility that thou didst acquire, thou wast beloved of all; and called to the service of God and ordained a priest, O father, thou didst not forsake thy pupils, but like a wise husbandman didst prepare their minds to receive the holy seed of the knowledge of God: now intercede with Christ that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.

O all-praised hierarch Gabriel, when the devil saw thee enter fervently upon the struggle, he brought countless trials upon thee to quench thy fervour, O blessed one, and God permitted it, as with righteous Job; and when thy household had perished all together, in place of thine own children He granted thee the Georgian people for thy labour, whom thou didst shepherd with wisdom and love: now intercede with Christ that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.

O all-praised hierarch Gabriel, though thou wast a stranger to human glory, thou didst know the will of the Lord that thou shouldest be the shepherd of thy people; and consecrated bishop of Imereti-Guria and Racha-Svaneti, thou didst become like the apostles of Christ God in virtue, and like an organ pouring forth those sweet saving teachings, thou didst appear as a pillar and strength of the faith: now intercede with Christ that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.

Another sticheron, Tone 2

“O crowns…”

With what crown of praise shall we wreathe the strength of the Church of the Georgians, who enlightened all with his teaching, the all-radiant lamp and luminary of all Georgia, the great helper, shepherd and teacher, who, labouring for the enlightenment of his people, taught them in the love of God and of the fatherland, and made his times radiant by his mighty struggle, through which Christ God, who hath great mercy, cast down the assaults of the enemies?

With what hymns of praise shall we sing of him who was filled with the grace and wisdom of God, the mediator and helper of all, the consoler of the afflicted and refuge of those in trials, the pillar of piety, champion of the faithful and enlightener of our people, the holy and great hierarch Gabriel, through whom Christ God, who hath great mercy, cast down the assaults of the enemies?

“Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”: The Church of Georgia keepeth the feast of thy memory and biddeth us sing of thy struggle, O Gabriel, beauty of the Church, wondrous one, temple of mysteries united with the angels, abyss of understanding, beholder of things ineffable, father of fathers and hierarch of the pious, boast of monks and guide of the Orthodox, who rejoicest before the all-holy Trinity, illumined with great radiance, and art the helper of those who entreat thee: intercede now with Christ and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy. (Tone 6).

— “Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen” — Who will not call thee blessed, O all-holy Virgin? Who will not praise thine all-pure childbearing? For the only-begotten Son, who shone forth timelessly from the Father, came forth ineffably incarnate from thee, the pure one; being God by nature, and for our sake becoming man by nature, not divided into two persons, but known in two natures without confusion. Entreat Him, O honoured and all-blessed one, for the salvation of our souls. (Tone 6).

— The entrance with the censer.

— The prokeimenon of the day

— The Old Testament readings — three readings of the venerable one (from the Common service of a hierarch).

— At the Litia, the sticheron of the church — one.

— Then of Bishop Gabriel.

Wondrous are Thy mysteries, O Christ God, for Thou didst make this our father, worthy of remembrance and all-praised, the good shepherd, spring up in the region of Guria, the son of a pious priest; and he became a zealous follower of those great men of the Holy Mountain, Euthymius and George, radiant with fasting and struggle, and all the days of his life he spent in ascetic labour and vigil.

უბრალოჲ ცხორებაჲ შენი და წესისა სიმარტივე და სიწმიდჱ და ყოვლითურთ მისა მიმართ საკუთრებაჲ იხილა რაჲ ღმერთმან, სანატრელო, წარჩინებულ გყო ფრიად და მოგანიჭა საყდარი მღდელმოძღურებისაჲ, ხოლო იქმენ რაჲ სარწმუნოჲ განმგებელ, ღირსო, განამტკიცებდი მართლმადიდებელთა აღმსაარებლობასა და გარეგან ცხოვართაჲთა მოსილთა და შინაგან მგელ-ღმრთისმსახურთა დაამჴობდი და განიოტებდი და შერისხავდი სიწმიდისა შემრყუნელთა და მამულისა მაოხართა.

Like a lamp burning with fire thou didst appear to souls fallen into the darkness of ignorance and didst become their guide to the unwaning light; and thy prayer, word and teaching, filled with the most rich grace of God, became the rudder and helmsman for the clergy and the peoples, for thou didst call all to the knowledge and glory of God, and didst appear as a rule for hierarchs, and didst pour forth divine joy upon the Church and people of the Georgians.

