Service to Our Venerable Father Archimandrite Gabriel, Confessor and Fool for Christ
— “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 the venerable Gabriel — the stichera
— We find thee a shepherd of the sheep, we know thee a hidden ascetic, and we see the demons cast down by thee, O God-bearing and wondrous Gabriel, radiance of divine love and enlightener of thy people; unshaken pillar of patience; strength and beam of the Church; all-radiant lamp and luminary of all Georgia; treasury of the virtues and intercessor by thy holy prayer for all who honour thee: intercede now with Christ and ask, O venerable one, that He may send down upon the Churches unity, peace and great mercy.
— Thy divine virtues are ever praised by the Orthodox who love Christ, O God-bearing and wondrous Gabriel: purity, meekness, humility and mercy to the poor; and now we too, not ignorant of thy struggles and labours, fervently entreat thee: intercede now with Christ and ask, O venerable one, forgiveness of our sins and iniquities.
— O boast of ascetics and strength of the right faith, chosen servant of the Holy Trinity, peer of the angels, raised from earth to heaven by thy foolishness for Christ, and inheritor of the Kingdom: intercede now with Christ and ask, O venerable one, that in temptations and in the furnace of afflictions the dew of thy grace may sprinkle us also.
— The Church of Georgia keepeth the feast of thy memory and biddeth us sing of thy struggle, O God-bearing and wondrous Gabriel, temple of mysteries united with the angels, abyss of understanding, beholder of things ineffable, father of elders, boast of monks and guide of hermits, 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 us strength, courage, wisdom and victory over all enemies and oppressors.
— With what crown of praise shall we wreathe the elder who hid himself by the severe struggle of foolishness for Christ, the intercessor and fervent helper of all, the consoler of all the afflicted and the refuge of all in trials, the pillar of piety, the champion of the faithful, the all-praised Gabriel the Fool for Christ, through whom Christ cast down the uprisings of the enemies, and who hath great mercy? (Twice)
— With what hymns of praise shall we sing of him who dwelt in the city as in a desert, and was shown forth as a guide and a reprover of our people, the great helper and elder and spiritual father Gabriel, the reprover of all the wicked and slothful, for whose sake Christ cast down their uprisings, and who hath great mercy?
— With what songs of praise shall we sing of him who adorned the Church with signs and wonders, the shepherd and teacher of the Iberians, who appeared like the sun to our people and taught them to love God and the fatherland? Wherefore we set our hope on him, that in unity of faith and love we may confess him as the guide and stronghold of our people, who hath great mercy.
— “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit” — Let us now sound the trumpet of hymns once more, let us leap for joy and glorify Christ God, who gave such a father and intercessor to our people, the lot of His Mother; and let us sing with hymns of praise the boast of elders and the glory of Kartli, the fountain of wonders and the great intercessor and advocate of the faithful, for none among our fathers hath been like him. (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.
1. The reading from the Wisdom of Solomon. (The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God…) 2. The reading from the Wisdom of Solomon. (The righteous live for evermore, and with the Lord…) It is written under 9 March. 3. The reading from the Wisdom of Solomon (Though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest…) It is written under 7 May.
— At the Litia, the sticheron of the church — one.
— Then of the venerable Gabriel.
— Never didst thou give thyself over to delight and ease, O honoured father Gabriel, but thou wast armed with fasting, prayer and vigil, with the wearing of sackcloth, with lying on the bare ground and with countless other struggles; thou didst ever remember that dread judgement and the day of the second coming, and with that fear didst guard thy soul, and didst ever glorify the Creator of all.
— Being a preacher of repentance like John the Baptist, thou hadst mercy and meekness like David the prophet, and didst pray every night in shabby clothing, O ascetic and labourer in virtue, elder Gabriel; and asking of Christ the eternal in place of the temporal, thou wast made worthy of unending joy with the saints.
