Supplicatory Paraklesis to our Venerable Father, the Holy Archimandrite Gabriel, Confessor and Fool for Christ
Priest: Blessed is our God…
And if a layman, he says: O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thy most pure Mother and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things with Thy grace, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
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 Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, deliver us and release us from our sins; O Master, pardon our iniquities; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Thine is the kingdom…
Amen. Lord, have mercy (12 times).
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 come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and God. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.
O Lord, attend to my prayer: hearken to my supplication in thy truth; hear me in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has brought my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in a dark place, as those that have been long dead. Therefore my spirit was grieved in me; my heart was troubled within me. I remembered the days of old; and I meditated on all thy doings: yea, I meditated on the works of thine hands. I spread forth my hands to thee; my soul thirsts for thee, as a dry land. Pause. Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit has failed; turn not away thy face from me, else I shall be like to them that go down to the pit. Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for I have hoped in thee; make known to me, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for I have lifted up my soul to thee. Deliver me from mine enemies, O Lord; for I have fled to thee for refuge. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God; thy good Spirit shall guide me in the straight way. Thou shalt quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake; in thy righteousness thou shalt bring my soul out of affliction. And in thy mercy thou wilt destroy mine enemies, and wilt destroy all those that afflict my soul; for I am thy servant.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.
Priest: God is the Lord and hath appeared unto us; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Choir: Verse 1: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever. Choir: Verse 2: All nations compassed me about, and in the name of the Lord I drove them back. Choir: Verse 3: I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. Choir: Verse 4: The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner; this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
O spiritual trumpet of divine thunder and loud-voiced herald of love, who didst struggle like the martyrs and art a swift helper of them that are in temptations, boast of the Georgians, venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, entreat Christ God to have mercy on our souls.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
By thy crucifixion and thy struggle thou didst reap the souls of men for the Kingdom of God; before the godless thou didst fearlessly confess God as one bodiless, and with blood and tears didst bear witness to the Kingdom; thou didst clothe thyself with humility as with a garment of light, and by thy folly for Christ didst invincibly overthrow the thoughts of this 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 save them.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
We will never cease, O Theotokos, we the unworthy, from speaking of thy mighty acts; for hadst thou not stood before us to intercede, who would have delivered us from so many dangers? And who would have kept us free until now? We will not depart from thee, O Lady, for thou ever savest thy servants from all misfortunes.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me. For, behold, thou lovest truth: thou hast manifested to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. Cast me not away from thy presence; and remove not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation: establish me with thy directing Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and ungodly men shall turn to thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall joyfully declare thy righteousness. O Lord, thou shalt open my lips; and my mouth shall declare thy praise. For if thou desiredst sacrifice, I would have given it: thou wilt not take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings. Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, to Sion in thy good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole-burnt-sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.
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 holy elder, for this true 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.
Since by purity of heart thou becamest a dwelling of the Holy Spirit, the fragrance of thy prayers, O venerable one, rose ever to God like goodly incense.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
Thou didst shine forth in the midst of all in the holy dearth of truth in those lawless times, O blessed elder, and didst enlighten thy people by thy struggle.
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, through a wondrous vision, set himself in array to war against that small child; but thou by power from on high didst trample down the power of the devil: now drive away from them that entreat thee the temptations stirred up by him.
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, kindled with heavenly longing, thou didst labour unwearyingly to build a dwelling for the Lord; and when they three times tore down what thou hadst built, thou didst raise up a better one again.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
მჴსნელო ჩუენო იესუ, ვედრებითა მშობელისა შენისაჲთა მშჳდობაჲ სოფელსა მოჰმადლე, და ძლევაჲ ჯუარითა მოეც ერსა ჩუენსა ღმრთისმოყუარესა მტერთა ზედა ურწმუნოთა, და მორწმუნენი ღირს-მყვენ შენდობასა.
Deliver thy servants from dangers, O most holy Virgin Theotokos, for after God we all flee unto thee, as to an unbreakable wall and protection.
Look upon us, O all-praised Theotokos, and heal the grievous wounds of our bodies and the sicknesses of our souls.
Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray for our God-protected people and its sovereignty (for its Christ-loving authorities and armed forces).
