The Church calls the Archangel Gabriel a harbinger of miracles, he is identified with the mysteries of God, is considered a harbinger of happiness and salvation. As the main servant of the omnipotence of the Divine is revered in many religions. On March 26 (April 8, new style), a celebration is held, which is known to everyone as the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel. During the celebration, the prayer of believers on the second day after the celebration of the Annunciation plays a huge role.
Believers gather within the walls of the temple to glorify Gabriel in prayers and songs, revealing the great mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God. Archangel Gabriel is honored as one of the seven spirits who bring the will of the saints. It is also known about the holiday on July 13 (26), which has been held since the end of the ninth century. This day calls everyone to remember all the miracles of the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel. In addition, on the 8th (21st) of November, the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and the Powers of Heaven is also celebrated. On this day, Gabriel is glorified along with the Cathedral of the Powers of Heaven.
If on April 8 the believers do not have the opportunity to go to the service, then you need to start and end the day with a prayer, turning to Gabriel.

Story

Saint Gabriel - who serves as a messenger of God to certain people. He is one of the three archangels. Gabriel is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. First, in the Old Testament, Gabriel appears before the prophet Daniel to explain his visions. Gabriel skillfully interprets Daniel's visions. After Gabriel's first visit, Daniel was ill for several days. Gabriel visited him, giving him more understanding of the faith, teaching him prayers.
In the New Testament, Gabriel, described as "the angel of the Lord", first comes to the father of John the Baptist. He tells him: “Do not be afraid: you will hear a prayer, and your wife will give you a son, and you will give him the name John. And you will rejoice, and many will rejoice at his birth. ".
After some time, John's wife finds out that she is carrying a child under her heart, Gabriel appears again. The Book of Luke says that he was sent from the Lord to Nazareth to visit a virgin married to a man named Joseph. Angle said, turning to Mary: "Rejoice, you are loved, God is with you: you are blessed among women." Luke 1:28.
"Don't be afraid Mary, you are finding grace with God." Agnel appeared to Mary with a concrete spruce. First of all, he allowed her to know that she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit, and the child would become nothing but the Son of the Lord. After the Annunciation, Gabriel no longer spoke to Mary.
Attributes of the image of Gabriel on icons in other types of works of art. He is dressed in a blue and white plain outfit; and it is seen that he carries in his hands a lily, a branch from Paradise, a scroll or scepter, and also a trumpet. In art, Gabriel is often depicted in the scenes of the Annunciation, since this saint is very closely associated with this holiday.
He is sometimes referred to as the one who points to the return of the Lord to Earth. However, the person to whom this work is assigned; in different passages of Holy Scripture appears in different images, with a different name. Gabriel is recognized as the patron saint of messengers.
As a messenger angel acting as a messenger of God, he helps writers, teachers, journalists, and artists communicate their message, find motivation and confidence, and develop their skills. It also helps to overcome the problems of fear in communication. For people of faith, it is of great importance in all areas related to children, helping during conception, pregnancy, childbirth and the upbringing of children.