— Thy countless wonders amaze us, O venerable Gabriel, but still more do we marvel at thy confession and thy love for God and neighbour, for in the time of godlessness thou didst gain divine zeal, O blessed elder, and, playing the fool in a manner pleasing to God, thou didst reprove and convert many, and didst put to shame the evil scheming of the tyrants.
— Thy word shone brighter than the orb of the sun when thou didst preach, O venerable one, the true faith; thou didst drive away the clouds of sin and proclaim to us life again with tears; and we, not ignorant of thy struggles and labours, O venerable Gabriel, now in our afflictions ask thy help.
- ღმრთივგანბრძნობილად გამოსჩნდი შენ, კურთხეულო ძალითა მაღლისაჲთა, და ენითა მით საღმრთოჲთა ამხილე უღმრთოებაჲ ღმრთისმბრძოლთა მათ მთავრობათა, და აღამაღლენ გჳრგჳნი მართლ-აღმსაარებელთაჲ, ხოლო ეკლესიამან ქართველთამან, ვითარცა საუნჯე მრავალსასყიდლისაჲ, გპოვა შენ და სიხარულითა შეგიწყნარა.
— As the light of the sun, so hath thine all-hymned feast enlightened the minds of those who trust in thee, O God-bearing and wondrous Gabriel: entreat Christ now, O venerable one, to look upon His people, who have no answer to give before Him, and to deliver us from evil sins and manifold trials.
— Planted in the house of God, O venerable father Gabriel, thou didst flourish in righteousness, and, clothed in the monastic mantle, preaching the Gospel in a manner befitting God through thy foolishness for Christ, thou didst multiply the flock of Christ, rational sheep, worthily and justly, as a cedar in the desert, and wast a guide to ascetics in righteousness and holiness; wherefore we sing of thee as a great shepherd and a wonderworking ascetic.
Having forsaken the world, O saint, thou didst take up the cross in which thou didst glory, O thrice-blessed father Gabriel; and by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the foreknowledge of God thou didst direct thy steps on the true way, and by thy humility didst attain a great measure, for thou didst cast out evil spirits and heal all the sick, and thou intercedest with God for our souls.
— “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit” — O good servant, kind and faithful, good labourer in the vineyard of Christ, thou didst bear the burden of the day with courage and valour, and didst multiply the talent given thee; wherefore thou wast numbered with the confessors and didst enter with the fools for Christ into the joy of thy good Lord: be now the unceasing intercessor of those who praise thee.
— “Both now and ever, and unto 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, the sticheron. (Tone 8).
Thou didst withstand vainglory and pride and defiling thoughts of the heart, and didst bring them utterly to nought by the meekness and humility of Christ; and thou didst meditate on His commandments always, day and night, with a pure mind; and thy fervent prayer went up to heaven like a pillar of light, O blessed elder Gabriel: ask now for us great mercy from Christ.
Verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Thou didst put desire to death and love holy virginity, and didst clothe thyself in purity as with light, and like a turtledove didst serve Christ in meekness with a spotless mind, O blessed elder Gabriel, adorned with divine understanding; wherefore we praise thee and call thee blessed in hymns of praise.
Verse: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; he will delight greatly in His commandments.
God adorned thee, O elder Gabriel, with the light of wonders and the radiance of divine graces, and filled thy soul with wisdom; and as a living spring and an unfailing well thou didst pour forth divine teachings for the increase of the flock of Christ.
— “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit” — The multitude of monks confesseth thee as their guide, O God-bearing and venerable Gabriel, for they are filled with the divine graces which thou didst leave behind, and they delight in thy memory, O imitator of the fathers of old; with them entreat Christ God to have mercy on our souls through your intercessions.
— “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 venerable one: O spiritual trumpet of divine thunder and loud-voiced preacher of love, ascetic like unto the martyrs and swift helper of those in trials, boast of the Georgians, O venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, entreat Christ God to have mercy on our souls. (Tone 8). — Twice.