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray for the Most Holy and Most Blessed Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, the great lord, our father Ilia, and for the most reverend (here commemorate by name whom you wish), and for all our brethren in Christ.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Again let us pray to the Lord our God that He may have mercy on His servant or handmaid (here those for whom prayer is made are commemorated by name). Multiply, O Lord, the days and years of their life, and deliver them, O Lord, from every affliction, wrath and distress, and from every wound of soul and body, and forgive them every transgression, voluntary and involuntary.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray for all Orthodox Christians.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: For Thou art a merciful God who lovest mankind, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Seeing thee enter fervently upon the struggle, the devil brought upon thee temptations of many kinds, that he might quench thy fervour; and God permitted it, as with righteous Job. And thou, making thyself ready for temptations, didst often hunger and thirst; thou didst grow weary; thou didst bear mockery and reproach; thou wast bound; thou didst stand before the court and wast beaten, and before the fighters against God didst boldly confess Christ. Entreat Him now, O God-blessed Gabriel, to deliver from afflictions us who celebrate thy memory.
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.
When thou wast ordained hieromonk, thou didst preach the all-spotless faith of Orthodoxy and, baptizing thy people 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.
ხედვიდი რაჲ ერსა შენსა ურწმუნოებასა შინა, განხურდი ქრისტეს სიყუარულითა, რამეთუ ჰმსახურებდენ დაბადებულთა და არა დამბადებელსა, რომელი-იგი კურთხეულ არს უკუნისამდე, 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.
შეგიპყრეს და 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 deception and greatly loving thy neighbour, thou didst rebuke thy people for godlessness, lest the judgment of God should come upon them: entreat Him now to deliver us from grievous sins and keep us from the snare of the enemy.
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.
Deliver thy servants from dangers, O most holy Virgin Theotokos, for after God we all flee unto thee, as to an unbreakable wall and protection.
Look upon us, O all-praised Theotokos, and heal the grievous wounds of our bodies and the sicknesses of our souls.
Priest: Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy on us and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Calling to remembrance our all-holy, immaculate, most blessed and glorious Lady Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and all our life unto Christ our God.
Choir: To Thee, O Lord.
Priest: For Thou art the King of peace and the Saviour of our souls, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
As one pleasing to God and faithful, thou didst choose the hardship of the monastic life above the sweetness of the world; and, attaining the summit of perfection, thou didst hide thy wisdom by folly for Christ, and as a confessor didst labour day by day for the glory of God: entreat Him now unceasingly for our deliverance from every sickness and evil temptation, that we may cry to thee, O venerable Gabriel: Rejoice, protector of them that trust in thee!
Bravely taking up the shield of faith, thou wast armed with fasting, prayer and many other struggles, and, preaching the Gospel through thy folly for Christ, thou didst endure many temptations and receive from God the twofold crown of confession and of holy folly: now ask of Him for us forgiveness of our sins and iniquities, O holy elder Gabriel, that we may be counted worthy of His glory.
Priest: Let us attend. Wisdom. Prokeimenon, Tone 4
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Verse: Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of His.
Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: For holy art Thou, O our God, who restest in the saints, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.
Verse: Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Priest: And that He may make us worthy to hear the holy Gospel, let us pray to the Lord our God.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Wisdom! Aright! Let us hear the holy Gospel. Peace be unto all.
Choir: And to thy spirit.
Priest: The reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Choir: Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee.
Priest: Let us attend.
The Lord said to His disciples: Blessed are ye poor in spirit: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven.
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 our holy father 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 transgressions, and have mercy on me, O God.
Sticheron: O how glorious are the things thou didst for the love of God! For thou didst bear mockery and reproach, and having finished the life of this age in affliction and struggle, thou didst not forsake them that trust in thee, according to thy promise, but like a swift-winged eagle thou goest about all the world, deliverest from temptations them that are in sorrows and bonds, and grantest healing to them that ask.
