Mother Paraskeva (Rostiashvili) was the cell attendant of St Gabriel (Urgebadze) for many years. She lived beside him, cared for him in his illness and was with him at his death. Today she keeps one of the most treasured relics of the elder: a vial of his incorrupt blood.

A blessing for pilgrims

Members of the NIKA association of the disabled who travel with us can receive Mother Paraskeva's blessing: she makes the sign of the cross over each of them with this vial. For many it becomes the most moving moment of the whole pilgrimage, one that strengthens and comforts them long afterwards.

Samtavro convent, where the relics of St Gabriel rest, is part of our pilgrimages to Georgia. You can read more about the saint and the convent on the St Gabriel page.

Humility above all

The virtue St Gabriel valued most was humility. "Every trial passes by a humble person," he used to say. "Without humility no one will enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Sometimes he spoke harsh words to a person on purpose, to see what was in their heart. Once he greeted a priest he knew this way on the stairs to the tower. The priest calmly bowed and answered: "I am worse than you said." The elder embraced him: "Now I see you are truly my brother."

If he ever had to rebuke someone sternly and the person did not come to make peace by evening, Father Gabriel went to them himself and was the first to ask forgiveness.

What a true fast is

A priest once asked the elder what a true fast is. Instead of answering, Father Gabriel reminded him of the sins of his youth, and the priest repented in tears. Then the elder offered him something to eat. "How can I eat now?" the priest replied. "That is the fast," said Father Gabriel. "When a person sees his sins and turns to God with all his heart, he no longer thinks about food."

Prayer without works of love

One day a young man came for a blessing. The elder asked him to help with a small task, but he said he was busy. When he had gone, Father Gabriel said: "Now he will pray for a long time. But will the Lord accept such a prayer if he refused his neighbour? Good deeds open the doors of the Kingdom of Heaven, humility leads us in, and love helps us to see God."

Of those who repaid his kindness with mockery he would say: "Now I pity them even more and love them even more."

The elder's foresight

A young couple expecting a child came for a blessing, and the elder asked them not to quarrel: "The child already hears you." The husband did not believe it. Then Father Gabriel spoke to the unborn baby: "Child, do you not hear the word of God?" The baby moved so strongly that the mother, deeply moved, had to leave the cell.

He told another young man to receive Communion that same day. In the evening the young man declined to go to a party with friends; the one who went in his place died in a car crash. A woman told how, when robbers broke into her house at night, she called on Father Gabriel for help, and the attackers fled in fear.

To monks from Mount Athos who invited him to live with them, the elder replied: "I will not exchange my Georgia for Athos." And before an icon of the Mother of God he prayed with tears: "Take me as a sacrifice, Mother of God, only save my Georgia."

The last days

Shortly before his death Father Gabriel said: "I am not leaving to abandon you. I am going to pray for you." Two weeks before the end he was given an icon of Christ in the crown of thorns and took it as a sign of the suffering ahead. Mother Paraskeva spent his last night beside him. Towards morning the elder blessed her and, as if saying goodbye, made the sign of the cross over Georgia in every direction. In the evening, after the prayers for the departing soul, he looked at everyone with a quiet smile and peacefully gave up his soul to the Lord.

Mother Paraskeva said there was no fear or despair in that death, only light and peace, like the joy of Christmas and Easter together.

Retold from the memories of Mother Paraskeva (Rostiashvili). Translated from Georgian into Russian by Konstantin Tsertsvadze and Mariami Gorgadze.