“I Am Waiting for You at Samtavro”

This story happened to Elena Getsadze, a resident of Tbilisi, and changed her family’s life forever.

At the beginning of 2010, her younger son suddenly became unwell during lessons at school.

The boy was rushed to hospital.

When Elena saw how serious her son’s condition was, the shock was so overwhelming that she lost consciousness.

When she came to herself, she saw an elderly priest in black vestments standing nearby.

He calmly spoke only a few words:

“I am waiting for you at Samtavro.”

At the time, Elena attached no special importance to these words and assumed that he was one of the hospital priests.

Some time later, the examination brought a terrible diagnosis.

The child had a malignant brain tumour with metastases.

The doctors admitted that they could not provide the necessary treatment and advised the family to find a way to send the boy abroad as quickly as possible.

Overcome by despair, Elena one day happened to see a photograph of the man she had encountered after losing consciousness.

To her profound astonishment, she recognised Saint Gabriel Urgebadze.

She then remembered his mysterious words and understood that she had to go to Samtavro Monastery.

Together with her son, she went to the honourable relics of Saint Gabriel.

With tears, she prayed to the Lord, asking Him through the saint’s prayers to grant healing to the child.

The next day, the boy underwent another examination.

The results astonished even the most experienced doctors.

A repeat CT scan revealed no signs of the tumour or metastases.

The new findings were completely different from the earlier examinations.

When Elena heard the doctors’ conclusion, she again lost consciousness.

Once more, she saw Saint Gabriel, who lovingly blessed her and her son with the sign of the Cross.

After these events, the family’s life changed completely.

They began attending church regularly, participating in the Sacraments, and thanking the Lord daily for His ineffable mercy.

The Akathist to Saint Gabriel Urgebadze came to hold a special place in their prayers at home.

“This story reminds each of us that the Lord acts according to His holy will, and that Saint Gabriel remains to this day a loving man of prayer and intercessor for all who turn to God in faith.”

Glory to God for all things!