For a long time in Russia it has become a tradition to celebrate the holiday called the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel three times a year (April 8, July 26 and November 21) three times a year. It was established in honor of the incorporeal spirit ─ the servant of God, who brought the message to the Blessed Virgin Mary about Her great destiny. In this regard, it becomes clear why the date following the feast of the Annunciation, celebrated the day before, was chosen as one of the days. The word "cathedral", included in the name of the holiday, emphasizes its universality and mass character. On this day, Christians gather together to praise God and His faithful messenger.
Archangel, called "God's fortress"
In order to more consciously read the akathist and prayers during the celebration of the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel, we should dwell in more detail on what we know from the Holy Scriptures and Tradition about this representative of the ranks of the angels.
First of all, we note that his name ─ Gabriel, is translated from Hebrew as "God's Fortress". In addition, it is generally accepted that among the archangels, who are representatives of the second rank of heavenlyspirits (there are nine in total), he takes a position immediately behind the Archangel Michael, holding a fiery sword in his hand, and guarding the entrance to the Garden of Eden.
Mention of the Archangel Gabriel in the Old Testament
Every angel is a messenger of something (we note in passing that this is how the word “angel” is translated from Greek), but the Archangel Gabriel is entrusted with a special mission ─ to reveal the hidden meaning of visions, and foretell people the course of future events. In addition, he has many responsibilities. In particular, standing at the Throne of God, he praises the Creator of the Universe and prays for those who live on earth.
Among other higher powers of the incorporeal world, he commands the Heavenly Host. As is clear from the 1st chapter of the Old Testament Book of Enoch, among other archangels, Gabriel was sent by the Creator to punish the fallen angels. He also inspired the prophet Moses to create the Book of Genesis and revealed to him the future of the Jewish people. However, this is far from all of what makes the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel one of the most revered holidays among the people.
First New Testament prophecies
It was the Archangel Gabriel who appeared to the righteous Anna when she grieved over her infertility, and announced to her that her prayer to the Lord was heard, and soon she would give birth to the Virgin, through whom the Son of God would be incarnated into the world. His words were exactly fulfilled, and after the due time, the righteous Anna gave birth to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
When witha sermon sounds on the day of the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel, then it, as a rule, also mentions how the messenger of God invisibly abode with the Holy Virgin in the Jerusalem temple during Her adolescence, and then protected all the days of her earthly life. In such cases, they do not forget to mention how the Archangel Gabriel, having appeared to the priest Zechariah, announced that his wife Elizabeth would soon give birth to a son ─ the future John the Baptist. When he doubted the truth of the prophecy, the archangel struck him with dumbness.
Annunciation to the Immaculate Virgin
However, his main act, which made the feast of the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel especially dear to all Orthodox Christians, is the good news brought by him to the Blessed Virgin Mary about the conception of the Son of God in Her by the fall and the action of the Holy Spirit. Two evangelists narrate about this event: Matthew and Luke, and if the first of them is very short, then the second gives a detailed story.
Further, in order to save the immaculate Virgin from the suspicions that arose from her betrothed (formal husband) Joseph, unable to comprehend the divine secret with a weak human mind, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to him in a dream and announced that the Maiden, having conceived in the womb, remained innocent, since this happened from the action of the Holy Spirit, which changes human nature. By this, he instilled peace and tranquility in the soul of the righteous elder Joseph, which is also mentioned on the feast of the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel.
The news of the coming of the Savior into the world
The Holy Evangelist Luke, describingthe birth in Bethlehem of the Son of God ─ Jesus Christ, mentions that it was the Archangel Gabriel who appeared to the shepherds guarding the flocks and announced to them about great joy ─ the appearance in the city of David of the Savior, who was destined to save all the people of the world from eternal death. He, surrounded by Heavenly warriors, was the first to sing praises to the Almighty, who instills peace and goodwill in the hearts of his children.
The Messenger of God, Saint Joseph the Betrothed, did not leave his care even after the birth of Jesus. Sent by the Lord, he appeared to him a second time in a dream and ordered, together with the Mother of God and her Eternal Infant, to flee to Egypt in order to find salvation there from the machinations of the wicked King Herod, who planned to destroy their Holy Family.
Annunciation of the three main gospel events
But this is far from all the deeds of God's Messenger mentioned in the akathist to the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel, which is read in all Orthodox churches in Russia. In one of the most dramatic moments of the earthly life of Jesus Christ ─ His prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane, which became the threshold of the Crucifixion, the Lord sent the Archangel Gabriel to strengthen His Son. Evangelist Luke describes in detail in chapter 22 how the Messenger of God was inseparably near Jesus, helping him to keep his presence of mind.
