Gabriel the Iberian was a 10th-century Georgian monk belonging to the Iviron Monastery on Mount Athos. Born in the Kingdom of Iberia, he lived a life of extreme asceticism, often retreating to mountain caves during the summer to seek solitude. He was a contemporary of the monk John the Iberian and was known for his strict adherence to spiritual discipline, which included wearing garments made of animal hair and maintaining a vow of silence regarding worldly matters.
Life and miracles
Gabriel is most remembered for retrieving the icon of the Panagia Portaitissa from the sea. After seeing the icon floating in a pillar of fire, he reportedly walked upon the water to recover it. Although the monks initially placed the icon on the altar, it repeatedly reappeared on the monastery gate. Following a vision from the Mother of God, Gabriel placed the icon above the entrance, leading to its name as the gatekeeper icon.
Veneration
As a saint, Gabriel is honored by several traditions, including the Georgian, Greek, and Romanian Orthodox Churches. His feast days are observed on May 13 and July 12 or 25. In the early 19th century, a Georgian monk composed an akathist to honor his piety and spiritual legacy.