The Archangel St. Gabriel
Our Patron Saint
Gabriel, holder of the office of the Direction of Wars. He is one of the Angels who presides over Paradise the Cherubim and presides over all that is powerful.
​
"I am Gabriel the Angel, the protector of those who shall carry the Pearl from the body of Adam even to the belly of Hanna, so that it may keep from servitude and pollution you wherein the Pearl shall dwell."
​
The Archangel Gabriel, whom our Church is named after, is the second-in-rank commander of all the Angels: His name in Hebrew means, "The Strength of GOD; or The Power of GOD." He is the Angel of Annunciation or Revelation. St. Gabriel is an Angel of Peace, because on the first day of Creation, Ehud, there was a division among the angels. The angels asked the question, "who made us?" Lucifer claimed that he created all the other angels and_ some of them believed him. But, the Archangel St. Gabriel calmed most of the angels when he said, "Let us stand still, till our Creator reveals Himself to us." lmmediately, GOD said, "Let there be light," {Genesis 1: 3}. GOD'S work appeared with the appearance of light, so that those in Heaven {the angels} would see what He created and glorify Him. This rs the first time GOD used a word to create, thereby revealing Himself to the angels as their Creator. Before using a word to create, GOD created in silence the Heavens and all who were in it, the angels, also the Earth, the waters and the darkness. And when it is said: "In the beginning GOD created the Heavens and the Earth: {Genesis 1: 1}.
Due to St. Gabriel's act of faith in maintaining order among the ranks of angels in the creation, GOD chose him to announce His Incarnation from the Holy Virgin, St. Mariam. And the angel came in unto Her, and said, "Hail, thou that art highly favor, the LORD is with thee: blessed art thou among women" ..... "The HOLY SPIRIT will come upon You, and the power of the Highest will over shadow You; therefore also that Holy One who is to be born will be called the SON of GOD and You will conceive and give birth to a Son and will call Him JESUS." {St. Luke 1: 26-55} As St. Gabriel praised Our Lady, St. Mariam, so we have learned from him to praise Her by saying, "O Holy Virgin Mariam, in the peace of the Angel Gabriel, peace be unto Thee." He also kept watch over Her for Her entire life. It is believed that he wiH announce the Second Coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, by blowing a trumpet.
​
He is the one who announced to the priest Zacharias that his barren wife will give birth to a son who will be calied John and who will be a Nazarite to the LORD. But the angel said unto him, "Fear not, Zacharias; for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John" .... and he "will be also be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT even from his mother's womb." {St. Luke 1: 13-15}
St. Gabriel mentioned some prophesies, about that son, that shows the knowledge of the future by the angels according to GOD'S manifestation to them; and that they have power to punish, as he did to the great priest Zacharias. He said to him; "l am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of GOD, and who was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak untii the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time." {St. Luke 1: 19 -20}
​
The Archangel St. Gabriel, was not only an announcer, but was also an elucidator, {primary weapon or sword}. He appears in the vision of Daniel the Prophet, who when he was perplexed in its explanation, the LORD said: "Gabriel, make this man understand the vision." {Daniel 8: 16} And yet another time, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill and understanding." {Daniel 9: 21-22} That shows the angels have full knowledge given to them by GOD. In the same vision, we see the Archangel Gabriel touched him and he was strengthened, and made him stand after lying on the earth like a dead man. {Daniel 8: 18} and {Daniel 10:18}
​
Also, at the crucifixion of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, St. Michael kept silence, but St. Gabriel was in awe, to see his Creator crucified, so he took out his sword, and tried to destroy the world, but the forgiving love of GOD prevented him from doing so. It was St. Gabriel's sword that rent the curtain of the Holy of Holies in two. {St. Luke 23: 45}
​
The Archangel St. Gabriel was the angel who saved Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego {Hananiah, Azariah, and Misael} when they were ordered cast into the furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar, after they refused to worship his idols. He answered and said, "Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they· - have no hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the SON of GOD." {Daniel 3: 25}
Then Nebuchadnezzar spoke, and said, "Blessed be the GOD of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who hath sent His angel and delivered his servants that trusted in Hirn, and have changed the King's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own GOD." {Daniel 3: 28}
​
In the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Archangel, St. Gabriel is commemorated on the 19th day of each month {Ethiopian Calendar} with great festivities.