Thy people gained thee as an ascetic and man of prayer, a glory and an image of holiness, for, divinely armed with fervent prayer, thou didst go about the towns and villages, and with love didst teach all to turn from evil and to care for their souls by almsgiving, fasting and prayer: so now also calm my heart, shaken and defiled by the waves of the world, and fill me with divine watchfulness.

Being in that fierce struggle, thou didst not strive after glory and possessions, but with compunction of heart didst labour daily for the peaceful protection of widows and orphans; thou didst comfort the sorrowful and the sick, and secretly help all the needy and imprisoned, and didst rebuke the greedy and covetous and teach mercy to the poor: now guide us too to walk becomingly in this world, that we may not turn aside to iniquity, and may ever be counted worthy to glorify God.

Being most zealous for the instruction of the people, thou who didst attain with wondrous wisdom to the power of the depth of the Gospel, a most skilful orator, didst deliver thy divine sermons in a God-inspired and simple manner, for the comfort and profit of all, great and small, learned and unlettered; and as thou didst teach them to keep the divine ordinances unswervingly, many hastened to church, that they might not miss hearing thy words, sweeter than honey, and they cried out with joy: “Thanks be to God, who hath revealed to our people a new Chrysostom!”

Caring greatly for the work of the Church, thou didst labour to preserve our language and to revive Georgian chant; and correcting the teachings corrupted by the foolish, thou didst also blot out the deception of superstition, and didst strengthen all in the Orthodoxy handed down by the holy fathers; and thou didst astonish those who saw and witnessed thy great struggle, O radiant image of piety, Gabriel worthy of wonder, and didst move them to praise thee and to glorify God.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having become by purity of heart a dwelling of the Holy Spirit, thou didst take up thy cross, O most sacred one, and follow that narrow and sorrowful way on which Christ God, the Chief Shepherd of all, set thee, and His all-holy Mother, Mary the Theotokos, strengthened thee; and now, by the grace thou hast before them, ask for the deliverance of Iberia from the invasions of the enemy and the unshaken preservation of the Church from every heresy and schism.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Rejoice, O Virgin, cloud and chariot of the Word; rejoice, O holy dwelling of God, beyond the mind and beyond every bound; rejoice, O unwedded one, who didst conceive by the Spirit God who is above all gods; rejoice, thou who didst give birth without seed and didst give suck without corruption; rejoice, ever-virgin and blessed one.

— At the Aposticha, a sticheron. Tone 8: When the grace of God dwelt in thee, O blessed one, it made thee hate the glory of this passing world and love humility and mercy, compunctionate prayer, vigil and standing with uplifted hands, like unto the bodiless ones; and having finished thy course, O saint, thou didst stand before Christ with joy: ask now for us great mercy from Him.

Verse: Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that dwell in the world.

From thy lips a fountain of grace sprang forth, sweeter than honey, O most sacred Gabriel; and since thou didst adorn the Church of Christ with theological writings as with a royal ornament, she is radiantly arrayed with her children by the multitude of thy teachings, and biddeth all the faithful to praise and extol thy wondrous struggle.

Verse: “My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.”

By word and deed thou didst glorify the glorious God and didst ever meditate on His commandments day and night with a pure mind; and like a pillar of light thy radiant prayer rose up to heaven, O God-wise father: ask for us great mercy from Christ.

“Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”: The grace of piety given thee from above astonished the choirs of angels, and we too glorify Christ our God, who through the intercessions of His Mother did not disregard our chosen people, and in a time when saints had grown few made thee shine forth, such a shepherd and ascetic, for the instruction and enlightenment of our race.

— “Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen” — O unwedded Virgin, who didst ineffably conceive God in thy womb, O Mother of God Most High, accept the supplication of thy servants, O all-immaculate one, who grantest to all the cleansing of sins; accept our supplication also, and ask great mercy for us.

— “Lord, now lettest Thou”.

— After “Our Father”:

— The troparion of the hierarch, Tone 4: In the world thou didst endure sorrow, but with Christ thou didst gain peace; by thy word thou didst enlighten the Georgian people and multiply among them the treasures of poverty, O holy hierarch Gabriel, clothed in struggle: entreat Christ God to have mercy on our souls. (Twice)

“O Theotokos and Virgin…” once.

— The blessing of the loaves.

— “God is the Lord” (sung in Tone 4).

— The troparion of the hierarch, Tone 4: In the world thou didst endure sorrow, but with Christ thou didst gain peace; by thy word thou didst enlighten the Georgian people and multiply among them the treasures of poverty, O holy hierarch Gabriel, clothed in struggle: entreat Christ God to have mercy on our souls. (Twice)

— “Glory…”, “Both now…” — the resurrectional dismissal Theotokion (in the tone of the troparion): — The mystery hidden from eternity and unknown to the angels, O Theotokos, hath through Thee been revealed to those on earth: God incarnate in unconfused union, who of His own will accepted the Cross for our sake, whereby He raised the first-formed man and saved our souls from death.

After the first kathisma, the sessional hymn, Tone 1:

Thou didst complete a life of piety on earth, O all-blessed hierarch Gabriel, and didst appear as a rule for monks and a radiant luminary of all the world: now make the true light shine in our hearts, and intercede unceasingly for those who praise thee. (Twice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The mystery hidden from all ages is revealed to the Archangel, that he may declare it with trembling to the Virgin; and he bringeth glad tidings to her who is blessed among women; with him let us cry out: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

— After the second kathisma, the sessional hymn. (Tone 4).

Thy divine virtues are ever praised by the Orthodox who love Christ: purity, meekness, humility and mercy to the poor; and now we too honour thee, O saint, thrice-blessed hierarch Gabriel, and praise thee, made courageous by thy struggle. (Twice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O all-immaculate and holy one, thou didst conceive by the divine Spirit God the Maker and Creator of all, and didst bear Him without corruption; wherefore we magnify thee and sing thy praise, O Virgin, as the palace of the King of all and the helper of the world.

— “The Polyeleos”, the nineteenth kathisma (Psalms 134 and 135).

— “The Magnification” of the hierarch (with selected verses from the Psalter).

— Sessional hymn after the Magnification: “Wisdom…” (Tone 8).

Our Lord Jesus Christ set thee as hierarch and enlightener of this people, the lot of His Mother, stumbling through many temptations and sunk in negligence; by His grace thou didst guard them from all snares: driving away the evil wolves with the staff of faith, strengthened by the power of the Trinity thou didst shelter thy flock unharmed from their ravages; and now entreat Christ God to grant remission of sins to those who with longing honour thy memory. (Twice)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The Word of the Father, who is co-eternal with Him, taketh from thee the beginning of our nature, O Theotokos; the Timeless One entereth into time, the Word becometh flesh, and the Son of God is called thy Son. O this incomprehensible mystery! Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.

— The Anabathmoi, the first antiphon, Tone 4

From my youth unclean passions war mightily against me; therefore I entreat Thee: be my helper and save me, O Good One.

Ye that hate Zion, be put to shame by the Lord, and like withered grass shall Gehenna devour you.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

By the Holy Spirit every soul is quickened and exalted in purity, and is made radiant by the Trinity, one in essence, in a manner befitting God and mystically.

— The prokeimenon (of the Matins Gospel): “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” (Tone 7).

Verse: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?

— The Matins Gospel from John, chapter 10, verses 9–16.

The Lord said unto the Jews which came unto Him: I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Through the intercessions of the holy and great hierarch Gabriel, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of our transgressions.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Merciful One, blot out the multitude of our transgressions.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy, and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression, and have mercy on me, O God.

After Psalm 50, the sticheron.

The treasure that thou didst offer to the Church of God, thy unceasing struggles and divine sermons, have radiantly clothed her like ornaments of gold, and she hath set them upon her head like a royal crown radiantly adorned with precious stones, that it may shine for all who enter her with joy and entreat thy help.

— “O God, save Thy people…”

Two canons are read.

The first canon — of the Theotokos (the irmos twice) — on 6 (see the canons of the Theotokos at the end of the Parakletike: “Pharaoh the charioteer…” or “Having passed through the water…”).

— The second canon — of the hierarch (without the irmos) — on 8. (Tone 8).

— The Katavasia: the usual one.

— The little litany — “Let us sing to the Lord”.

