On the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the repose of Saint Gabriel Urgebadze (1929-1995), the Orthodox community in Bulgaria is preparing for a significant event. With the blessing of the Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II and the Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel, personal belongings of the saint are arriving in the country to be exhibited for veneration.
Among the relics that will be brought to Bulgaria are the mantle, hat, belt, a personal icon carried by Saint Gabriel, as well as a handmade cross by him. These holy items, which were displayed in the church built by the saint himself in his hometown of Tbilisi, will be accompanied by an icon with relics of Saint Gabriel Urgebadze. This is reported by the Bulgarian Patriarchate, citing information published on their official website.
The event is initiated by the Bulgarian-Georgian Spiritual and Cultural Center "Darbazi" and is held with the blessing of the abbot of the Bachkovo Monastery "Assumption of the Holy Mother of God" - Bishop Sioniy of Veliki.
On November 14, in the metropolitan cathedral "St. Great Martyr Nedelya" in the capital, an archpriestly vespers will be served by the Metropolitan of Sofia and Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel. This takes place on the eve of the feast day of Saint Gabriel Urgebadze.
On Saturday, November 15, in the same church, a patriarchal Divine Liturgy will be served in honor of Saint Gabriel Urgebadze, also led by Patriarch Daniel. Believers will have the opportunity to venerate the holy items, which will be exhibited for veneration in the church until 5:00 PM on the same day.
After these celebrations, the holy items will be transferred to different places in the country so that more people can experience their grace. There will be venerations in the Bachkovo Monastery "Assumption of the Holy Mother of God", the Troyan Monastery "Assumption of the Holy Mother of God", as well as in churches in Varna, Burgas, Sliven, and Gotse Delchev.
Saint Gabriel Urgebadze was canonized as a saint by the Georgian Orthodox Church in 2012. His secular name was Goderdzi. Born on August 26, 1929, he became a monk at the age of 26 and received the name Gabriel, after his patron saint - St. Gabriel of Athos. It is said that the saint's mother long opposed his desire to devote himself to monasticism, but eventually accepted his choice and she herself followed the path of monastic asceticism.
Saint Gabriel left a lasting mark on the history of the church, building a church with several domes in the yard of his house in Tbilisi. He erected it with his own hands around 1962. The saint collected the icons for the church from the city dumps, where, during the atheistic regime in Georgia, people threw away a large number of sacred objects. Over time, the walls of the church were completely covered with icons.