Tolochin, Vitebsk Province, Belarus, December 25, 2024
Photo: natal.by
A monument to the beloved St. Gabriel (Urgebadze) of Georgia was installed at a monastery in northeastern Belarus where he is highly venerated.
A statue of the saint now adorns the ground of the Holy Protection Convent in Tolochin. “It has seamlessly integrated into the elegant architectural ensemble and landscape composition created there, and now greets parishioners as they exit the church,” writes natal.by.
Abbess Anfisa explains the monastery’s history with St. Gabriel:
The Georgian saint, or more precisely his icon, first appeared at our monastery during the feast day of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God in 2018. The holy icon was brought by pilgrims from Vitebsk.
In 2020, along with some Georgian brothers, we received another icon, of Sts. Seraphim of Sarov and Gabriel (Urgebadze) with particles of relics from Samtavro, where they’re kept. After this, it traveled throughout Belarus and even Europe, but always returned.
Sometime later, the saint appeared to the Georgian brothers and expressed his desire to be in our monastery, and with the blessing of Archbishop Dimitri of Vitebsk and Orsha, the icon now remains with us.
As the abbess related, many miracles have occurred since then, with healings noted in seemingly hopeless cases. After prayers to St. Gabriel, people who had spent their entire lives in wheelchairs began to walk, while others were cured of terminal illnesses. The saint also helped those who, being of different faiths, initially rejected him. In gratitude for their healing, pilgrims from various regions of the country and from abroad continue to come to Tolochin.
Photo: natal.by In November of this year, one woman brought an icon bought in Samtavro entitled the Protection of St. Gabriel (Urgebadze), which depicts the saint covering people with his monastic mantle, and donated it to the monastery.
And just a couple of weeks ago, the monument was set up, as another gift to the monastery.
“It symbolizes St. Gabriel’s protection not only of our monastery but of all of Tolochin, and reminds us that we all, regardless of nationality, should carry peace, light, warmth, charity, and mercy,” emphasizes Mother Anfisa.
Read more about Belarus’ connection with St. Gabriel in the article, “My Cross is Georgia and Half of Orthodox Rus’. Belarusian Miracles of Elder Gabriel.”
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