Irmos: Of old the Word of the Father, who became flesh for the sake of us sinners, covered Pharaoh with the waves, together with his chariots and his mightily armed host; to Him we sing: O glorious God, Thou art glorified.

Thy struggle, O saint, made the Church of Iberia flourish and strengthened our people in the faith: intercede now with God, that He may cleanse our hearts and minds and fill us with divine watchfulness.

Christ God chose thee as a chosen vessel, O most sacred Gabriel, filled thee with divine wisdom and granted thee abundantly the grace of understanding. Now remove arrogance and pride from my mind and make known to me the way of piety.

Setting thy feet on the narrow way, thou didst grow very rich in virtues, O all-blessed Gabriel, and by the loftiness of thy teachings and sermons thou didst become renowned among hierarchs and wondrous among fathers, O God-inspired one.

“Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”: Thou wast a good shepherd, a great intercessor with the Theotokos for thy flock, greatly loving Her lot, Iberia, and praying for the Iberians and for their good progress.

“Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen”: O all-holy Bride, incorrupt one, enlighten and sanctify my thought and my soul, I pray thee, and drive away the mist of my folly and the gloom of my sins, that I may sing to thee as is meet.

Irmos: Establish me upon the rock of faith, enlarge my mouth over my enemies and gladden my soul, that I may cry to Thee, O Thou who alone art holy: none is holy beside Thee, my God.

Like Elijah thou wast kindled like divine fire against the fighters against God and didst burn up their tongues, and day by day thou didst labour for the glory of God: and now entreat for us, O all-praised hierarch Gabriel, who honour thy feast, O saint.

Preaching the all-spotless faith of Orthodoxy, thou didst instruct thy flock and teach them to keep the commandments of God. Entreat Him now, O blessed one, to deliver us from a faith that is lifeless and lukewarm.

Unable to endure error, and greatly loving thy people, thou didst teach all to do battle against the enemies invisible and visible, lest the judgement of God should come upon them, and didst make them watchful in prayer.

“Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”: Being wondrously filled with divine wisdom in that fierce struggle, thou didst not cease at any time to pray, and crying to God untiringly, thou didst compose divine sermons by the Holy Spirit.

“Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen”: Heal the wounds of my soul and enlighten my mind, darkened by negligence, O Theotokos, that I may sing to thee: none is holy as thou, O immaculate one, and none is incorrupt beside thee, O Lady.

When Christ made thee father and teacher of a people oppressed by enemies, the lot of the Theotokos, thou didst lead it as Moses led the Israelites; and by courage and love of wisdom, by valiant warfare against those invisible enemies, and by the merciless mortification of thine own flesh, thou didst become for many the door and the way to the heavenly Jerusalem. Entreat God now to grant us worthy fathers and wise guides who teach a holy life, that we all may do righteousness and praise God.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Like the radiant sun, shining in the firmament of the Church of the Georgians, O venerable hierarch of the Imeretians, thou didst show thy flock the right and saving way; and like John Chrysostom, fearlessly rebuking the nobles and the clergy, thou didst deliver countless souls from drowning in sin: and now intercede before God that He may look upon this His vineyard, which He planted by the hand of the apostle Andrew, and raise up worthy labourers and workers who bring forth its fruit, who may take upon themselves the shepherding of the Georgians and their turning from the evil way by teaching and the rod of reproof, and move all to the glory and thanksgiving of God.

Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O unwedded Theotokos, holy Virgin, only intercessor of the faithful, shelter us from temptations and afflictions and deliver all of us, O spotless one, from evil besetting, for we have all our hope in thee; and save our souls by thy divine entreaty.

Irmos: Not an angel but the Lord Himself, God incarnate of the Virgin, Thou didst come to us and save us wholly, who cry: Glory to Thy power.

Being most watchful, armed with fasting, prayer and toil, day by day thou didst speak the words of God fearlessly, O spiritual shepherd, and didst guide those sunk in the darkness of ignorance to walk in the divine way.

For the whole world, and above all for the Georgians, thou didst offer up supplication, that they might overcome the opponents of the truth by the right faith and ever gain the victory over the crafty enemy.

The ethereal look of thy face and the leanness of thy body bore witness to thy spiritual labours of courage, and thy humble conduct to the purity of thy inner mind; and like Christ thou didst teach all to share their wealth with the poor and to help those in want.

“Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”: Thyself a great and most learned hierarch, by taking on fierce labours and loving poverty thou didst become like the fathers of old; and seeing thee in mean clothing and a monk's cowl, all marvelled and called thee blessed, O saint, and praised God who exalteth the humble.

“Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen”: The theologians proclaimed the depth of Thy mysteries as wholly beyond reach, O incorrupt one, for Thou didst ineffably bear the Uncircumscribed made flesh.

Irmos: O Giver of light to the luminaries and Salvation of the lost, O Christ, Deliverer of all, to Thee we rise at dawn, O King of peace: enlighten us with Thy light, for apart from Thee, O Good One, we know no other God.

ვითარ სარწმუნოსა მწყემსმთავარსა მოგანიჭეს რაჲ სამწყსოჲცა აფხაზეთ-სამეგრელოჲსა, სიყუარულითა ჰმწყსიდი და ასწავებდი დამარხვად მართლისა სარწმუნოებისა. აწცა გჳჴსენ ურთიერთსიძულილისაგან, რაჲთა კუალად აღდგეს ერთობაჲ ქუეყნისა ჩუენისაჲ და სამწყსოჲ შენი შევმტკიცდეთ სიყუარულითა ქრისტჱსითა.

The talent entrusted to thee, O God-bearing one, thou didst not hide in the earth, but didst multiply it as a faithful servant and bring it to God manifold: entreat Him now to drive away trials and the assaults of demons from those who trust in thee.

Boundless mercy, surpassing sweetness and humility were thy guides on the true way, and thou didst share with all the grace given thee by God: now ask deliverance from transgressions for those who keep thy memory, as one who standeth before God.

Thou hadst zeal for the right faith and for the spreading of love; and handing on to thy flock the teaching of the law, thou didst strip the thick veil from the eyes of the soul, and many were able through thee to know the truth. Now give us too an understanding and wise heart, to discern between good and evil.

“Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”: Thou didst take upon thyself a great struggle and labour for the interpretation of the holy books, and didst fill thy land with writings of piety, whereby thou didst adorn the Church of the Georgians and radiantly array her children with divine teaching.

“Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen”: Thou didst bear for us a new Child, O holy Virgin, Him who was begotten of the Father before the ages, the only unoriginate Word; entreat Him as thy Son and God to have mercy on us who with a pure heart confess thee Theotokos, O all-holy Mother of God.

Irmos: The wave of sin has encompassed me, and I flee to Thy great mercy: bring me up from drowning, O Good One, my God, I pray Thee.

Being a spiritual teacher and guide of the Georgians, thou didst labour that they might flourish in spiritual and bodily good things; and founding reading-rooms and schools, at thine own expense thou didst educate many young people at home and abroad.

Zealous for the service of God and the enlightenment of thy people, thou didst build many churches, and renew and adorn ancient temples and monasteries, which stand to this day for the salvation of souls and the glorification of God: entreat Him now to deliver from all afflictions and passions us who keep thy memory.

ჟამსა მას დევნულებათა შინა ყოვლისავე საქმისა ქართულისა, დამხობილ იყო რაჲ საყდარი ივერთა პატრეარქისა და მეფისაჲ, გამოსჩნდი ნუგეშად ერისა შენისა, და არცაღა დასცხრებოდი დაცვისათჳს ენისა ჩუენისა და აღორძინებისათჳს ქართულისა გალობისა.

“Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”: Christ God, who strengthened thee, made manifest the courage of thy struggles and spread it through all the ends of the land; therefore we boast of thee, and taught by thy holy books we exult with joy.

“Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen”: Thy womb became more spacious than the heavens, for Thou didst contain God, O Bride unwedded, who cannot be contained or circumscribed by creation.

Thou didst become a sharer of the apostles' throne and the beauty of hierarchs, O Gabriel, shining forth like the sun; and thou enlightenest all and drivest away the deep night of godlessness. Therefore we honour thee as a divine and true priest, a minister of the mysteries of Christ.

Withering the flesh by hardship and toil, O God-bearing one, thou didst make the soul flourish by struggle and prayer; and overcoming all the wiles of the demons, as a watchful shepherd thou didst labour well for thy flocks, bringing up many by thy teaching and delivering them from lawlessness and sin: entreat now the man-befriending God for us too, that He may grant us repentance and forgiveness of sins and keep us from the assaults of enemies invisible and visible.

Irmos: The command of the lawless tyrant made the furnace blaze more fiercely for the youths, but the God of all sprinkled the three singers with dew from heaven, He who is blessed unto the ages.

Fleeing from greed and luxury thou didst deny thyself, and showing us the height of humility thou becamest an example to thy people, as an imitator of Christ the Chief Shepherd: and now ask for us deliverance from the snare of the demons and from the malice of men.

Thou didst not only offer thine own fruits to God as a sweet-smelling sacrifice, like righteous Abel, but didst also offer other souls without number; and thou didst become the saviour even of a robber who fell upon thee as thou didst walk alone; and when thou toldest him thy name, he was put to shame; and taking him with thee, O venerable one, thou didst send him to school, and he too became a teacher of children.

Nor didst thou shrink from rebuking the powerful, and as thou didst multiply thy haters by thy right preaching, they made war on thee, O father, and like demons slandered thee shamelessly; and when they sought to kill thee, O saint, thou wast preserved by the power of God.

მფარველ ხარ შენ არა მხოლოჲ იმერთ მხარისაჲ, სანატრელო, არამედ სრულიად საქართველოჲსა, და მლოცველი და მსწრაფლშემწჱ, და ყოვლად ძლიერი მეოხი ყოველთა ქართველთა. აწ ურვათა შინა მყოფნი ვითხოვთ შენ მიერ შეწევნასა, რაჲთა ჩვეულებისაებრ წინაპართა ჩუენთასა ვმსახურებდეთ ერსა, და მარადის ვადიდებდეთ ღმერთსა.

“Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”: Grown old in holiness, thou didst perceive thy departure from the flesh, and didst commend thy flock and our people to the Lord; and having ordered all things for the profit of thy soul, by thy testament thou didst give all that thou hadst gained by toil to schools and colleges, for the upbringing of poor boys and girls, and to almshouses for the widows and orphans of the clergy.

“Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen”: Thou didst bring forth the cluster of life like an untended vine, O Mother of God, who hast given us to drink the wine that halloweth and gladdeneth minds and looseth from evil drunkenness.

Irmos: Of old in Babylon the fiery furnace was divided by God, for the Chaldeans were burned by its flame, while the youths, bedewed, said: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord.

The demons, haters of good, unable to endure thy struggle, O saint, rose up and fell upon thee, weak in the flesh, and began to make war with many and various wiles; but they could not shake the firmness of thy faith, for by fervent prayer thou didst scatter their multitude: and now still in us too the uprisings of passions invisible and visible.

Becoming like a bloodless martyr of Christ, O God-bearing Gabriel, and forgiving all their offences, at the last thou didst ask forgiveness of all, and at the going forth of thy soul thou didst cry: “Remember me, O Lord, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.” Now entreat God for us also, that He may deliver us from every affliction and deception.

Leaving this passing life, thou didst give thy holy soul to Christ, thy desire, and by Him wast caught up into that endless light; and granting thee the reward of thy labours, He glorified thy holy body with incorruption, for thy face was radiant for many days, O venerable one, like the sun, full of glory.

“Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”: When glorious Gelati was adorned by receiving thine incorrupt body, thy flock gathered from every side and bade thee farewell with streams of tears, and the toiling people offered thee praises, O saint, and called thee the enlightener and father of the people.

“Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen”: Heal the passions of my soul with sweetness, O thou praised by all; calm my life, enlighten my soul and guide me on the divine paths, O Lady, that I may ever bless thee.

Irmos: The Son of God appeared from the unoriginate Father and became incarnate of the Virgin for our deliverance; He enlightens the darkened and gathers the scattered into one, that we may magnify with faith her who bore Him.

When thou wast joined to the multitude of the saints, they buried thee in the monastery of Gelati; and though the grave hath enclosed thy holy body, O blessed one, yet thy awe-inspiring struggles resound louder than a trumpet, whereby thou fillest the faithful people with fragrance and illuminest all the ends of heaven.

Beholding that divine way of life of thine, the rivers of thy most rich teachings, and the great signs and wonders worked by thee, thy disciples wrote all these things down after thy death and called thee blessed with songs of fair praise, as a truly valiant soldier of Christ.

