Gabriel is one of the holy archangels, a pure spirit who serves God as his messenger. His name means “Strength of God” or “Man of God,” which fits perfectly. He announced that God himself would become man.
You know Gabriel best from the Annunciation. He’s the angel who appeared to the Virgin Mary in Nazareth and told her she’d conceive and bear the Son of God. That moment changed everything. Without Gabriel’s message and Mary’s “yes,” there’s no Incarnation, no salvation, no Church. The Orthodox Church celebrates the Annunciation on March 25th, and the very next day, March 26th, we hold the Synaxis (gathering) of the Archangel Gabriel to honor him specifically for this role.
But Gabriel shows up throughout Scripture, always bringing news about God’s plan of salvation. He appeared to the Prophet Daniel twice, explaining visions about the coming Messiah and the tribulations before Christ’s arrival. He told the priest Zechariah that his elderly wife Elizabeth would bear John the Baptist. He spoke to Joseph in dreams, warning him about Herod’s plot and guiding the Holy Family to Egypt. According to tradition, Gabriel was the angel who strengthened Christ in Gethsemane before the Passion. He announced the Resurrection to the myrrh-bearing women at the tomb.
See the pattern? Gabriel doesn’t show up for minor announcements. He brings the big news, the turning points in salvation history.
The Orthodox Church also teaches that Gabriel served as guardian to the Theotokos throughout her life. He was with her from childhood when she lived in the Temple. Some traditions say he inspired Moses to write the first five books of the Bible. He’s called one of the seven spirits who stand before God’s throne and present the prayers of the saints (that’s from the book of Tobit, which Protestants don’t include in their Bibles but we do).
In icons, you’ll see Gabriel holding a candle in a lantern or sometimes a lily. The lantern symbolizes how God’s plans stay hidden until the right moment when Gabriel reveals them. The lily represents the purity of the Virgin Mary to whom he brought the good news. He’s usually shown with wings, wearing flowing garments, often in shades of red or green. Sometimes he holds a staff or sphere. He looks different from the Archangel Michael, who carries a sword because Michael’s job is to fight demons. Gabriel’s job is to announce salvation.
We venerate Gabriel on several feast days throughout the year. Besides the Synaxis on March 26th, there’s another celebration on July 13th. And on November 8th, we commemorate all the archangels together, which is called the Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers. That’s when we remember that angels aren’t cute chubby babies with wings but powerful spiritual beings who serve God and help us.
When you come to Liturgy during these feasts, you’ll hear hymns praising Gabriel as the faithful servant who brought joy to the world. We ask his prayers and intercession. Yes, we pray to angels, asking them to pray for us just as we’d ask any Christian to pray for us. They’re part of the Church, the communion of saints. They’re alive in God’s presence, more alive than we are.
If you grew up Baptist or non-denominational here in Southeast Texas, this might feel strange at first. Most Protestant churches don’t talk much about angels except at Christmas, and they definitely don’t ask angels to pray for them. But the practice goes back to the earliest Church. We’re surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, both human saints and angels, all worshiping God together.
Gabriel matters because he shows us how God works. He doesn’t force himself on us. He sends a messenger. He asks. He waits for Mary’s consent. And when she says yes, heaven and earth unite. That’s the kind of God we worship, one who respects our freedom even as he works out our salvation.
Next time you’re in church for the Annunciation, pay attention to the icon. You’ll see Gabriel on one side, Mary on the other, and between them the moment that saved the world. That’s who Gabriel is: the angel who brought the best news humanity ever received.