— Or another troparion: By thy crucifixion and thy struggle thou didst reap the souls of men for the Kingdom of God; before the godless thou didst confess God fearlessly, as one without flesh, and didst establish the Kingdom with blood and tears; thou didst put on humility as a garment of light, and by thy foolishness for Christ didst invincibly cast down the thoughts of this passing world, O boast of the Georgian people, venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ: entreat the crucified God whom thou didst love, Jesus Christ, to have mercy on our souls and to save them!
— “O Theotokos and Virgin” — once.
— The blessing of the loaves.
— “God is the Lord” (sung in Tone 8).
— The troparion of the venerable one: “O spiritual trumpet of divine thunder…” — twice (Tone 8).
— “Glory…”, “Both now…” — the resurrectional dismissal Theotokion (in the tone of the troparion): “O Thou who for our sake wast born of the Virgin and didst endure crucifixion, O Good One, who didst despoil death by death and, as God, didst reveal the resurrection: despise not those whom Thou hast fashioned with Thy hand; show Thy love for mankind, O Merciful One; accept the Theotokos who bore Thee, who intercedeth for us, and save, O our Saviour, a despairing people” (Tone 8).
After the first kathisma, the sessional hymn, Tone 1:
In poverty the Holy Spirit anointed thee with understanding and changed thy heart, and made thee an intercessor for our people, and thou hearest the supplication and the petitions of the faithful; now make the true light shine in our hearts and be the unceasing intercessor of 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).
When the Most High, who looketh upon the lowly, beheld thy spiritual labours, thy good virtues and the simplicity of thy heart, He looked upon thee in mercy and magnified thee in soul and body; ask now deliverance from transgressions for those who keep thy memory, since thou standest before God. (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 venerable one (with selected verses from the Psalter).
— “The sessional hymn” after the Polyeleos:
Wisdom.
From childhood thou wast sanctified, O ever-memorable venerable father, and in the time of the dominion of the godless thou didst live on earth as an angel, for thou didst mortify the flesh by ascesis and by thy divine zeal didst appear well-pleasing to the Holy Trinity; wherefore thou wast joined to the choir of the fools for Christ and the confessors, O elder Gabriel, and didst lead the faithful people up from the pleasures of this passing world to the heights, O God-bearing one: entreat Christ God to grant remission of transgressions 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 first antiphon of Tone 4 (of Sunday Matins).
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: Luke, section 24; 6:17–23.
— “Glory…” — “Through the intercessions of our holy father Gabriel…”
— “Both now…” — “Through the intercessions of the Theotokos, O Merciful One…”
— “Have mercy on me, O God…” (the short verse).
After Psalm 50, the sticheron.
The report of thy struggle hath gone out into all the earth, O God-wise and blessed father; wherefore in heaven thou hast found the reward of thy labours and received from God a double crown, of a confessor and of a fool for Christ; and now, having boldness before God, ask peace for our souls.
— “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 venerable one (without the irmos) — on 8. (Tone 1).
— The Katavasia: “I shall open my mouth…”.
— The little litany — “Let us sing to the Lord”.
Irmos: At Thy beck, O God, Thou didst raise the flowing natures as a wall and lead the people of Israel through their midst on dry land; and they sang the song of victory.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
Thou hadst zeal, O saint, for this right faith and for the spreading of love, and didst show us the way of piety.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
Having become by purity of heart a dwelling of the Holy Spirit, the fragrance of thy prayers ever rose to God like goodly incense.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
God sent thee as a luminary to the Georgians, O venerable one, and gave thee grace to drive away demons and heal the infirm: shelter now thy flock from all oppressive passions and from the deceits of the demons.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Since thou hast received from God boldness to intercede for sinners, now I entreat thee, O holy elder, deliver my wretched soul from the slavery of sin.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The curse of Eve, the first mother, was loosed when she who knew not wedlock bore Him who is above natures; and the people of the faithful rightly glorify her, as is meet.
Irmos: O God our Saviour, Creator of all, who by Thy word didst establish the high heavens with all their power, by Thy divine Spirit establish us in unity upon the rock of faith.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
From thy youth thou wast humble and kept wholly apart from the playful ways of children; and when thou wast grown, O venerable one, thou didst flee the lusts of youth and wast ready for every good work.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
The deceiving serpent, by the sight of wonders, arrayed itself for battle against that very small child; but thou by power from on high didst trample the power of the devil: drive away now also the trials stirred up by the devil from those who entreat thee.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
Thou didst hold the house of thy parents as a stranger's, and, living in it in the guise of a beggar, wounded by the love of Christ, thou didst clothe thyself with His Cross, O blessed one, and follow in His footsteps.
— “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit” — In the dominion of the fighters against God thou wast kindled with heavenly longing and didst labour without ceasing to build a dwelling of the Lord; and when three times they destroyed what thou hadst built, thou didst raise a better one again.
- „აწდა მარადის და უკუნითი უკუნისამდე, ამინ“ - მჴსნელო ჩუენო იესუ, ვედრებითა მშობელისა შენისაჲთა მშჳდობაჲ სოფელსა მოჰმადლე, და ძლევაჲ ჯუარითა მოეც ერსა ჩუენსა ღმრთისმოყუარესა მტერთა ზედა ურწმუნოთა, და მორწმუნენი ღირს-მყვენ შენდობასა.
— After “Establish” (Ode 3):
— The sessional hymn: Seeing thee fervently given to the struggle, the devil brought manifold trials upon thee to quench thy fervour, and God permitted it, as with righteous Job; and thou, making thyself ready for trials, didst often hunger and thirst, didst grow weak, didst bear reproach and reviling, wast seized, stood before the tribunal and wast beaten, and before the fighters against God didst boldly confess Christ: entreat Him now for our deliverance from afflictions, O God-blessed Gabriel, we who keep thy memory.
(Twice).
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.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
When the fighters against God brought great affliction and distress upon the churches and the faithful, many were forced to put off the monastic habit; but thou didst choose to run the narrow way and didst remain unshaken in the right confession.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
In the time of the tyranny of the godless, though young, thou didst like an elder and a wise man endure with long-suffering the stripping away of divine love, and didst bear dishonour with humility.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
When they tonsured thee into the lesser schema, O venerable one, they gave thee the name of Gabriel the Athonite, with whom thou, this new ascetic, wast joined for the consolation of the Iberian people, and thou didst become like him in monastic poverty.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Having been ordained a hieromonk, thou didst preach the all-spotless faith of Orthodoxy, and, baptising thy people who were sunk in the darkness of paganism, didst teach them to keep the commandments of God.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
O true Mother of God, entreat thy Son the Creator to guide us to a calm haven and save us from drowning in our sins.
Irmos: The Spirit of salvation, O Lord, which the first prophets conceived in their hearts and brought forth upon the earth, made known to us Thy coming to earth for the life of the faithful; and now, being enlightened, we magnify Thee in song.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
When dishonour often befell thee from the godless, thou didst go to Betania, where the wonderworking fathers George and John dwelt; and when they had instructed thee in piety, thou wast strengthened, and the grace of knowing hidden things was granted thee by Christ.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
ჰმსახურებდენ რაჲ დაბადებულთა, და არა დამბადებელსა, რომელი-იგი კურთხეულ არს უკუნისამდე, განხურდი, მჴნეო გაბრიელ, ქრისტეს სიყუარულითა, და აღუდევ ცეცხლი და დასწუენ საძაგელი იგი სახებაჲ კაცისა მის ღმრთისმბრძოლისაჲ.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
წარგადგინეს რაჲ წინაშე მძლავრთა, სთქუ კადნიერად: „არა უხმს დიდებაჲ მძორსა მას კაცისასა, არამედ მაცხოვარსა, მკუდრეთით აღმდგარსა“, და ამხილებდი ძალითა სულისაჲთა, გარნა არცაღა შეიწყნარეს ჭეშმარიტებაჲ უგუნურთა მათ და შეგაყენეს დილეგსა.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Neither blows nor the fear of death could separate thee from the love of the true God, for thou didst bear countless wounds and, like gold, wast tried in the furnace of temptations.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Heaven and earth were enlightened through thee, O unwedded Mother of Jesus, for thou didst make the unquenchable Light to shine upon us, the God of all, who delivered them that were shut up in darkness and made us dwellers of the heavenly Kingdom.
