August 26 marks the birthday of the great St. Gabriel (Urgebadze), which is solemnly celebrated at Samtavro Monastery, where he labored for many years and where his relics lie in repose. In honor of this recent celebration, we present memories of him.
St. Gabriel (Urgebadze)
“Ask God for people not to have enmity”
Maya Ebralidze (one of the Elder’s spiritual children):
I’m a biologist. I was baptized when I was in ninth grade. When I graduated from college, Christ came into my life. Ever since I was a child, I always had the feeling that someone was directing me, and I always tried to behave in such a way that I wouldn’t be ashamed before this power. I was gradually getting closer to God, regularly going to church, making my first steps into Orthodoxy, but I had some kind of feeling of internal discontent. One day a relative offered to “take me to Samtavro Monastery to a great monk.” I agreed, and we left for Mtskheta.
When we entered Fr. Gabriel’s cell, I felt such grace, like love had become tangible, like I was in another world, another atmosphere. I felt shy, but at the same time, I felt like I was with someone who was very close to me. That’s how Elder Gabriel was able to dispose people towards himself, and most importantly, to bring them nearer to the Lord.
One day during evening prayer, when I was praying for my relatives, I thought to myself: “I can’t pray for so many people anymore; if only I could save my own soul.” The next day, I went to Samtavro. I approached Fr. Gabriel, I bowed before him, but he didn’t bless me. He said: “You have to pray not only for people you know, but also for all the sick and the suffering and those in prison.”
Of course, we remember Elder Gabriel’s testament about prayer:
Pray for everyone; I leave you a commandment… First, pray for those whom you love the most, for example, your children. Then pray for the rest of the members of your family, and then for all your neighbors and relatives. Pray for everyone. Bless the city where you live, but not just Tbilisi: Bless all the inhabitants of Georgia. And Georgia isn’t alone—it’s surrounded by other countries. Ask God for people not to have enmity. Now that you’ve prayed for everyone, only your enemy remains, and don’t forget him—pray for your enemy. Ask God to full his heart with goodness and his mind with wisdom. That’s how you can pray for your enemy. Pray with reverence, conscious Whom you are standing before. Christ is invisibly with us always.
Once we were sitting at a small wooden table with Elder Gabriel in front of his cell. Suddenly the Elder said: “Well, who’s going to make a toast?” Although there were several men there, no one presumed to get up. I gathered my courage and said: “I’ll make a toast, Elder Gabriel.” With his blessing, I raised a glass to children and said a long and eloquent blessing for them. The Elder said: “Oh, she talks with me like the mother of many children.” I had no children then. Today, like the Elder said, I have several.
One day the Elder asked: “What does it mean that fasting will be counted as a sin?” I said I didn’t know. Then the Elder answered his own question: “It means when someone is supposed to eat non-fasting food because of some health issue, but he still refuses because of the fast. I’m sick so I eat some cottage cheese.” Although Elder Gabriel ate almost nothing. A few years later, I violated my spiritual father’s blessing to eat meat (I was breastfeeding then) and refused to eat non-fasting food. A few days later, I got so sick from fasting food, and my child got so sick from my milk that I was very sorry. Only then did I remember the Elder’s words.
I remember how the Elder would joke with me. I visited him pretty often, then I’d leave and soon go see him again, and he called me “To and Fro.”
He was a great elder, who tried with all his might to bring men to God.
Venerable Fr. Gabriel, pray to God for us!
How the Elder showed how terrible pride and vanity are
Konstantin Tsertsvadze, author of films about Elder Gabriel:
To follow up on Maya’s recollections, I’d like to recall something that happened to me.
About ten years ago, there was an international student conference at Baku Slavic University. I took part in the discussion on studying the Russian language and literature. To get admitted to the conference, one had to go through two rounds of screening. As soon as I submitted my application for the first round, I prayed to Elder Gabriel. I read his akathist, asking for success. My prayers were heard, and I made it through the first round.
Then came the second round. I again resorted to the prayerful intercession of Elder Gabriel with his akathist. Glory to God, I made it to the finals, and I was invited to present a paper. I was so thrilled to go to an international conference that I forgot about prayer and the akathist to the Elder. I got caught up in trivial matters—packing my suitcase, picking my outfit, buying gifts—and I completely forgot about the Elder, whose prayers got me to the conference.
We flew to Baku, where we were festively greeted. Then came the day of my presentation. I got up on the stage and read my paper, which I felt deserved respect. The audience applauded, and my vanity knew no bounds. I thought they’d never find a better philology student there and I would win. I went out to take a bow, and I stumbled. My foot caught on a cord and I dove headfirst off the stage. I fell, a big speaker fell on top of me, and some of the lights went out on stage. The security officers ran up trying to pick me up, but first they had to untangle me from the wires. Some people were indignant, while others burst out laughing.
Lying on the floor while the guards worked to untangle me, I opened my eyes and saw that a small photo of Elder Gabriel had fallen out of my pocket. The Elder was smiling in the photo. Then I started laughing too. I took the picture and I immediately realized: So I, a sinful and vain man, was humbled by Elder Gabriel, who again showed how terrible pride and vanity are. But he did it in his own way, with humor, so that we both smiled. And most importantly, I realized that we have to thank the saints not only when we need them, but always. I forgot to read a thanksgiving akathist to the Elder, by whose prayers the Lord brought my success, and I wound up in a very awkward situation. That’s how the Elder taught me. I’m grateful to Father for being with me and constantly reminding me: “No matter what happens, never leave God!”
Appeal to the readers of OrthoChristian.com
Dear brothers and sisters!
We express our gratitude to all of you for your support in our common work of making a film about St. Gabriel. With God’s help, we’re completing filming on the third documentary about our beloved Elder. A lot of work has been done, but there is still some important work ahead.
We appeal to you to offer your mite towards the continuation of filming.
Donations can be sent via PayPal to diademas@yahoo.com.
When donating funds, please indicate your names in Holy Baptism, and also the names of your departed relatives. A moleben will be served for all donors at the relics of St. Gabriel in Samtavro Monastery, and all names will be commemorated at the wonderworking icon of Sts. Gabriel and Seraphim of Sarov.
Names can be sent in an email to diademas@yahoo.com.
