An Abbess Recalls Her Experiences With Saint Gabriel of Georgia

Abbess Theodora (Makhvilandze) recalled the following about her experiences with Saint Gabriel the Confessor and Fool for Christ of Georgia:

The first time I met Elder Gabriel in 1986, it was in the Sioni Cathedral. His strange behavior caught my attention. During the Divine Liturgy, he shouted continuously and loudly. Leaving the temple, I saw the Elder falling at the feet of the Patriarch, asking for forgiveness. From then on, his form was imprinted on my memory. We often noticed his strange behavior. The Elder could call a taxi and not pay the driver, while giving the other driver more than he was entitled to. Furthermore, he could expel from the church any government employee or even a simple citizen, with shouts and without any apparent reason. His attitude towards people was tailored towards the individual.

Saint Gabriel the Fool for Christ and the Two Cigarettes

 

One day two women came to Elder Gabriel from Tbilisi. They talked for a long time and Father Gabriel called them to his cell. After he had sat for a while, the women asked him for permission to smoke. He, without hesitation, allowed them to smoke. The women calmly began to light cigarettes, when suddenly a nun came up to the cell, read a prayer and asked for permission to enter. The women were startled, felt ashamed, and immediately the lit cigarettes fell into the hands of Elder Gabriel. This left Elder Gabriel sitting with two lit cigarettes in his hands in his cell, with two women.

A "Deceiving" Photo With Saint Gabriel the Confessor

 

 

At times an ascetic would come to Samtavro Monastery to see Saint Gabriel, Staretz Basil Svetsi, from the Pskov-Pechory Monastery, who stood out for his great kindness and humility. It was a pleasure to see these two great ascetics and saints together. So I captured them with my camera. When Father Basil saw the photo, he said with a smile:

"You defeated me Gabriel! In this photo it looks like I am the saint and you are the sinner!"

From the book by Nana Merkviladze, Saint Gabriel the Fool for Christ and Confessor. Translation by John Sanidopoulos.

 

 

"When I Start Thinking of Myself as Being Better Than Others..." (St. Gabriel of Georgia)

 

 

"When I start thinking of myself as being better than others, then I put a diadem on my head and go outside without shoes. People stare at me and laugh, but I see how insignificant I am."

- St. Gabriel (Urgebadze) of Georgia

The Self-Sacrifice of Saint Gabriel the Fool for Christ

By Malkhaz Dzhinoria

One day, when his spiritual children decided to leave after an ordinary day with him, the Elder suddenly turned to Otar Nikolaisvil, whom he very much trusted, and asked him to drive him to the Ghvtaeba Monastery in Martqopi. He, with some embarrassment, explained to him that his car was not in good condition and suggested that they go another day. The Elder was generally upset when he was not heard or objected against. He often said, "The tongue runs forward and the mind stays behind," while in his cell you were not allowed to move a single crumb without his blessing.

Saint Gabriel the Confessor and the Potatoes

By Malkhaz Dzhinoria

On another one of my visits Father Gabriel was very sick in bed and asked Nun Parasceva to fry him some potatoes. She prepared a portion for me. I ate. A few hours later the Elder said to fry again.

"We have no other potatoes," replied Nun Parasceva.

"Why don't you have any? A visitor comes and you don't have any?" He then told her to leave.

Saint Gabriel the Confessor and the Mercy of God

By Malkhaz Dzhinoria

Every word of Father Gabriel served as medicine for all, laymen and clergy.

One time monks who came to see him were discussing on the road:

"What a privilege monks have and how great it is that we know the power of the cross and the 90th Psalm, and with them we can fight evil!"

Saint Gabriel the Confessor of Georgia: Accounts From Those Who Knew Him

November 2, 2015 was the twenty-year anniversary of the repose of Georgia’s beloved new saint, Elder Gabriel (Ugrebadze). Author Larisa Khrustaleva made a pilgrimage to Georgia and spoke with people who had known the elder in his lifetime. From the author’s article there are translated below accounts by Mother Parasceva, the nun who was blessed by God to take care of the elder in his infirmity before departing this world, Abbess Ketevan, and Metropolitan Seraphim.

