Odesa marks feast of uncovering of St. Gabriel of Athos’ relics

Metropolitan Agafangel stands before the shrine containing the relics of St. Gabriel of Athos at St. Elijah Monastery in Odesa. Photo: UOC

On July 22, 2026, the St. Elijah Monastery in Odesa marked the feast of the discovery of the relics of Venerable Gabriel of Athos, the monastery’s founder and heavenly patron, the press service of the Odesa Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported.

The festal Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Metropolitan Agafangel of Odesa and Izmail. He was concelebrated by Archbishop Viktor of Artsyz, Archbishop Spirydon of Dobropillia, Bishop Anastasiy of Ovidiopol, Bishop Mark of Rakhiv, the monastery’s brotherhood, and numerous clergy.

During the service, the clergy and faithful offered special prayers for peace in Ukraine, for the Ukrainian people and the armed forces, and for a swift end to the war.

The relics of Venerable Gabriel of Athos were discovered on July 22, 1994, beneath the baptistery of the monastery church with the blessing of Metropolitan Agafangel. Today, the saint’s relics are enshrined in the monastery’s main cathedral and are among its principal holy treasures.

Following the Divine Liturgy, a festal service of glorification was celebrated before the shrine containing the saint’s relics.

As the UOJ reported earlier, a procession with a reliquary containing the relics of the Alexandrian saints was held in Znamyanka.

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