Council of the Holy Archangel Gabriel — July 13 / July 26 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, July 13 according to the Julian Calendar (July 26 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Council of the Holy Archangel Gabriel.

The Council of the Archangel Gabriel is celebrated on July 13 according to the Julian Calendar. This feast commemorates all the wondrous appearances and mighty deeds accomplished by the holy Archangel Gabriel throughout sacred history.

The primary feast of the Archangel Gabriel is celebrated on March 26, the day after the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, since Gabriel was the angel sent by God to announce to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive and bear the Son of God. The July 13 feast is a secondary celebration of the same Archangel.

According to the Georgian chronicle, this feast was established in the eighteenth century in honor of a church dedicated to the Archangel Gabriel. The faithful gather on this day to venerate and glorify the holy Archangel who stands before God and serves as a divine messenger.

Archangel Gabriel — whose name means ‘Strength of God’ or ‘Man of God’ — appears throughout Holy Scripture as the bearer of the most important divine messages. He appeared to the Prophet Daniel to explain his visions. He announced to Zacharias the birth of John the Baptist. Most gloriously, he appeared to the Virgin Mary with the message of the Incarnation.

The Orthodox Church venerates the holy Archangel Gabriel as one of the greatest of the heavenly powers, a faithful servant of God and guardian of those who call upon him in prayer.