Venerable Gabriel the Georgian of Mount Athos

Venerable Gabriel came from Georgia (Iberia) and lived as a monk of the Iveron Monastery on Mount Athos. In summer he withdrew to inaccessible cliffs to keep silence, and in winter returned to the brethren, wearing a hair shirt and eating only vegetables, roots and herbs.

According to tradition, the monks once saw a pillar of fire over the sea standing above an icon of the Mother of God, which drifted away whenever they tried to approach it. The Theotokos appeared to Gabriel and told him to walk out over the waves with faith. In the presence of the brethren he crossed the water as if on dry land and carried the icon ashore. The icon was placed in the church but was repeatedly found above the monastery gate; in a further vision the Theotokos told Gabriel that she wished to be the guardian of the monks rather than be guarded by them. A church was built over the gate, and the icon became known as the Portaitissa (Gatekeeper), or Iveron Icon.

St Gabriel reposed in peace on Athos. He is commemorated on 12 July (25 July, New Style), together with St John the Georgian of Athos.