Holy Archangel Gabriel

Life

The Announcer of the Incarnation of the Son of God. He is one of the seven great angels that stand before the throne of God. He announced to Zacharias the birth of the Forerunner, and said of himself: "I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God" (Luke 1:19). His name, Gabriel, means Man-God. The Holy Fathers, speaking of the Annunciation, interpret that an archangel with such a name was sent to signify who and what He would be Who was to be born of the Most Pure One. He would be, therefore, Man-God, a mighty, powerful God. Some have learned that this same Gabriel announced to Joachim and Anna the birth of the Virgin Mary, and that he taught Moses in the desert how to write the Book of Genesis. The Holy Fathers think that Gabriel belongs to the first and highest rank of the heavenly powers — namely, the seraphic rank, since the seraphim stand nearest to God. He is thus one of the seven seraphim nearest to God. The names of these seven are: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jegudiel, Barachiel. To this number some add Jeremiel as well. Each has his own particular ministry, and all are equal in honor. Why did God not send Michael? Because Michael's ministry is the crushing of the adversaries of God's faith. Gabriel's ministry is the annunciation of the salvation of mankind.

From the Hymn of Praise

### THE HOLY ARCHANGEL GABRIEL