Hieromartyr Gabriel of Serbia
Commemorated on December 13.
The Holy Patriarch Gabriel was a member of the noble Raich family. In 1655, with the permission of the Turks, he travelled to Vlahὶa and Russia to raise money for the needs of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He also attended a Council in Russia together with the Patriarch of Antioch. This Council was convened by Tsar Alexei in order to correct the Service Books. After receiving generous alms in Russia for Serbia, which at that time was suffering great distress, Patriarch Gabriel returned to his own country.
At that time, he was accused by his representative in Serbia, Maximus the Bulgarian, of insulting the Turkish power. Therefore, when Gabriel returned from Russia, he found Maximus on the archiepiscopal throne, and he took steps to get rid of him. Maximus, however, went before the Sultan and the Vizier, and he repeated his calumnies against Archbishop Gabriel.
Then the Vizier summoned Saint Gabriel from Serbia to Prousa. He convinced the Vizier that all this was slander, but he insisted that the Hierarch must deny Christ in order to receive the honor and dignity befitting his office. He rejected these suggestions, and refused to deny Christ by converting to the Moslem religion.
Therefore, after cruel tortures, he was hanged on December 13. 1659 and went to the Lord, receiving from Him a double crown, that of a Hierarch and of a Martyr.
Saint Gabriel is also commemorated on August 30, the Synaxis of the Serbian Hierarchs.
Troparion
By sharing in the ways of the Apostles,
you occupied their throne,
and through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation, O divinely-inspired one;
Therefore, by rightly dividing the word of truth, you suffered for the Faith,
even unto the shedding of your blood.
O Hieromartyr Gabriel, entreat Christ God to save our souls.
Kontakion
(Podoben: “You were lifted up…”)
As one who lived piously among Hierarchs and who underwent martyrdom,
O divinely-wise one, you abolished the sacrifices of idolatry and showed yourself as a protector of your flock.
Therefore, we cry fervently to you:
“By your intercessions, deliver us from all misfortunes,
O Gabriel our Father.”