Priest: O God, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; visit Thy world with mercy and compassion; exalt the horn of Orthodox Christians and send down upon us Thy rich mercies, through the intercessions of our all-holy Lady Theotokos and ever-Virgin Mary; by the power of the precious and life-giving Cross, by the power of the Cross of the vine; through the protection of the honourable bodiless Powers of heaven; of the honourable and glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John; of the holy prophet Elijah the Tishbite and righteous Enoch; of the holy, glorious and all-praised foremost apostles Peter and Paul; of the holy apostle Thomas and the apostles who enlightened Georgia, Andrew the First-called, Simon the Canaanite and Matthias; of our holy mother, the virgin Nino, equal to the apostles; of the holy King Mirian and Queen Nana, equal to the apostles; of our fathers among the saints, the great ecumenical teachers and hierarchs Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom; of our father among the saints Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, and of our holy wonderworking father Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous; of our holy and venerable father John of Zedazeni and his twelve disciples, the second enlighteners of the Church of Georgia and her ever-protectors; of the holy, glorious and victorious martyrs: the holy great-martyr George the Trophy-bearer and the holy great virgin-martyrs Barbara and Marina; of the holy glorious martyrs David and Constantine, princes of Argveti, and the holy great-martyr Shalva of Akhaltsikhe; of the holy great-martyr Bidzina and the holy glorious martyrs Shalva and Elizbar, eristavis of Ksani; of the holy priest-martyr Neophytus of Urbnisi and the holy great-martyr Abo of Tbilisi; of the God-wise and blessed fathers Hilarion the Georgian, Serapion of Zarzma and Gregory of Khandzta; of our venerable Athonite fathers John, Gabriel, John who was once Tornike, Euthymius and George; of our holy, pious and great kings Vakhtang Gorgasali, Ashot the Kuropalates, David the Builder and Solomon; of the holy and right-believing Queen Tamar; of the holy victorious kings and queens Archil, Demetrius, Shushanik, Ketevan and Luarsab; of the holy hundred thousand martyrs slain in Tbilisi by the Khwarezmians; of the holy martyrs, the six thousand monks of Gareja; of holy Ilia the Righteous; of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna (and of the saint to whom the church is dedicated); of the holy archimandrite, our venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, and of all Thy saints, we entreat Thee, O most merciful God: hearken to the supplication of us sinners, and have mercy on us.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (12 times)
Priest: Through the mercies and compassions and love for mankind of Thine Only-begotten Son, with whom Thou art blessed, together with Thine all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
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.
When the patriarch, by divine understanding, called thee into the altar, he gave thee communion and sent thee to the monastery of Samtavro; and thou, withdrawing into a small cell in great poverty, 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, turned the Georgians to God 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 becamest a fool for Christ's sake and, taking up a twofold struggle, of seclusion and of holy folly, thou, the wise one, wast reckoned foolish and becamest a laughing-stock to clergy and people; but now thou abidest as a saint of the Church of the Iberians and hast the grace to help the faithful, wherefore we 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 ever in mourning, O blessed one, and in remembrance of the eternal judgment; lying in a coffin as one dead thou didst shed tears from thine eyes, for, imitating the first fathers, thou didst weep over thyself in this very world.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
None of our fathers hath been 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 all the surpassing gift of love.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Thou didst see the hidden mystery as though it were manifest, O holy one, and didst surely know what was to come, and all thy sayings are true: now give us an understanding and wise heart to discern good and evil, that we may escape the ways of perdition and be directed 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.
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.
When thou hadst commended thy spirit to the Lord, thou wast joined to the multitude of the saints, and, wrapping thee in a mat like the elders of old, they buried thee in the courtyard of Samtavro; yet the honour of holiness was not taken from thee even by death, O venerable one, and thy tomb became for the infirm a treasury of grace and a fountain of healing.
Holy venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, pray to God for us.
Now not only the faithful who hope in God, but also the careless and those of little faith hasten to venerate thy blood, O venerable one, kept once more incorrupt in a vessel; and when they entreat thee for mercy, thou ever hearest their supplication and grantest them consolation.
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.
It is truly meet that we should magnify thee, O Theotokos, who art ever-blessed and all-immaculate and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the only Theotokos, we magnify in song.
The priest censes.
Reader (or layman): Christ gave thee the grace to work miracles also and so honoured thee in this life; and after thy death thou wast glorified yet more before Him, honoured for ever with the confessors and the fools for Christ: now remember us before God and deliver thy people, beset with temptations, by thine intercession.
The Church of the Georgians now rejoiceth in thy memory and biddeth all the faithful to call thee blessed, the fervent zealot and master of the passions, the defender of the poor and guide of sinful souls; for thou becamest a sacrifice on the divine altar of Christ 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 people, and with spiritual praise let us sing to Gabriel, the holy and valiant soldier of Christ, as a preacher on earth of the second coming of Christ and an opponent of the foul Antichrist.
