Saint Gabriel Urgebadze: the monk who burned a portrait of Lenin for Christ
The post tells the life of Saint Gabriel Urgebadze, born in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 1929, when open belief in God could bring persecution. As a child he loved the Gospel, prayer before icons, and monasteries, and at twelve he left home to dedicate his life to God. In 1955 he became a monk and priest with the name Gabriel. During Soviet persecution he built a small church with his own hands and gathered icons that others had abandoned out of fear.
The turning point came on May 1, 1965, during a communist celebration in Tbilisi, when Father Gabriel publicly burned a large portrait of Lenin, proclaiming that glory belongs to Jesus Christ, Who conquered death. The crowd attacked him; he was beaten, arrested, and confined to a psychiatric hospital, but he refused to deny Christ or betray the Church.
He later took up the struggle of foolishness for Christ, enduring mockery and misunderstanding while hiding his spiritual gifts. At Samtavro Monastery he lived in poverty, prayer, and humility, welcoming all who came seeking comfort, and was remembered for his compassion toward suffering people. He died on November 2, 1995, was glorified as a saint in 2012, and his relics are venerated at Samtavro Monastery.
Main points
- Saint Gabriel Urgebadze was born in Tbilisi in 1929 and at twelve left home to give his life to God; he became a monk and priest in 1955.
- During Soviet persecution he built a small church with his own hands and collected icons others had abandoned out of fear.
- On May 1, 1965, he publicly burned a portrait of Lenin in Tbilisi, was beaten by the crowd, arrested, and confined to a psychiatric hospital without denying Christ.
- He embraced foolishness for Christ and lived at Samtavro Monastery in poverty, prayer, and humility, welcoming all who sought comfort.
- He died on November 2, 1995, was glorified in 2012, and his relics are venerated at Samtavro Monastery in Georgia.