Irmos: Drowned in the billows of the temptations of this world, fallen from the ship of sin and cast to the beast that slayeth souls, I cry to Thee: As Thou didst deliver Jonah from corruption and death, so deliver me also, O Christ.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
They who at first boasted in their madness were enraged to kill thee; but by thy prayer and entreaty to God their insolence came to naught, O blessed one, and Christ, the rock of strength, wondrously sheltered thee.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
The devices of godlessness could not shake the firmness of thy faith; and when they placed thee among the insane and the outcast, countless temptations came upon thee, which none knoweth save God.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
When thou wast released through the intercession of Patriarch Ephraim, thou didst begin again to serve at Sioni; but thou wast barred from serving and from communion by the tyranny of the authorities, and like a homeless beggar thou didst dwell in graves and caves and ask for alms.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Unable to endure temptation and loving thy neighbour greatly, thou didst reprove thy people for their godlessness, lest the judgement of God come upon them: entreat Him now to deliver us from evil sins and to shelter us from the snare of the enemy and from enmity between brothers.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Thy mystery, O Virgin, was foreshown of old by the ark of the law, which received the divine writings, by the golden jar, the dwelling of the manna, and by the rod.
— After “I cried” (Ode 6):
— The kontakion: As one well-pleasing and faithful to God, thou didst choose the severity of monasticism above the sweetnesses of the world, and, ascending to the summit of perfection, thou didst hide thy wisdom by foolishness for Christ, and as a confessor didst struggle day by day for the glory of God: entreat Him now without ceasing for our deliverance from every sickness and evil trial, that we may cry to thee, O venerable Gabriel: Rejoice, protector of those who trust in thee!
— The ikos: Taking up with courage the shield of faith, thou wast armed with fasting, prayer and many other struggles, and, preaching the Gospel through thy foolishness for Christ, didst endure many trials and receive from God the double crown of confession and of foolishness for Christ: ask of Him now the forgiveness of our sins and iniquities, O venerable Gabriel, that we may be made worthy of His glory.
Irmos: The youths in the furnace in Babylon were bedewed from on high; they cried to God and said: Blessed art Thou, O Lord of our fathers, O God, unto the ages.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
With divine understanding Ephrem, Patriarch of the Georgians, called thee into the sanctuary, communed thee with the Mysteries of Christ and sent thee away to the convent of Samtavro; and, secluding thyself there in a small cell in great poverty, thou didst offer the bloodless sacrifice and preach wondrously.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
A citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem, thou didst settle in the new Jerusalem, the royal city of Mtskheta, near the bramble thicket where Nino, the handmaid of Christ, came from Jerusalem and, praying, converted the Georgians by the life-giving Cross.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
When thou didst move into the tower of Mirian, thou didst adorn it with holy crosses and icons, which thou didst seek out and fashion with thine own hands; thou didst rebuke many and teach them to set themselves in array against enemies invisible and visible, and didst instruct women to be diligent in prayer.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst become a fool for Christ's sake, and, taking up a twofold struggle, of seclusion and of foolishness for Christ, thou, the wise one, wast reckoned a fool and wast a reproach to priests and people; but now thou art established as a saint of the Church of Iberia and hast grace to help the faithful, we who are moved to praise thy struggle.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Rejoice, daughter of Adam; rejoice, Bride of God; rejoice, Mother of the Saviour, who didst contain thy Creator: intercede for us always.