Further, this time, all four evangelists report the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to the Myrrh-Bearing Women, who appeared early in the morning at the Holy Sepulcher, to anoint His honest body with incense. Despite the fact that their testimonies differ somewhat in the enumerationparticipants of this event, they are all unanimous in one thing - at the entrance to the cave, the pious women were met by the Archangel Gabriel, who announced the resurrection of the Son of God from the dead. Thus, he was the herald of the three main New Testament events associated with the name of Jesus Christ - His conception, birth and resurrection.
And finally, the last episode associated with the Archangel Gabriel, and described in the New Testament, is his appearance to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who came at the end of her life's journey to the Mount of Olives to pray to Her Eternal Son. Having announced the approach of the day of Her honest Assumption and Ascension to heaven, he left the Mother of God a bright branch from the Garden of Eden.
Miracle on Mount Athos
Everything that was told above is known from the pages of the New Testament, but stories about God's messenger can also be found in Holy Tradition. And although they do not sound from church ambos on the day of the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel, Christians have carefully kept them for many centuries. Let's remember just one of them.
They say, for example, such a curious fact, which is directly related to the celebration of the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel, ─ the prayer “It is worthy to eat”, read daily by all churched people, it turns out, was brought into the world by this very messenger of God. It happened at the end of the 11th century on the holy Mount Athos, where a certain hermit monk and his novice were then fleeing.
Once, when he went to the temple for the all-night service, an unknown elder visited his cell and taught the one who remained in itthe youth, who at that hour knelt before the image of the Mother of God, the text of this new, at that time, prayer. So that her words would not be erased from the memory of the young man, the night guest inscribed them with his finger on a stone slab, the surface of which at the same time became soft as wax. After that, he disappeared as mysteriously as he appeared, giving only his name ─ Gabriel. Returning from the Vespers and listening to the story of the novice, the monk realized that in his absence, the cell was visited by the Archangel Gabriel.
Subsequently, the news of the miraculous incident spread throughout the world and reached Constantinople. There, in confirmation of the authenticity of what happened, a stone slab was sent with the text of the prayer “It is worthy to eat,” which has been read every day since then and especially solemnly recited on the day of the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel. The icon of the Mother of God, before which the youth and his night guest prayed, has since also received the name “It is worthy to eat.” Her image is shown below.
Discussions of scientists
Among church historians there is no consensus on the official date for establishing the feast of the Day of the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel. Many of them are inclined to believe that this tradition originates from the consecration in the 17th century of the Constantinople temple, erected in his honor. However, their opponents very reasonably point to numerous evidence that the history of the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel has much deeper roots.
The first two days of the memory of the Archangel Gabriel
As for the generally accepted days of remembrance of thisdisembodied spirit, the messenger of God, who brought news to the world that became the main milestones in its history, then, as was said at the beginning of the article, there are three. The first of them ─ March 26 (April 8), is celebrated the day after the feast of the Annunciation, since the Archangel Gabriel has the most direct relation to it.
The next date ─ July 13 (26) is set in honor of the consecration of the temple dedicated to the Archangel Gabriel in Constantinople, which took place four centuries ago, this was also discussed above. By the way, we note that there is a belief among the people ─ if this day turns out, even if it is cold, but without rain, then autumn will be dry and warm.
Day of honoring all disembodied Heavenly Powers
But November 8 (21) was chosen, because on this day the Archangel Michael is honored, and with him all the disembodied spirits equal to him in rank: Jerimiel, Yehudiel, Uriel, Barachiel, Selaphiel and, of course, the closest to him ─ Archangel Gabriel. In addition, on this day, honor is paid to all the Heavenly Powers that are at the Throne of the Most High and fulfill His holy will.
Features of the holiday
For a long time, people have developed many beliefs that determine what can and cannot be done on the feast of the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel. Among the deeds recognized as appropriate, one can note common Christian pious deeds, such as a one-day fast on the eve of the holiday, attending church with reading a prayer suitable for the occasion, as well as providing all possible assistance to everyone who needs it. In this case, the requirements do not go beyond the usual norms of behavior of the piousChristian.
Things to Avoid
The list of prohibitions imposed on this day is quite peculiar. First of all, it is believed that on November 8 (21) two things cannot be done: cut with a knife and prick with an ax. This is explained by the fact that Archangel Michael, honored on the same day, may be offended, since stabbing and chopping is the prerogative of his fiery sword. It is also impossible to weave, although the reason for this is difficult to find.
However, these prohibitions may be related to a more ancient belief, according to which on this day a person can be repaid for his sins while still alive, that is, something unforeseen and fatal, for example, some kind of accident. In this regard, it was customary to avoid performing various hard work, in which it was possible, say, to overstrain or those that are associated with the risk of injury.
Of course, the exceptions were those activities that a person was obliged to perform against his will, for example, official or production duties. This also included deeds, although associated with hard or dangerous work, but at the same time aimed at doing something good and pleasing to God. It is only important that selfish goals are not pursued.
The common thing for the three days of honoring the Archangel Gabriel was the requirement to do as many good deeds as possible, which, however, applies to all human life.
