It was May 1, 1965, the day that everywhere in the Soviet Union people celebrated International Workers’ Day—a quintessentially Communist holiday. Although the party officials on the tribunal and the people celebrating in the square paid scant heed, it was also Great and Holy Saturday. Fr. Gabriel had just served the Liturgy and was walking to another church when he saw, as part of the celebration, a twenty-six by sixteen-and-a-half foot portrait of Lenin on the façade of the Union of Ministers building, illuminated all around with electric lamps. Above the portrait was the banner, “Glory to Great Lenin!” The Party members were standing on the tribunal, and everywhere there was music and shouting—a scene reminiscent of Nebuchadnezzar’s “every kind of music” that would play before all were to bow down before the idol in Babylon (cf. Dan. chap. 3). Fr. Gabriel’s love of God could not countenance the godlessness of this spectacle. He went to the church, and brought back a flask of kerosene and some matches to the Union of Ministers building. Strangely unnoticed by the guards, he walked right over to the portrait behind the tribunal, poured kerosene over it, and set it alight. The kerosene, combined with the oil paint, ensured an instant conflagration, which caused the lamps to burst, making people think it was an act of sabotage and throwing them into a panic. But when they saw by the tribunal only a priest in a black cassock they quieted down. Then Fr. Gabriel stretched out his arms and shouted, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth (Ex. 20:4). The crowd became enraged and threw themselves at Fr. Gabriel, beating him almost to death, as he continued, “Glory is due not to this corpse, but to Jesus Christ, Who trampled down death and gave us eternal life!” Then he fell silent. Had it not been for the police who intervened, this would have been the end of the saint’s earthly life.
Faith is rooted in us through piety and the endurance of trials, and if it does not give birth in you to a spirit of faithfulness and self-sacrifice in the name of Christ, then know that you are still far from true, divine faith.
I am a pastor and I was entrusted by God to care for His sheep. They erected an idol and wanted to make the people bow
down before this idol. This is a type of the Antichrist, an image of a man, or rather of a beast, and they [the Communists] wanted to give him the honor that belongs to God alone. I could not allow this to continue.
Don’t judge any of God’s creations, said the elder. If I start judging you and consider that I’m better than you, I’ll be abominable before the Lord. Remember this, my dear one, and go in peace.
When it seemed to me that I was an important person or that I was
better than others, I would act that way [foolishly]; and when people would laugh at me I’d be humbled and see that I’m garbage.
Don’t worry, sister. Today they rejoice, but tomorrow they’ll sorrow. Today I sorrow, but tomorrow I’ll rejoice.
There is no man who lives and does not sin. I alone am a great sinner, completely unworthy, and exceedingly infirm. From all my love I beg you all who may pass by my grave to ask forgiveness for me, a sinner. I was dust, and I return to dust. The truth is in the immortality of the soul.
What place is there for hatred for other nations?! No, there is
only love.
Remember and understand me well: without Christ, all is nothing!
Man is endowed with the talent of love as a gift, and if we sincerely preserve within ourselves the paths that lead to it, this talent will grow into fruit. The true transformation of human love is divine love. Human love begins, divine love completes.
Do not be indifferent to your neighbor’s pain. If you can help him, do so; if you can’t do anything to help, you can in any case have compassion. Pray for him.
Whether you’ve seen a thief, a loose woman, or a drunkard sprawled on the street, do not judge, because the Lord allowed their passions. Through these they should find the path to God—they should be humbled, see their own powerlessness, come to know the Lord, and repent.