Christ gave thee grace to work wonders also, and so honoured thee in this passing world, but after death thou wast glorified yet more before Him; and to this day the honour of holiness hath not departed from thee, for thy tomb hath become for the infirm a treasury of grace and a fountain of healings.

All who trust in thee and love thee hasten even now to that monastery wherein the holy tomb that holdeth thy relics, like an unfailing spring, richly poureth forth the fragrance of graces and granteth healing to those who honour it.

“Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”: Our Church hath gained thee as a divine bulwark and a good refuge, and biddeth all the faithful to call thee blessed, O fervent zealot and master over the passions, nourisher of the poor and guide of sinful souls.

“Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen”: The great mystery of thy glorious giving birth amazes the angels, O thou who art full of grace; it wounds the choir of the saints with love and rouses the fathers to sing divinely to thee, the hope of the whole world.

— After “Magnify” (Ode 9): — “It is truly meet” — is not sung.

— “The Exapostilarion”: The bodiless Light illumined thee, O our father, hierarch Gabriel, and making thee shine forth for our comfort, spread thy radiance over this our land darkened by sin, and drove away the gloom of ignorance; therefore the Church of God hath put on thy struggle like a treasure of gold, and hath set it upon her head like a royal crown radiantly adorned with precious stones, that it may shine for all who enter her with joy.

“Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit” (the same).

“Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen”: We confess thee truly as the Theotokos, O Lady, we who have been saved through thee, for thou didst ineffably bear God, who delivereth from death by the Cross and draweth to Himself the assembly of the venerable, with whom we praise thee, O Virgin.

— “Let every breath” — is sung.

— At the Praises, the stichera — on 8. (Note: choose any 4 or 6 verses; the inserted ones are added when the feast falls on a Sunday.)

Thy feast is praised by those who love thee, O blessed one, and we too with faith glorify and worship Christ, the Chief Shepherd of all, who strengthened thee, O most blessed one, and we move thee to intercede with His all-holy Mother, Mary the Theotokos, that she may drive away the craftiness of our enemies and deliver us from evil deception, that we may not betray our boast, Orthodoxy, and may ever glorify the Holy Trinity with a loud voice.

ღმერთმან ინება რაჲ წყალობაჲ და ცხორებაჲ ერისა ჩუენისაჲ, ჟამსა მას უწინამძღურობისასა გამოგარჩია მამად და წინამძღურად მისა, და სრულ ყავ რაჲ ქადაგებაჲ ჭეშმარიტებისაჲ, ვითარცა რიტორმან საღმრთომან მართლსწავლითა აღავსენ ყოველნი კიდენი ქუეყანისა ჩუენისანი და მიეც მორწმუნეთა საზრდელი უკუდავებისაჲ, აწ ჩუენცა გვექმენ წინამძღუარ ცხორებისა და მეოხად ქრისტჱს მიმართ, მაცხოვრისა ჩუენისა, რაჲთა მოგვიტევნეს მან უსჯულოებანი ჩუენნი და მოგუმადლოს შენებრი მჴურვალებაჲ სარწმუნოებისაჲ, ძმებრივი სიყუარული მოყუასისაჲ და საღმრთოჲ მოშურნეობაჲ მამულისაჲ, ხოლო ქუეყანაჲ ჩუენი დაიფაროს მტერისა საფრჴისა და ძმათა შორის ბრძოლისაგან.

O the gifts given thee, O blessed one, whereby thou didst put the evil demons to shame, and didst appear as a rule for hierarchs and the boast of the Orthodox, the sweetening and radiant luminary of all the world, and the most skilled and honoured physician of the infirm, having grace to help the faithful: now look down upon us from on high, O God-bearing one, and destroy every deception of godlessness, and cast down the enemies and fighters against Christianity.

The land of Guria now boasteth, O saint, for from it thou didst spring up, a good shepherd and a guide to strengthen our people in piety; and the assembly of the faithful, recalling thy struggle, exulteth, and asketh thine intercession with God, that He may drive from us the darkness of ignorance that cometh from sin, and clothe with dispassion, faith and joy all, O venerable one, who honour thy glorious memory.

