A still from the documentary “I’m Waiting for You in Samtavro…”
“Khristos Voskrese! Kriste Agsdga! Kristos haryav i merelots!”
The events that followed our second pilgrimage with the miraculous icon of Saints Seraphim of Sarov and Gabriel of Samtavro are forever etched in the memory of our entire group and, without exaggeration, have become a living testament to God’s mercy for many believers. As we continued our journey through the cities of Holy Russia, the ominous shadow of a pandemic began to spread across the planet. The coronavirus... Should I say that we were filled with anxious dread in those days? No, that would be a lie. Our saints were with us on the journey, so there was no room for fear or despondency.
The way home to our native Georgia was also marked by the invisible but absolutely clear handwriting of Elder Gabriel. Exactly one year before these events, on the previous Pascha, our creative group was in Western Georgia. Our brother Alexander, very tired after a thousand kilometers of driving, sat down on a bench in the church and quietly dozed off under the measured liturgical reading.
Suddenly, he jumped up, a shocked smile on his face.
“I heard in my half-sleep the living, booming voice of Father Gabriel! he told us later. “He looked sternly at me and said, ‘Christ is risen! Rejoice and be glad! But some people are sleeping!’” Alexander was about to reply “Truly,” but sleep still held him back. And then the elder shouted at the top of his lungs, first in Georgian: “Kriste Agsdga,” then in Russian: “Khristos Voskrese!” and finally in Armenian: “Kristo Kharyav i Merelots!”
We spent a long time speculating about this; the elder was a great intercessor for all nations, and his mother was Armenian, having been born with the surname Gasparova. We thought that this was the reason why he had uttered the Paschal greeting in three languages. How often we are mistaken when we try to measure the great insights of God’s saints with our short-sighted human minds and everyday logic!
Exactly one year later, in the spring of 2020, when our legal stay in Belarus had expired and the world was in a strict quarantine, the Georgian government organized a special evacuation flight for our compatriots. However, we had to take a roundabout route. It was only at the Yerevan airport, when a local driver approached us and joyfully wished us a Happy Pascha, adding, “And in Armenian, we say, ‘Christos haryav i merelots!’” then we looked at each other and began laughing through our tears.
The entire, complex route of our evacuation was accurately predicted by the elder a year before the pandemic. The elder warned, blessed, and strengthened us in advance
The entire, complex route of our evacuation was accurately predicted by the elder a year before the pandemic: leaving Georgia (in Georgian), traveling through Holy Russia and Belarus (in Russian), and returning home through Armenia (in Armenian). The elder warned, blessed, and strengthened us in advance. Thus, guided by his prayer, Georgian pilgrims celebrated the Great Feast of the Resurrection of Christ in Belarus and Yerevan.
This amazing ability of Elder Gabriel to extend his care across the years, anticipating future events and protecting people from coming storms, was known to many of his spiritual children. This priest, in secret and unnoticed, contributed to God’s Providence in a person’s life, laying the spiritual foundation for their salvation and earthly well-being long before they themselves began to understand their true path.
“You need a good doctor!”
One such amazing story—about clairvoyant care that only came to light a decade later—was shared by the elder’s spiritual daughter Rusudan Surmava:
—More than anything else, Father Gabriel wanted people to simply love each other. He absolutely detested conflicts, malice, gossip, and strained relationships between loved ones. Yes, he might occasionally shout or act foolishly in order to humble our selfishness, but these actions were always imbued with immense, life-saving love. He constantly encouraged us to forgive, to learn to repent, and overlook the flaws of others.
Father Gabriel often visited my home, and his arrival was always a great celebration for our family. One day, the elder suddenly looked at me intently, narrowing his eyes with insight, and repeated:
“What is this all about? Can’t you find a single good doctor in the whole world? You need a good doctor! You need a good doctor!”
I was really scared at the time, and I started thinking anxiously and doubtfully, “Am I really dying? What’s happening to me? The elder never says anything without reason… I need to go to the hospital right away and get a full medical examination!”
Time passed. Elder Gabriel’s earthly journey came to an end, and he passed away. Years later, I met my future husband. We fell deeply in love and got married. My husband turned out to be… an excellent doctor!
It was only then that I understood the true, profound meaning of Elder Gabriel’s words. He was not warning me about illnesses. Even back in my youth, the great elder had a vision of my life, foretold my future husband, a remarkable man and a godly doctor, and personally interceded before the Throne of God.
“The Lord unites, but the evil one separates.”
But if Rusudan’s story reveals the elder’s concern for the creation of a new family, then another amazing event that took place in Minsk on February 22, 2022, the day of the discovery of the relics of the saint, shows how Father Gabriel powerfully and carefully heals the old, bleeding wounds of human divisions. This hidden miracle was shared by the servant of God Larisa:
—I love Elder Gabriel to the point of self-forgetfulness; he saved me and my family more than once. In 2019, I got to Moscow for the premiere of the documentary, “I’m waiting for you in Samtavro...”. I spent the entire session crying and praying to Father Gabriel. The fact is that for years I was tormented by a difficult personal drama: In 2011, I had a quarrel with my close friend from Moscow, my classmate Marina.
I’d been plagued by a difficult personal drama for years: in 2011; I had a falling out with my friend Marina.
Because of our foolish pride, we had cut off all ties and hadn’t communicated for eleven years. When the screening ended, the artist, Konstantin, shared stories from the elder’s life and uttered his great words: “God unites, but the evil one separates.”
These words pierced my heart. I took them as a direct sign to take action. As soon as I left the hall, I dialed Marina’s number, but the automated voice replied that the number no longer existed. I silently pleaded with Father Gabriel, “Help me find her, Father, and help us reconcile!” Three years passed. My independent search for my friend remained fruitless. In February 2022, I found myself in Minsk, attending a memorial concert for the elder. I entered the crowded hall, the concert had already begun, and a Georgian girl was singing a beautiful Georgian romance on stage. I quietly slipped into the first empty seat in the row, sat down, and… I froze. Marina was sitting next to me!
I quietly slipped into the first empty seat in the row, sat down, and… I froze. Marina was sitting next to me!
We looked at each other through our tears, unable to believe our own eyes, and embraced silently. We sat there all evening, our hands clasped tightly together. After the concert, Marina whispered, crying:
“Lara, I’ve been trying to call you all these years, but your number was invalid… I came to Minsk from Moscow the day before yesterday to pray at the icon of Elder Gabriel. I love him so much! But do you know what’s the strangest thing? Just a minute before you sat down, an elderly man was sitting in your place. He was clearly not a local, and he spoke with a distinct southern accent. He looked at me intently and asked, ‘Is there going to be a movie about love and forgiveness today?’ ‘No,’ I replied, ‘there’s going to be a concert and a memorial evening.’ The old man sighed, ‘I see... I thought there would be a movie about love...’ He stood up and left. And in that moment, you took his place.
Who knows, maybe that mysterious old man was Father Gabriel himself? He hinted to Marina about forgiveness, made room for me, and literally led us to each other’s arms
We didn’t say a single word about our old grudge. It just melted away, burned in the flames of the love that Father Gabriel poured upon us. Later, as I reflected on what had happened, I wondered if that mysterious old man with the accent might have been Father Gabriel himself. He hinted at forgiveness to Marina, made room for me, and literally led us to each other’s arms.
***
These astonishing testimonies are but a few drops in the vast ocean of love that Elder Gabriel continues to pour out upon our troubled world. In an era where humanity is divided, borders are closed, and hearts are filled with fear and pride, Father Gabriel continues his invisible yet undeniable journey across the earth.
He preaches in different languages, he arranges people’s destinies; like a loving father, he seats friends who have fallen out together in concert halls, reminding them that the main movie God expects from us is a movie about love and forgiveness.
The miraculous icon of the elder, which remained in the Belarusian land, and the pilgrims who returned safely to their native Georgia, and the souls that were saved from loneliness and enmity—all of us are united today by one great, unshakable promise: “Love is above all canons and regulations.” This means that we will pass through any storms, isolation, and trials of this age with the triumphant Paschal exclamation that once resounded loudly in the half-asleep mind of a tired driver and now echoes triumphantly in eternity:
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!
Once again, “In the Footsteps of Elder Gabriel”
Dear brothers and sisters! We are pleased to announce the resumption of the author’s pilgrimage tour of the creators of the films “The Elder’s Diadem” and “I Am Waiting for You in Samtavro...”. The route, which was created in 2018 with the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, was divided into five stages this summer.
1. July 3-9,
2. July 14–20,
3. July 24–30,
4. August 7-13,
5. August 21–27.
During the seven days of this unique program, people meet with the spiritual children of Elder Gabriel and people who knew him personally, attend lectures and private screenings of documentaries by their authors, participate in creative workshops, and enjoy a concert from a chamber orchestra specially organized for our guests.
The number of seats in the groups is strictly limited to maintain a family-friendly and prayerful atmosphere.
You can find out more details and book a place at turstarca@gmail.com or by phone: +7 (925) 115-81-41.