Irmos: The bush on Sinai that burned yet was not consumed revealed God to Moses, slow of speech and heavy of tongue; and divine zeal delivered the youths from the furnace, and they cried out in song: All ye works, bless today God and the Lord; hymn and exalt Him unto the ages.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
As David humbled himself and said with a contrite heart: “I am a worm and no man, a reproach of men and despised of the people”, so thou didst show us the height of humility, and, as one despised, a drunkard and good-for-nothing, didst call thyself the Saviour's dog, that thou mightest not be renowned for virtue and holiness.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
Thou wast always in mourning, O blessed one, and in remembrance of the eternal judgement, and, stretched out in a coffin like a dead man, didst pour forth tears from thine eyes, for in imitation of the fathers of old thou didst weep for thyself in this very world.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
None of our fathers was like thee, O wondrous elder, for there was given thee by the Holy Spirit the word of wisdom and of knowledge, the grace of help and of prophecy, and above these the surpassing gift of love.
“Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
Thou didst see hidden mysteries as though they were manifest, O holy elder, and didst know surely the things to come, and all that thou didst say is true: grant us now a heart of understanding and wisdom to discern good and evil, that we may escape the ways of perdition and be guided on the true way.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The three youths in the furnace in Babylon worshipped the Trinity and despised the golden image, and, sprinkled with dew, they cried out in song: All ye works, bless today God and the Lord, praise and supremely exalt Him unto the ages.
We praise, we bless, we worship the Lord, singing and supremely exalting Him unto all the ages.
— After “Let us bless” (Ode 8): — “More honourable”.
Irmos: Thou who without knowing man didst carry the Creator Word of incorruption didst clothe Him with nature; come, O spotless Virgin Theotokos, and with Him that was born of thee teach the faithful, that we may be made worthy to glorify thee.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
When thou didst fall sick, O thou deified by grace, thou didst endure bitter pains; and when the day of thy departure from this life was made known to thee, thou didst bless the flock and pray before the icon of the hierarch Nicholas, entreating for thy people and thy fatherland.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
Having committed thy spirit to the Lord, thou wast joined to the multitude of the saints, and, like the elders of old, they buried thee wrapped in a rush mat in the courtyard of Samtavro; but the honour of holiness did not depart from thee even through death, O venerable one, and thy grave became for the infirm a treasury of grace and a fountain of healings.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
Not only the faithful and those who trust in thee, but even the careless and those of little faith hasten to this day to venerate thy blood, still incorrupt; and when they ask for mercy, thou ever hearest their supplication and grantest relief to all.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
When the hierarchs saw thy wondrous tomb pouring forth healings and the countless miracles wrought by thy grace, they glorified thee aloud as a wonderworking father of these last times, and appointed for us thy memorial and thy blessing and praise for ever.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The old law foreshadoweth thee, O holy Virgin, and the new confesseth thee as Theotokos, O unwedded one; and we the faithful say with faith: O Mother of the Word, cease not to entreat God for them that trust in thee.
— After “Magnify” (Ode 9): — “It is truly meet” — is not sung.
— “The Exapostilarion” — Thou didst appear as a radiant image and receive the Holy Spirit, O venerable father, through whom thou didst make the eyes of the soul radiant with divine vision; and, illumined, foreseeing things to come, thou didst speak of all that was to be with divine purity; now be our intercessor before God, O holy Gabriel, that He may send down upon us strength, courage, wisdom and victory over all enemies and oppressors. (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.
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.
— Christ granted thee the grace to work wonders and so honoured thee in this age; and after thy death thou wast yet more glorified before Him, honoured with the confessors and the fools for Christ unto the ages.
— The Church of Georgia now rejoiceth in thy memory and biddeth all the faithful call thee blessed, the fervent zealot and master of the passions, the protector of the poor and guide of sinful souls, for thou didst become a sacrifice upon the divine altar of Christ, O venerable Gabriel, and boldly intercedest for us all.
Rejoice now, O royal city; exult, O convent of women; keep festival, O land of Kartlos; for Christ God hath looked upon us in mercy and granted us a confessor father and an elder who was a fool for Christ, a helper in afflictions, a consolation in sorrows, a healer of sicknesses and a deliverer from the passions.