Believers about signs from Gabriel

Archangel Gabriel is known as the angel of revelation. He plays a significant role in Christianity, Islam, Judaism and many other religions, acting as a messenger from God. In the Bible, Gabriel can be found in the books of Luke and Daniel. He is also called the "Christmas Angel" because he announced to Mary and the shepherds the forthcoming birth of Jesus. It is believed that Gabriel is associated with the white or copper light and that he often delivers his messages to people in their dreams.
When people receive unexpected messages that give them valuable guidance for the future, it can be assumed that Gabriel is delivering a message from God. As an angel of water, one of Gabriel's tasks is to make things clear.
Gabriel, as the archangel of communication, is often close to people who need him, he acts as a link to the healing of the soul. Priests say that communication with the Archangel Gabriel brings inspiration and reconciliation, that Gabriel helps with visions. He is able to help a person see glimpses of a wonderful future.
If a person feels at an impasse, finds himself in a seemingly insoluble conflict situation, you need to appeal to Gabriel to help the believer change and move on. The gift of making the right decisions in difficult situations is given to those who ask Gabriel for it, turning to the Archangel for help.
If a believer thinks about how to solve a difficult problem (especially after prayer), this may be a sign that Gabriel is sending help to the person. Church officials often say that Gabriel sometimes offers ideas for solving problems, as long as people righteously believe in God and turn to his messenger for help. The most common form of communication with Gabriel is prayer. It is important to ask the Archangel to clarify anything you do not understand. By the end of the conversation, you should know exactly what to do.
Gabriel often visits people while they are sleeping. One has only to remember the Christian story, which says that Gabriel, an angel in the biblical story, tells Joseph in a dream that he will serve as the father of Jesus Christ on Earth.
Spiritual mentors draw the attention of parishioners to the fact that Archangel Gabriel and other archangels can communicate with people through their dreams, which can help them solve problems. It is known that if you read a prayer-appeal to Gabriel before going to bed, you can get answers to your questions in a dream. In the morning, a person will wake up with the thought of a dream, which will lead him to the right way to solve problems. It happens that people do not remember a dream at all. However, the answer to the question posed to Gabriel by the man will come to consciousness later.
Gabriel often with his appearance in dreams makes people change, turn to a more righteous life, to pious deeds. Many people claim that Gabriel can appear in a dream in both male and female form. Sometimes a meeting with him can be unexpected, but people, one way or another, understand the purpose for which the archangel comes to them.
The clergy emphasize that purification strengthens the forces and opens the channels of communication between man and beings at higher levels. The wisdom of the guardian angel, archangels and spiritual guides becomes easier to understand, it becomes easier for people to go through the purification of the heart and mind.
Many people say that they feel the burden of great responsibility after the appearance of Gabriel in a dream. Historically, it has been assumed that Gabriel is asking people to do something for God. Religious texts note that people visited by Gabriel feel uneasy as they consider his message to them.
For example, the Quran says that it was Gabriel who miraculously told his message from God to the Prophet Muhammad, who later wrote that the visits of the Archangel to him were intense and difficult to understand. In the book What You Need to Know About Islam and Muslims, the author writes: “Muhammad was under physical and psychological stress when he met the angel Gabriel, who gave him the words of God.” “The angel appeared to him several times. The Prophet later reported that an angel sometimes comes in the form of an angel, and sometimes in the form of a man. Sometimes the prophet heard a bell-like sound, and the revelation came suddenly, requiring such extreme concentration from him that he was on the verge of losing consciousness. Similar information is given in Orthodox writings.
Angel Gabriel appears unexpectedly. After greeting Mary, the angel begins the message from God, saying, "Don't be afraid." An attitude of awe, expressed as fear, is characteristic of those who experience insight. Mary was alarmed when she heard the angel's greeting. She was also confused by the appearance of the Archangel and what he said.
Believers also say that Gabriel's energy corresponds to the light of a white angel, and his aura has a copper glow. Archangel Gabriel is associated with a beautiful white light and this color brings cleansing where it's needed. Imagine this white light enveloping you and your child and surrounding you and your child as you ask it to help move away any anxiety or worry that could be affecting both of you.
Gabriel is depicted with a large copper trumpet, which symbolizes the delivery of messages from God. He is often depicted with a copper-orange halo or white light around him. Some people also believe that a sudden and unusual attraction to objects made of copper is another sign that the Archangel Gabriel is nearby.

Today is Friday Holy Week Great post. The feast of the Annunciation is celebrated Holy Mother of God and the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel is celebrated. The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is served in churches.

Today we also create memory: schmch. Irenaeus, Bishop of Sirmia (Sremsky); mchch. Vafusia and Verka, presbyters, prmch. Arpils, mchch. Aviva, Agna, Reas, Igaphrax, Iskoi, Sila, Sigica, Sonirila, Suimvla, Ferma, Filla and mts. Anna, Alla, Larissa, Moiko, Mamiki, Wirko, Animaisa (Animaids), Gaatha, Queen of Gotha, and Duklida (IV). Rev. Malcha the Syrian (IV). Rev. Basil the New, Constantinople ascetic of the 10th century. Mts. Paraskeva Kochneva, who died in 1939.

