On November 2, the Church honors the memory of St. Gabriel of Samtavria, a Georgian ascetic whose life became an example of firm faith, dedication and love for people.
The future elder, Goderdzi Urgebadze, was born on August 26, 1929, in Tbilisi, into the family of a staunch communist. He came to faith as a child. When the boy heard the name of Christ in the conversation of the neighbors, he wanted to learn more about Him. On the advice of the church watchman, he saved up money and bought the Gospel, which a few years later he knew almost by heart.
At the age of 26, he took monastic vows with the name Gabriel, in honor of St. Gabriel of Mount Athos. "There is no greater heroism than monasticism," the elder later said. He built a church in the courtyard of his house with his own hands. He collected images for her in city landfills, where shrines were thrown away during the years of persecution: he carefully cleaned icons, restored them, and made salaries.
On May 1, 1965, during a demonstration, Father Gabriel burned a huge portrait of Lenin on the building of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR and began to preach Christ. He explained his action by saying that one should not idolize a person: glory belongs to God. For this, he was severely beaten, arrested, and then sent to a psychiatric hospital. Years of persecution and humiliation followed. The ascetic suffered especially hard from the inability to participate in divine services and receive communion.
In the 1980s, Father Gabriel settled in the Samtavro monastery. He lived in extreme poverty, endured the cold, and prayed a lot. The elder's unusual actions initially caused confusion, but gradually others discovered in him a deep love for each person. He distributed the collected alms to those in need. People came to him for spiritual advice, comfort, and prayerful help.
Evidence of his courage has been preserved. Once, when he found himself in the monastery of St. Anthony of Martkopi, the elder went out to meet armed men who threatened the monastery, saying: "Shoot me." His determination stopped the attackers, and they left.
Father Gabriel died on November 2, 1995. According to his will, the body was wrapped in a mat and buried in the Samtavro monastery, where Saint Nina, Equal-to-the-Apostles, labored.
On December 24, 2012, the Georgian Orthodox Church glorified the elder as a saint. In February 2014, the finding of his relics took place, and on December 25 of the same year, the name of St. Gabriel of Samtaur was included in the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church with the establishment of memorial day on November 2.