When Two Jehovah's Witnesses Approached Saint Gabriel the Confessor

One time two female Jehovah's Witnesses approached Saint Gabriel [the Confessor of Georgia and Fool for Christ]. They had been sent to him in order for Father Gabriel to lead them on the path of truth. When they entered his cell, the Saint shouted with a mysterious tone in his voice:

"The hail has come and found the stone!"

He then began to cry for a long time. The women, unable to bear it anymore, asked him why he was crying.

"Judging and Mockery Are Great Wounds on the Soul" (St. Gabriel the Confessor)

By St. Gabriel the Confessor

I am a great sinner and greatly infirm. If you see a person sinning even at the hour of his death, do not judge him. Judging and mockery are great wounds on the soul. The Lord says, “Man, who art thou that thou should judge for Me? For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again" (Matt. 7:2). Judging is a manifestation of human stupidity; it shows that he who judges does not yet know God or himself as he should.

Saint Gabriel the Confessor Resource Page

St. Gregory the Confessor (Feast Day - November 2)

Saint Gabriel the Confessor and Fool for Christ (+ 1995)

Saint Gabriel the Confessor of Georgia: Accounts From Those Who Knew Him

An Abbess Recalls Her Experiences With Saint Gabriel of Georgia

When St. Gabriel the Fool Visited a Synagogue, a Mosque and a Baptist Church

When Two Jehovah's Witnesses Approached Saint Gabriel the Confessor

The Hindu and the Holy Trinity  

St. Gabriel the Fool for Christ and the Photo of St. Nektarios 

 

Saint Gabriel the Confessor and the Mercy of God   

 

Elder Gabriel's "Performance" in a Pub

 

Saint Gabriel the Confessor's Provocative Encounter

Saint Gabriel the Confessor and the Potatoes 

 

Saint Gabriel the Fool for Christ and the Two Cigarettes

 

The Self-Sacrifice of Saint Gabriel the Fool for Christ

  

"When I Start Thinking of Myself as Being Better Than Others..." (St. Gabriel of Georgia) 

  

A "Deceiving" Photo With Saint Gabriel the Confessor

 

Elder Gabriel Urgebadze Has Been Canonized 

 

The Translation of the Relic of Saint Gabriel the Confessor Takes Place in Georgia (photos + videos)

Myrrh Abundantly Dripping from an Icon of Saint Gabriel in Georgia (video) 

 

Father Ioannis Keramidzis (+ March 19, 2021)

 

"Judging and Mockery Are Great Wounds on the Soul" (St. Gabriel the Confessor)

 

Hell is the Grace of God (St. Gabriel the Confessor)

St. Gabriel the Fool for Christ and the Photo of St. Nektarios

St. Gabriel the Confessor

A spiritual daughter of St. Gabriel narrated:

One day the Elder surprised me with his words:

"God told me that he loves you very much. 'If I did not love her, what kind of God would I be?' Remember well: when I die, bury me there."

And he showed me the place where his grave is today. Then it was a garbage dump, and I thought I misunderstood him, but Fr. Gabriel repeated:

"No! There, there! Remember well whatever I tell you: St. Nina is now in Bodbe where she is incorrupt and there gushes myrrh. Yet I will be here."

When St. Gabriel the Fool Visited a Synagogue, a Mosque and a Baptist Church

Fr. Gabriel often visited people who had different religious views. He tried to share grace with everyone and lead them to the true faith. He says himself:

"Once, dressed as I was in my monastic schema, I went to the Synagogue. At the entrance hung a large portrait of Moses. I venerated it. The attendees liked this. Moses was a great prophet and I gave him his due respect. I had entered as they were reading from the Bible. Few were there and they looked at me with surprise. I began to preach, and when they heard about Christ they called for their High Priest. He came out but he did not stop me. Afterwards he invited me into his office. He listened with great interest and attention to what I said about Christ. Finally, he thanked me and we bid farewell.