— Gather together, O ye Georgian peoples, and let us sing with spiritual praises the holy and valiant soldier of Christ, the elder Gabriel, as a preacher on earth of the second coming of Christ and an opponent of the vile antichrist.
— As God sent prophets to Israel to reprove them and to intercede before Him, so thou, fool-for-Christ father and confessing ascetic, wast given as a teacher and reprover to our people, and didst struggle spiritually for us before God, for deliverance from trials and rescue from every passion: be now our intercessor before Him, that He may plant in us fear and hatred of sin and love for God and neighbour.
— Though the grave hath covered thee, O venerable Gabriel, thou gleamest with the shining forth of wonders from that holy convent over all the earth, and spreadest spiritual fragrances over our souls and minds; wherefore we hasten to Samtavro, the dwelling-place of thy relics, that by anointing with the oil of thy lamp we may draw healing for our souls and bodies.
Verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
— Though thy countless wonders amaze us, O God-bearing and wondrous Gabriel, still more do we marvel at thy confession and thy love for God and neighbour, for thou didst enlighten this royal city of Mtskheta with wonders and ever helpest those who fervently flee to thee: entreat Christ God now without ceasing for us who with faith and love ever honour thy joyful and all-blessed memory, that we may be delivered from every affliction and pain.
Verse: Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; he will delight greatly in His commandments.
- ჵ, ღუაწლისა მძლეო, წმიდაო გაბრიელ ბერო, აღთქმისაებრ შენისა ვსასოებთ საუფლოჲსა ხატისა გამოჴსნასა და პატივად მისად სახელდებულსა ანჩის-ხატსა შინა ძუელითა დიდებითა დაბრძანებასა, რაჲთამცა წინაუსწროდეს საკჳრველსა გამოჩინებასა აწყურისა ხატისასა და დიდებულსა მობრძანებასა წმიდისა პორტაიტისასა - ჴსნად ქუეყანისა ამის ჩუენისა და ერისა სატანისა მაჴეთაგან და ბოროტისა მის ანტიქრისტეს საცთურისა და ბრძოლისაგან.
— “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 our all-praised teacher. Gather together, O faithful Georgians, and let us adorn and praise with spiritual acclaim our blessed father, 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; travellers, to their companion; sailors, to their helmsman; and all everywhere, magnifying with faith the hope of all, let us say: Be our intercessor, O God-bearing Gabriel, that through thy prayers and petition the Lord God may arm us with His invincible power against all our enemies visible and invisible, and save us. (Tone 5).
— “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 venerable one: “O spiritual trumpet of divine thunder…” — twice (Tone 8).
— “Glory…”, “Both now…” — the resurrectional dismissal Theotokion (in the tone of the troparion): “O Thou who for our sake wast born of the Virgin and didst endure crucifixion, O Good One, who didst despoil death by death and, as God, didst reveal the resurrection: despise not those whom Thou hast fashioned with Thy hand; show Thy love for mankind, O Merciful One; accept the Theotokos who bore Thee, who intercedeth for us, and save, O our Saviour, a despairing people” (Tone 8).
At the First, Third and Sixth Hours:
— The troparion of the venerable one.
— The kontakion of the venerable one.
The Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom:
— “The Typika antiphons” — during the singing of the Beatitudes are inserted
“In Thy Kingdom remember us” — on 8:
— from Ode 3 of the venerable one — 4 troparia (with the irmos).
— from Ode 6 of the venerable one — 4 troparia, with their own “Glory…” and “Both now…”.
The Epistle — for the venerable: Galatians, section 213; 5:22 – 6:2.
The Gospel — Matthew, section 43; 11:27–30.
At the entrance:
The troparion of the venerable one.
The kontakia — “Glory…” — of the venerable one
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”: “Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; he will delight greatly in His commandments.” (Tone 6).
Verse: “His seed shall be mighty upon the earth; the generation of the upright shall be blessed.”
Communion hymn: The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance; he shall not be afraid of evil tidings.
Author and compiler: Tinatin Mchedlishvili
