Hieromartyr Gabriel of Serbia

The Holy Patriarch Gabriel was a member of the noble Raich family. In 1655, with the permission of the Turks, he travelled to Vlahὶa and Russia to raise money for the needs of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He also attended a Council in Russia together with the Patriarch of Antioch. This Council was convened by Tsar Alexei in order to correct the Service Books. After receiving generous alms in Russia for Serbia, which at that time was suffering great distress, Patriarch Gabriel returned to his own country.

At that time, he was accused by his representative in Serbia, Maximus the Bulgarian, of insulting the Turkish power. Therefore, when Gabriel returned from Russia, he found Maximus on the archiepiscopal throne, and he took steps to get rid of him. Maximus, however, went before the Sultan and the Vizier, and he repeated his calumnies against Archbishop Gabriel.

Then the Vizier summoned Saint Gabriel from Serbia to Prousa. He convinced the Vizier that all this was slander, but he insisted that the Hierarch must deny Christ in order to receive the honor and dignity befitting his office. He rejected these suggestions, and refused to deny Christ by converting to the Moslem religion.

Therefore, after cruel tortures, he was hanged on December 13. 1659 and went to the Lord, receiving from Him a double crown, that of a Hierarch and of a Martyr.

Saint Gabriel is also commemorated on August 30, the Synaxis of the Serbian Hierarchs.