The icon of the Mother of God of Meletinsky is glorified.

We sincerely congratulate everyone on the holiday of the Annunciation and congratulations to birthday people on Angel Day!

Brothers and sisters, traditionally, on the day after the Great Feast, the Holy Church remembers the heroes of the Holy History who directly participated in the events of the holiday and played an important role in it. Today it is the Archangel Gabriel - a disembodied spirit who conveyed from God to the Virgin Mary the joyful news of the glorious conception from the Holy Spirit and the future birth from Her into the world of Jesus Christ - the Son of God. The name "Gabriel" is translated from Hebrew as "The Most High is my strength." In the Gospel of Luke, he testifies of himself when he speaks with the righteous Zechariah, the father of St. John the Baptist: I am Gabriel, standing before God, and I was sent to speak with you and announce this to you(Luke 1:19). St. Demetrius of Rostov calls the Archangel Gabriel "the servant of the divine fortress and the revealer of the hidden mysteries of God."

We are used to talking about the hierarchy of angels, but St. John Chrysostom most accurately expressed the essence of this issue: “There are angels and archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities and authorities; but not only these hosts exist in heaven, but endless regiments and innumerable tribes, which no word can depict. And St. Basil the Great gives us to understand one more important thing about angels: “All angels have both one name, and, of course, a common nature for all: but some of them are appointed to rule over the nations, while others are companions to each of the faithful. But to what extent a whole nation is preferable to one person, in the same, no doubt, the dignity of an angel-governor is higher than the dignity of an angel who is entrusted with the care of one person. Of course, we cannot even imagine the height of the dignity of the Archangel Gabriel, because according to Church Tradition, he is the leader of the angels together with the Archangel Michael.

A guardian angel has been assigned to each of us, and Holy Scripture and many holy fathers testify to this, such as: Saints Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, Ambrose of Milan, Theodore of Edessa, Filaret of Moscow and many, many others. Here is how the great Cappadocian hierarch Basil writes: “Each of the faithful is assigned an angel worthy to see the Heavenly Father ... That with each of the faithful there is an angel who, as an educator and shepherd, manages his life, no one will argue against this, remembering the words of the Lord: do not despise any of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven(Matthew 18:10). And the psalmist says: Angel of the Lord encircles those who fear Him(Ps. 33:8). The angel will not depart from all those who believe in the Lord, unless we ourselves drive him away with bad deeds. Just as the stench drives away the bees and the stench of the pigeons, so the guardian of our life, the angel, is driven away by the regrettable and stinking sin ... Since each of us has a holy angel, who camps around those who fear the Lord, then sins can cause disaster: the wall will no longer close us, that is, the holy powers that make men invincible while they are with them.”

But in order to understand how majestic these creatures are - angels, I would like to cite one episode from the life of St. Nektarios of Aegina. Once, while walking with a novice in nature near the monastery, the saint asked her: “Do you want to see your Guardian Angel?” The novice, of course, expressed a great desire. "Here he is in front of you," replied the saint. And then the girl fainted, unable to bear what she saw. And then the saint was very sorry about what happened, saying that the girl was not yet ready. Now we can imagine what degree of holiness the Blessed Virgin Mary possessed, Who conversed not with a simple angel, but with the Archangel Gabriel himself.

Of course, those who bear the name of the holy archangel were granted special grace. And not only grace, but also responsibility. Indeed, in order to have a patron of one in whose submission there are countless angels, each of which shines like the sun, one must be worthy of such a patron. Just do not be afraid of your glorious angel, you do not need to think that he is harsh, because they are often depicted in military attire. St. Demetrius of Rostov wrote well about the spiritual dispensation of saints and angels: “Do the elect and angels have faith and hope in heaven? The angels have neither faith nor hope, because from the time they were established in grace, they saw the One in whom one must believe and in whom one must hope. They always see the face of the Heavenly Father, and in them there is no longer room for either faith or hope, for faith and hope have the invisible as their object. The elect of God in heaven also lack faith and hope, because they see the One in whom they believed and have the One in whom they hoped. Both the angels and the elect have only one immortal love.