Our people now rejoiceth, and the holy monastery of Gelati, which treasureth thy holy relics, maketh merry, for many faithful hasten this day into her bosom to draw near with reverence to thy holy tomb and magnify the great adornment of the Georgians, the sweet father and teacher of our people, who planted virtue in many souls and is the swift physician of all the sick and possessed, and to cry out with a loud voice: “Make the righteous Judge, the Lord, merciful to us, O saint, that we may be strengthened and quickened in soul and body and be able to resist every evil.”

Verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

As thou didst teach thy people spiritual words and the ordinances of the law, thy divine sermons spread through many lands by translations, O ascetic and labourer of virtue, Gabriel; and having passed through this world worthily, O glorious one, united now to the delight of paradise, thou rejoicest with the angels and reignest with Christ unto the ages: entreat Him now to remove all arrogance and pride from my darkened mind, and to turn our people, who bear the name of Christ, from every evil way, that instead of mercy we may not receive the punishment of presumption.

— Verse: “Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.”

შემოკრბით, ჵ, ერნო ქართველთანო, და შესხმითა სულიერითა უგალობდეთ წმიდასა და ახოვანსა ქრისტჱს მხედარსა, წმიდასა და დიდსა მღდელთმთავარსა გაბრიელსა, ერისა ჩუენისათჳს ფრიად დამაშურალსა წინაშე ღმრთისა, ჴსნად განსაცდელთაგან და განრინებად ყოვლისაგან ვნებისა და საცთურისა, და ვევედროთ, რაჲთა კუალად დაიფაროს მამული თჳსი - საქართველო - ყოვლისაგან ჭირისა და თანამბრძოლ გუეყოს ჩუენ მარადის წინააღმდგომად მბრძოლისა, ჩუენ ზედა აღბორგებულისა და დაგვიცვას უცხო თესლთა ზედა მოსლვისაგან.

“Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit”: Let us sound the trumpet of hymns, let us leap for joy and be glad, rejoicing in the all-holy feast of St Gabriel the Bishop, and let us praise the blessed one, as one who hath made rivers of teaching flow forth for us, and let us sing: the infirm, to the healer of sicknesses; the afflicted, to their deliverer; sinners, to their fervent intercessor; the sorrowful, to their comforter; those who travel afar, to their companion; sailors, to their helmsman; and all everywhere, magnifying with faith the hope of all, let us say: Be our intercessor, O blessed one, that through thy prayers the Lord God may arm us with His invincible power against all our enemies visible and invisible, and save us. (Tone 6).

“Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen”: O Virgin Theotokos, Thou art the true vine that brought forth the cluster of life; we entreat Thee, O full of grace: together with the apostles intercede for the salvation of our souls.

— “The Great Doxology” — is sung.

— The troparion of the hierarch, Tone 4: In the world thou didst endure sorrow, but with Christ thou didst gain peace; by thy word thou didst enlighten the Georgian people and multiply among them the treasures of poverty, O holy hierarch Gabriel, clothed in struggle: entreat Christ God to have mercy on our souls.

— “Glory…”, “Both now…” — the resurrectional dismissal Theotokion (in the tone of the troparion): — The mystery hidden from eternity and unknown to the angels, O Theotokos, hath through Thee been revealed to those on earth: God incarnate in unconfused union, who of His own will accepted the Cross for our sake, whereby He raised the first-formed man and saved our souls from death.

— The troparion of the hierarch.

— The kontakion of the hierarch.

— “The Typika antiphons” — during the singing of the Beatitudes are inserted

“In Thy Kingdom remember us” — on 8:

— Of the saint, from Ode 3 — 4 troparia (with the irmos).

— Of the saint, from Ode 6 — 4 troparia, with their own “Glory” and “Both now”.

The Epistle — for hierarchs: Heb. 13:17–25.

The Gospel — Luke 6, section 43; 11:27–30.

— The troparion of the hierarch.

Kontakia — “Glory” — of the hierarch.

Both now… — “O hope and refuge…”

“The Prokeimenon”: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” (Tone 7).

Verse: What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He hath rendered unto me?

“Alleluia”: “Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints rejoice.” (Tone 2).

Communion hymn: The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings.

The service was compiled by Tinatin Mchedlishvili.

I dedicate this service to St Gabriel the Bishop to the memory of my parents, Ketevan and Mikheil; please commemorate them at the festal Liturgy of St Gabriel.