He is celebrated as the herald angel in charge of glad or good news, and the one who announced to Zechariah the birth of John the Forerunner of Christ – Saint John the Baptist.
The Serbian Orthodox Church and its believers celebrate the Holy Archangel Gabriel, the herald of joy, one of the seven great seraphim angels who participated in the creation of the world, closest to the throne of God.
Archangel Gabriel gave the testimony of the beginning of God’s creation to the prophet Moses by appearing to him in the desert and teaching him how to write the book of Genesis. He is celebrated as the herald angel in charge of glad or good news, and the one who announced to Zechariah the birth of John the Forerunner of Christ – Saint John the Baptist.
He appeared to Joachim and Anna and announced the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and then he also appeared to her that she would give birth to a son, the savior of the human race, Jesus Christ. The greatest and most joyful news in Christianity announced by Archangel Gabriel is the Resurrection of Christ.
Among believers, he is known for one of the most beautiful frescoes – “White Angel” from the Mileševa Monastery. “The White Angel” is part of the composition “The Peace Bearer at Christ’s Tomb”, and the fresco depicts the Archangel Gabriel with outstretched wings, dressed in a white chiton, sitting on a large stone and pointing his finger at Christ’s tomb with his exasperated women, actually at that moment already the place of his resurrection . The “white angel” is the messenger of the eternal truth about Christ’s resurrection, and therefore this fresco has taken root in the Serbian people as a synonym for hope, salvation and miracles.
The feast day of St. Archangel Gabriel is also celebrated on April 8, that is, March 26, according to the Julian calendar, when the SPC celebrates his appearances throughout the history of human salvation.
Many customs are associated with this saint. Girls should not take up handicrafts, sew and knit. However, the people still believe that this is the best day for a new beginning.
Saint Archangel Gabriel is good for barren women to pray to, because it is believed that he brings “soft” and good news.
Archangel Gabriel is an often celebrated saint. The people consider him a protector of people and livestock from bad weather.
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