Dear friends, let's not forget about our first intercessors given to us at baptism - guardian angels and we will remember them in our prayers together with the saints of God, in whose honor we were baptized.

Holy Archangel Gabriel and all our holy guardian angels, pray to God for us!

Deacon Mikhail Kudryavtsev

According to signs on April 8, they judged about spring and about when to plant early potatoes and whether it is worth putting bees in the apiary. The next day after the holiday) the council of the Archangel Gabriel is performed, which brought the Virgin Mary the good news of the birth of the Savior of the world from Her.

In the angelic host created by the Lord, a special place is occupied by archangels (higher angels, chiefs of angels), primarily Gabriel and Michael. In Hebrew, Gabriel means The power of God. The main purpose of this archangel is to be God's messenger, to reveal the meaning of "knowledge" and "signs", to predict the course of events.

It was Gabriel who gave the first commandment to Adam (the first man of God): not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Several times the heavenly messenger appeared to the prophet Daniel and revealed to him the secrets of the coming of the Messiah into the world, the end of the world and the persecution of the Antichrist. He told Elder Zacharias about the miraculous conception and birth of John the Baptist. But the Annunciation is the greatest mission of the Archangel Gabriel.

Gabriel told the Blessed Virgin Mary the good news about the birth of the Divine Infant from Her and ordered to give Him the name Jesus, i.e. Savior. The archangel brought joyful news not only to the Virgin Mary, but to all people about the coming Incarnation of the Son of God.

On the frescoes and icons of the Annunciation, Gabriel was depicted with large wings behind his back; in his hand he has a branch of paradise (white lily), or a lit lantern, sometimes in his other hand he has a mirror. The outstretched hand of the archangel to Mary simultaneously announces and warns. His whole figure expresses the solemnity of the moment and the foreboding of the trials that will fall to the lot of the Savior, in his eyes - thoughtfulness and sympathy, sadness and bitterness.

In Rus', the Archangel Gabriel was addressed on various occasions:

• with illness;
• in case of evil eye or slander;
• for water rescue;
• with a request to protect livestock from all sorts of troubles;
• protect the hunter from the bear;
• for the "preservation and abundance of bees in the hives";
• and even so that no one could take the hidden treasure.

As early as April 8, the Monk Basil the New is venerated, who in his youth left the world and asceticised in a deserted place. Once he was seen by the courtiers of the Byzantine emperor. They seized the ascetic and brought him to the city, where they interrogated him. The saint did not want to talk about his ascetic life, for which he was severely tortured. The monk steadfastly endured all the torments and remained safe and sound.

They wanted to drown Blessed Basil in the sea, but two dolphins saved him and carried him ashore, where he met a sick man named John and healed him of a fever. At the request of John, Vasily stayed with him to live. Numerous believers came to the saint for advice and guidance, as well as the sick, whom he healed with prayers from illnesses. Among the visitors was Gregory, who became his student and later wrote a detailed life of his mentor. Saint Basil died at the age of 110. It happened around 944.

April 8: traditions and customs of the day

During this period, sap flow begins at the warty birch. The soil thaws, red willow blooms, birch and bird cherry open buds. If buds open on birch trees, then bark beetles appear. Tobogganing stops, so this day is marked in the folk calendar with the phrase-admonition: “ Turn the shafts out of the sleigh ". The same definition applied to the patron saint of the day - Vasily the New: “ Vasily - turn out the shafts and throw them on the lead.

On this day, many prohibitions and ideas associated with the Annunciation are transferred. People celebrate on April 8, fearing to provoke the wrath of the archangel Gabriel, who, according to popular belief, controls lightning and with its help can burn down the dwelling of a person who has forgotten to honor him.

If you spin on Gabriel, the work is not for the future.

They don’t spin on Gabriel, otherwise dryness will pull your hands away.

Those who continued to spin after that day were told: Won't go well».

They prayed to St. Basil for fever, because during his lifetime he healed people suffering from this disease.

