The Archangel Gabriel foretold Zacharias that by the power of God this barren old man would become the father of the greatest man born of woman – the Forerunner and Baptist John. It was Gabriel who announced to Joachim and Anna that they would give birth to a wondrous and Most-blessed Virgin. It was Gabriel who visited and reared her while she was growing up in the temple of Jerusalem, nourishing her physical strength with heavenly sustenance. It was he who brought her a branch from paradise on the day of the Annunciation, with the wondrous message that she had been chosen by the Lord to receive God the Word in her womb. Gabriel also appeared several times to the righteous Joseph, giving him necessary advice. Some Church Fathers believe that Gabriel was the angel who fortified the Lord during His anguished night in the garden of Gethsemane. And, as was mentioned above, he and Archangel Michael were the heralds of Christ’s resurrection and ascension. And, finally, the same Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Mother of God to announce to her the day of her earthly dormition.

In church hymns the Archangel Gabriel is called “the servitor of miracles,” being the herald of God’s great miracles. For this reason he is depicted either with a paradisiacal branch or a lighted lamp in the right hand and a mirror made of jasper in the left. The lamp means that God’s destinies are concealed for a time, while the mirror means that through Gabriel they are reflected as in a mirror.

References to Gabriel:
- Daniel, Luke, Enoch