Nineteenth anniversary of the transfer of the relics of St. Gabriel

The Polish Orthodox Church
Wiaczesław Perek
24.09.2011

September 22 marks the anniversary of the transfer of the relics of St. Martyr Gabriel from Hrodna to Białystok.

Ceremonies in the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Białystok were presided by Metropolitan Savva of Warsaw and all Poland. The ceremonies were also attended by archbishops: Abel of Lublin and Chełm and James of Białystok and Gdańsk and bishops: Artemius of Hrodna and Vawkavysk (Belarus) and Gregory of Supraśl.

Celebrations began on the eve with the all-night vigil in the evening. Then, about 22.00 the Akathyst to St. Gabriel was served. On the day of the feast, at 6.00 morning Liturgy was celebrated, and at 10.00 – the main one.

Five choirs sang during the services: the cathedral choir, the youth and children’s cathedral choir, the choir of Bialystok catechists and the choir of All Saints of the Belarusian Land Church from Hrodna.

During the Divine Liturgy Metropolitan Savvaa ordained Deacon Łukasz Ławreszuk into the priesthood.

St. Martyr Youngling Gabriel was born in March 22 1684 in a village of Zwierki (now northeastern Poland) in the pious farmer family of Gowdel’s. He used to be religious and calm child, he didn’t take part in childlike plays. On April 20 1960 his parents found his body and realised he was dead. Landlord of the village Szutko had kidnapped him, took to Białystok (10 km from Zwierki) and had tortured him. The boy died because of blood lost. His body was brought back to the village in secret and left in the forest nearby. It was guarded by dogs so that it wasn’t depleted by the birds.

He was buried on the village graveyard. After 30 years his tomb was opened by accident and people realised that his body was uncorrupted. It was transferred to the village Church. On that time the epidemic, which was attacking people in the surroundings, miraculously stopped. In 1746 his relics survived the fire in the Church (only one hand was burned but it healed later). 9 years later they were moved to Slutzk so that they wouldn’t be taken up by Greek Catholics.

He was canonised by the Church of Russia in 1820. His relics changed their place several times (Białystok, Supraśl, Minsk and Hrodna). In 1992 they came back to Białystok. Thousands of faithful took part in the ceremonies. Now they are kept in St. Nicholas Cathedral in Białystok but they will be moved to Zwierki where a Monastery is being built.

He is commemorated twice in a year: on April 20 (date of reposing) and September 22 (anniversary of the transfer of his relics from Hrodna to Białystok in 1992. He is regarded as one of the most important Saint who originate from the area of Poland. He’s a patron Saint of the Polish Orthodox Youth Organisation. Annually in May (the Church in Białystok follows the Old Calendar) footage pilgrimage to Zwierki is hold.

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