On this day, they read a conspiracy-amulet addressed to the angels:

April 8 - Gabriel Blagovest: the rite of making a wish

The people believed that on April 8, the Archangel Gabriel descends to earth to fulfill the desires of people. If you want your plan to come true, then get up early and go outside. Do not forget to put on a pectoral cross, because it is on it that the archangel notices the asking people.

Stand facing east, cross yourself three times and say quietly three times:

“Archangel Gabriel, servant of our Lord, hear the request of the servant of God (name) and fulfill it (in your own words, say what you want). In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen".

April 8: signs and beliefs

1. If the bird cherry has turned green, then it's time to plant early potatoes.
2. The willow blossomed - it's time to put the bees in the apiary.
3. If there is a bright sunrise on Gabriel, then it is time to remove all the sleigh harness.
4. What is the weather on Gabriel, this will be on).
5. Frosts - to a cold and lingering spring.
6. If there is snow on the roofs to this day, then in the next month it will not completely melt.
7. Dreams from April 7 to 8 can be fulfilled within a week.

Video: signs and traditions on April 8

Today the Orthodox church holiday and, saints of God: Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel.

Today, April 8 (March 26, old style), Orthodox, church holidays, the feast of the saints of God:

* The celebration of the feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos.
* Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel.
Hieromartyrs Eusebius, Bishop of Kivala (c. 257-258); * Irenaeus, Bishop of Sirmium (304). Martyrs Pullius Reader (304); Kodrata and with him 40 martyrs (304); The 26 martyrs of Gotha: Vafusia and Verka the presbyters, Arpyla the monk, laity: Aviva (Avipa), Agna, Rheas, Igaphrax, Iskoi, Sila, Sigica, Sonirila, Suimvla, Ferma, Filla (Filga), Constance, Agathon the prince and the martyrs : Anna, Alla, Larissa (Varisa), Moiko, Mamiki, Wirko (Virko), Animaisa (Animaids), Gaatha, Queen of Goth, and Duklida, Princess of Goth (c. 375). Venerable Malchus of Syria (IV). Saint Basil the New (c. 944); Stephen the woodcutter. Saint Abraham of Latria. Melitinsky Icon of the Mother of God.

Feast of the Orthodox Saints of God

Celebration of the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel

Archangel Gabriel (from Hebrew - the husband of God). One of the highest angels, in the Old and New Testaments, appears as a bearer of joyful gospels. According to the Bible, he is considered the guardian angel of the chosen people. Holy Scripture does not particularly consider the lives of angels, reporting only on their appearances to people; the faith of Christ, which directs all the forces of the human mind and heart to God, also does not go deep into the realm of angelology. Angels were created by God as free beings. Some of the angels took advantage of this to fall away from God (fallen angels, demons). Others remained faithful to the Creator and remained Angels of Light.

The Church teaches that the angelic world consists of nine ranks (Rom. 8:38; Eph. 1:21, 3:10; Sol. 4:9), distinguished by their proximity to God and descending from God to the human race: Cherubim, Seraphim , Thrones, Principles, Dominions, Forces, Authorities, Archangels and Angels. Comprehension of the hierarchical structure of the angelic world is providentially hidden from people in the present age, but will be revealed in the future to the “sons of the resurrection”, who, according to the Lord, will be “equal to the angels” (Luke 20:36).

By the power of their love for the Trinitarian God, the holy angels join the life of the Holy Trinity, and by the power of love for the world and people - to the life of the world. They serve her, remaining invisible beings. Thus, between heaven and earth, the angels of God ceaselessly ascend and descend. The Church of Christ especially singles out and honors the two highest Angels - the Archangel Michael and the Archangel Gabriel, in view of their special participation in the fate of mankind.

The ministry of the Archangel Gabriel is providentially directed by God to save the human race, to return people who have fallen away from God to the Creator and Almighty. Both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament times, the Archangel Gabriel informs people of saving knowledge from above, announces the main events in the spiritual history of mankind.

Archangel Gabriel taught the forefather Moses book writing in the desert, informed him about the beginning of the world and the creation of the first man, and taught him all kinds of wisdom. The Archangel Gabriel appeared to the prophet Daniel and revealed the mysterious meaning of the prophecy about the seventy weeks, reporting the time of the liberation of the Jews from the Babylonian captivity, as well as the time of the Incarnation (Dan. 8:16; 9:21). According to church tradition, it was the Archangel Gabriel who announced to the righteous Joachim and Anna about the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary from them, and to the priest Zechariah about the birth of the holy prophet John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-25).

