Hieromartyr 18th century

Gabriel the Lesser

18th century – 1802

Also known as Gabriel the Younger

An 18th-century figure of the Georgian Church who received a good education and pursued a life dedicated to God.

Feast Day

March 17

Draft

Draft — pending review. Not yet verified for publication.

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Commemorated as

The Holy Venerable Hieromartyr Gabriel the Lesser of Davit-Gareji

Life

Gabriel the Lesser was a monk, writer, and hieromartyr of the Georgian Orthodox Church in the eighteenth century. He is remembered as a significant figure of the Church of his day and is commemorated on March 17. The epithet 'the Lesser' distinguishes him from other Georgian saints of the same name.

Few biographical details survive, but the sources record that the education he received was unusually good for the period. Before entering monastic life he lived in Tbilisi, where he kept a small sewing shop and gave most of his earnings to the poor and needy.

He eventually abandoned his trade and went to the Davit-Gareji Wilderness, the monastic complex in eastern Georgia, where he was tonsured a monk. He was remembered there for his capacity for love and his readiness to help others, and he became known above all as a prolific spiritual writer.

Timeline 3 moments Read Hide

18th century Sewing shop in Tbilisi Before becoming a monk, Gabriel kept a small sewing shop in Tbilisi and gave most of his profits to the poor.
18th century Tonsured at Davit-Gareji He abandoned his business and went to the Davit-Gareji Wilderness, where he was tonsured a monk and became known as a writer.
1802 Martyrdom During the Great Fast of 1802, while accompanying an archdeacon to Tbilisi, he was attacked and killed by Dagestanis.

Contributions & Legacy

2 contributions Read Hide

Monastic Life and Writings

After leaving his business in Tbilisi, Gabriel settled at the Davit-Gareji Wilderness and was tonsured a monk. The accounts of his life remember him for a remarkable capacity for love and a fervent desire to help others.

Gabriel devoted much of his monastic life to writing, and his works are said to have left a significant mark on the spiritual literature of Georgia. His output included an explanation of the hierarchical liturgy that described the meaning of the liturgical service, a collection of spiritual stories of the pious, an account of the life and labors of the schemamonk Onisphore, a short narrative concerning Porphyry, and writings on the Nomocanon of the Sixth Ecumenical Council.

Martyrdom and Relics

During the Great Fast (Lent) of 1802, Gabriel accompanied an archdeacon who was returning to Tbilisi. On the way the two men were suddenly assailed by Dagestanis, and Gabriel was killed.

The brothers of the monastery recovered his remains and carried them back, where they buried him with great honor. For his death he is venerated as a hieromartyr.

Works & Further Reading Read Hide

Notable Works

An Explanation of the Hierarchical Liturgy — A theological work describing the meaning of the hierarchical liturgical service.
Spiritual Stories of the Pious — A collection of spiritual narratives of pious lives.
The Life and Labors of Venerable Schemamonk Onisphore — An account of the life and ascetic labors of the schemamonk Onisphore.
A Short Story of Porphyry — A brief narrative concerning Porphyry.
Writings on the Nomocanon of the Sixth Ecumenical Council — Works treating the Nomocanon associated with the Sixth Ecumenical Council.

Notes

Honest stub; OCA gives few biographical details.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints