site.btaUPDATED Newly Elected Hegumen of Zograf Monastery on Mount Athos, Gabriel, Elevated to Archimandrite on Feast of Saint George

On the Feast of Saint George, May 6, the newly elected hegumen of the Bulgarian Zograf (Zographou) Monastery on Mount Athos, Father Gabriel, was elevated from hieromonk to archimandrite. The announcement was made by Secretary General of the Holy Synod Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, who presided over the festal services in honour of the monastery’s patron saint, St Great Martyr George. Archimandrite Gabriel is set to be formally enthroned as the new hegumen on May 11.

Addressing the official Bulgarian delegation during the festive meal, which began at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Archimandrite Gabriel said that he and his monastic brothers had received support and understanding from the Bulgarian state in all areas of public life. "There have been hardships, both for you and for us, but life is being renewed and revived. I wish for Saint George to guide you so that you may lead the country on a righteous social path. It is clear that in recent times, materialism and the desires of the flesh have taken up the greatest space in our daily lives. God willing, may we one day rejoice in moments when spirituality, the striving for faith, and virtue fill people’s hearts," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov presented newly elected hegumen Gabriel with an archimandrite's cross on behalf of Bulgaria and wished him to inherit the kindness of his predecessor, the late Archimandrite Ambrose, as well as his integrity and unwavering commitment to Christian virtues.

Archimandrite Gabriel noted that the brotherhood at the Zograf monastery is no longer small – about 35 monks, but that large feast days still pose logistical challenges. He voiced gratitude to all the pilgrims who had selflessly helped prepare for the day’s celebrations.

The festive meal at 9:30 a.m. concluded the celebration of Saint George at the Zograf Monastery on Mount Athos. The meal followed the 6:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy and an 8:00 a.m. procession with the miraculous icon of Saint George from Arabia from the monastery to the church of Saint George on the opposite hill west of the entrance to the monastic compound, where, according to tradition, the mule carrying the icon from Asia Minor in the 12th century came to a stop after the icon arrived at Athos by sea.

A vigil had begun at 8:00 p.m. on Monday and continued until Wednesday morning. Monks from other monasteries on Mount Athos also took part in the services, including hegumen Methodius of the neighbouring Hilandar Monastery, who addressed Archimandrite Gabriel in Greek and Serbian during the meal.

Many pilgrims from Bulgaria also arrived to take part in the feast day.

The traditional Bulgarian pilgrimage for the feast of Zograf Monastery was headed by Deputy PM Atanas Zafirov and has also brought to Mt Athos Hristo Gadzhev, Chair of the Parliamentary Defence Committee; Deyan Dechev, Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Committee for Bulgarians Abroad; Ventsislav Asenov, Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Regional Policy, Public Works and Local Self-Government; Krasimir Yordanov, Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Food and Forestry; Kalin Stoyanov, Member of Parliament; Filip Popov, Deputy Minister of Interior; Georgi Yordanov, Head of the Executive Agency for People with Disabilities; and Anton Markov, Consul General of Bulgaria in Thessaloniki, Greece. The delegation also includes Kiril Valchev, Director General of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), who arrived at Zograf Monastery together with Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, the Secretary General of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

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