Though the grave covered thee, O all-praised Gabriel, thou flashest forth with the radiance of miracles from that holy monastery upon all the earth, and pourest spiritual fragrance upon our souls and minds; wherefore we hasten to Samtavro, the dwelling of thy relics, that by anointing with the oil of thy lamp we may draw healing for our souls and bodies.
O victorious one, holy elder Gabriel, commend us to the Protectress of our people, the Virgin Theotokos whom thou didst love, that we become not a reproach and a laughing-stock to our enemies, but, after the manner of the men of our fatherland, may sing to the undivided and unconfused Trinity with “Holy” and “Alleluia”:
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, deliver us and release us from our sins; O Master, pardon our iniquities; O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Priest: For Thine is the kingdom…
Choir: Amen.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us; for, at a loss for any defence, this supplication do we sinners offer unto Thee as Master: have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
O Lord, have mercy on us, for in Thee have we put our trust; be not very wroth with us, neither remember our iniquities, but look upon us in mercy, for Thou art compassionate, and deliver us justly from Thy wrath; for Thou art our God and we are Thy people; we are all the work of Thy hands, and Thy name is called upon us: have mercy on us.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Open unto us the doors of compassion, O blessed Theotokos, that hoping in thee we may not perish, but through thee be delivered from our adversaries, for thou art the salvation of the Christian race.
Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to Thy great mercy, we pray Thee, hearken and have mercy.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Priest: Again we pray for mercy, life, peace, health, length of days, salvation, enlightenment, forgiveness, prosperity and tranquillity for Thy servants and handmaids who stand here and are here commemorated (by name, if desired), that the Lord our God may keep this our royal city and this holy monastery (or church) and all the cities and villages of Iberia from famine, pestilence, earthquake, flood, fire, the sword, the invasion of foreigners, civil war and deadly plague; that God may be merciful to us for our good estate in His goodness and love for mankind, and turn away the wrath that daily cometh upon us, and deliver us from His just rebuke that lieth upon us, and have mercy on us.
Choir: Lord, have mercy. (40 times)
Priest: Hear us, O God our Saviour, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of them that are far off upon the sea; and be gracious, be merciful unto our sins, and have mercy on us; for Thou art a merciful God who lovest mankind, and unto Thee we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.
Choir: Amen.
Priest: Again and again, on bended knee, let us pray to the Lord.
Choir: Amen.
O venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ! Adornment of monks, crown of priests and companion of the angels, champion of the Georgians and unashamed upholder in afflictions, intercessor before God, and refuge, wall and shelter of all the destitute, of those given up for lost, and of those who fall down before thee in faith.
ჵ, თანამოდასეო აღმსარებელთა და სალოსთაო, ღირსო მამაო გაბრიელ! რომელმან აღირჩიე ცხორებაჲ ანგელოზებრივი და ზეობასა მას უღმრთოთასა შეიმოსე წმიდაჲ იგი სქემაჲ მონაზონებისაჲ, აწ შენმიერითა მეოხებითა და შეწევნითა მოგვანიჭე სიბრძნჱ, სიმჴნჱ და მძლეველობაჲ დაცვად მამულისა და სარწმუნოებისა ჩუენისა, რამეთუ ურიცხვნი მტერნი ჭეშმარიტებისანი ზაკულითა განზრახვითა შეთქუმულ არიან მართლმორწმუნეთა ზედა და ძალითა და ნიშნებითა სიცრუვისაჲთა იღუწიან, რაჲთა ერიცა საუფლოჲ განხრწნეს და გამოაჩინეს ერად ბნელისა, ხოლო ჩუენ ძილის დაჴსნილებასა მივცემივართ და ვერცაღა ძალ-გვიძს წინა-აღდგომად მათთა, არამედ გუაქუს მეოხებაჲ შენი ქრისტჱს მიმართ, რაჲთამცა ღირს-გვყოს წინაჲსწარმეტყუელებათა შენთა აღსრულებისა და მოგვცეს ჩუენ მეფჱ მირონცხებული მმართებელად და წინამძღურად, ვითარცა დავით ისრაელთა, რაჲთა კეთილად განაგებდეს და იურვოდეს ღმრთისმშობლისა წილხვედრსა ერსა ჩუენსა, მტჳრთველსა საუფლოჲსა ჯუარისასა ქუეყანასა ზედა, და აღადგენდეს მამულისა ჩუენისა ერთობასა და აღამაღლებდეს ღირსებასა და ძლიერებასა ქუეყანისა და ნათესავისა ჩუენისასა, რაჲთა არა ჰსთქუან ურიცხუთა მტერთა ჩუენთა, სადა არს ღმერთი მათი, რომლისა მიმართ აქუთ სასოებაჲ. ყოვლადძლიერითა მადლითა ლოცვისა შენისაჲთა დაიფარე და განაძლიერე უწმიდესი და უნეტარესი, სრულიად საქართველოჲს კათალიკოს-პატრიარქი, მცხეთა-თბილისის მთავარეპისკოპოსი, და ბიჭვინთისა და ცხუმ-აფხაზეთის მიტროპოლიტი მამაჲ ჩუენი ილია, ყოვლადსამღდელონი მიტროპოლიტნი, მთავარეპისკოპოსნი და ეპისკოპოსნი და ყოველნი სამღდელონი და სამონოზნო წესნი, ზიარნი მართლმადიდებელისა ეკლესიისანი და ყოველნი მართლმორწმუნენნი ქრისტეანენი.
O our holy father, Archimandrite Gabriel! As of old thou didst labour for us by thine apostolic toil and fatherly mercy, so also according to thy promise we hope for the recovery of the Icon Not Made by Hands of Anchiskhati and its return to the patriarchal church named in its honour, that it may go before the wondrous appearing of the Icon Not Made by Hands of Atskuri and the glorious coming of the Portaitissa, as unfailing pledges of our deliverance from the snares of Satan and from the delusion and warfare of the evil Antichrist, as the fathers prophesied concerning her, that at the end of the ages she will leave Athos and by the choosing of Iberia will make its dwellers radiantly glorious. But now the counsel of lawlessness hath grown strong, and the people allotted to the Theotokos is fallen through sin and wickedness, and we too, overcome by the assaults of sloth, tremble at the awaited day of the second coming of Christ in glory; but do thou, O holy one, turn from us the terror of the divine judgement for our iniquity, and by thy mercy ask for us from Christ the remission of our countless sins, enlightenment in Orthodoxy, rest through good works, radiance in the kingdom of heaven, singing with the angels, reigning with the saints, and glory and thanksgiving with thee; for to Him befitteth all glory, honour and worship, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Priest: Wisdom. O most holy Theotokos, save us.
Choir: More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word, the only Theotokos, we magnify thee in song.
Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God, our hope, glory to Thee.
Choir: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (3 times) Bless.
Priest: May Christ our true God, through the intercessions of His all-incorrupt Mother, of the holy, glorious and all-praised apostles, (of the saint to whom the church is dedicated,) of the holy and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna, of our venerable father Gabriel, confessor and fool for Christ, and of all the saints, have mercy on us and save us, for He is good and loveth mankind.
Choir: Amen.
A layman: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Thine all-holy Mother, of our holy wonderworking father Gabriel and of all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.
ზეგარდამოჲთა ნათლითა ჰბრწყინავ, ჵ, ღირსო მამაო ჩუენო, საკჳრველთმოქმედო გაბრიელ, და საღმრთოჲთა ძალითა მოგუმადლებ სათხოვართა კეთილად აღსრულებასა, რომელნი ესე შევრდომითა ხატსა შენსა წმიდასა თაყუანის-ვჰსცემთ და მჴურვალედ გევედრებით: ნუ მიგვაქცევ აწ სირცხვილეულთა, არამედ შეგვეწიე, რაჲთა წინ აღუდგეთ ეშმაკისა სიცბილსა და კაცთა ბოროტებასა, ხოლო ერსა ჩუენსა მოჰმადლე ძლევაჲ მტერთა მიმართ მზაკუვართა და მართლაღსარებითა დამტკიცებული ეკლესიაჲ დაიცევ შეუძრველად.
We have gained thy holy and precious icon as our hope, strength and boast, and we stand in need of thy help, O servant of Christ, blessed Gabriel: deliver now this thy flock from all sorrows and temptations.
Author and compiler: Tinatin Mchedlishvili