Being sent by God to Nazareth, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Blessed Virgin, betrothed to the righteous Joseph, and announced to Her the conception of the Son of God by the overshadowing and the action of the Holy Spirit in her (Luke 1:30-35). It is believed that it was Archangel Gabriel who appeared in a dream to righteous Joseph to assure him of the sinlessness of the Virgin Mary (Matt. 1:20-21), and when the Lord Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, Archangel Gabriel appeared to the shepherds and announced to them the birth of the Savior (Lk. 2:8-11).

It is also believed that it was Archangel Gabriel who strengthened the Lord in His prayer on the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:43) and informed the myrrh-bearing women about the Resurrection of Christ (Mark 16:5-7). The Archangel Gabriel also appeared to the Mother of God when She prayed on the Mount of Olives and announced: “Your Son and our God is waiting for You with all the Archangels and Angels, Cherubim and Seraphim, with all the heavenly spirits and souls of the righteous, to take You, Your Mother, to the Kingdom on high, where you will live and reign with Him forever! As a sign of the triumph of the Blessed One over bodily death, the Archangel Gabriel handed Her a paradise branch from a date tree.

In Orthodox iconography, the Holy Archangel Gabriel is usually depicted in the form of an Angel-Annunciator with an olive branch in his hands - a symbol of the reconciliation of God and creation. This image is placed in the temple above the Royal Doors. The Holy Church, remembering the multiple appearances of the Archangel Gabriel in the history of the Old and New Testaments, lifts up fervent prayers to this vigilant intercessor, intercessor and benefactor of the human race.

The feast of the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel is celebrated annually Orthodox Church April 8 (March 26 old style) and July 26 (July 13 old style).

On the day of this Christian holiday, divine services are held in churches. We will talk about the traditions of the holiday, which falls on the summer.

Traditions of celebrating the Day of the Archangel Gabriel

Gabriel is one of the seven spirits "who lift up the prayers of the saints and ascend before the glory of the Holy One" (Tov. 12:15). In translation, his name means "the power of God" or "God is my strength."

On the feast of the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel, which has existed since the 9th century, believers remember his multiple appearances to the righteous and the zealous fulfillment of the Divine will.

As it is said in the Holy Scripture, he appeared to the righteous Anna with the news of the forthcoming birth of the Virgin Mary; brought the good news to the Virgin Mary about the future birth of Jesus Christ; announced to the righteous Zechariah about the appearance of his son - the future John the Baptist.

Also, Gabriel was the inspirer of the prophet Moses when writing the book of Genesis, proclaimed to the prophet Daniel about the future destinies of people. From Gabriel they heard the myrrh-bearing women the joyful news of the Resurrection of Christ.

On the Day of the Archangel Gabriel, childless couples turn to him with a request to send them a child or assist in adoption. Women who are in position ask for a successful pregnancy and the health of the unborn child.

Prayers for the feast of the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel are able to protect believers from many troubles, strengthen them in faith, and point the way in difficult life situations. He is approached with requests for healing from various diseases, protection of relatives from various troubles, finding harmony in relationships.

Also on the Day of the Archangel Gabriel, parishioners put candles to his icons for the repose of their loved ones, because he was a messenger not only of good news, but also of messages about death.

For several centuries, the traditions of this holiday have developed among the people. They said about this day: “The Archangel Gabriel stepped into the grain field. The grain casts gold, good power flies from the holy sky.

Many weather signs were associated with the feast of the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel. It was believed that if there was no rain on that day, then there would be no rain in the fall. And if it rained heavily, it was worth worrying about the harvest.

It remains for us to add that there is one more holiday during which the Archangel Gabriel is glorified along with the entire Council of Heavenly Forces.

This is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on November 21 (November 8, old style) Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and other disembodied Heavenly Forces. Archangels: Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jehudiel, Barahiel and Jeremiah.