November 5, 2020

A "Deceiving" Photo With Saint Gabriel the Confessor

 

 
At times an ascetic would come to Samtavro Monastery to see Saint Gabriel, Staretz Basil Svetsi, from the Pskov-Pechory Monastery, who stood out for his great kindness and humility. It was a pleasure to see these two great ascetics and saints together. So I captured them with my camera. When Father Basil saw the photo, he said with a smile:

"You defeated me Gabriel! In this photo it looks like I am the saint and you are the sinner!"

From the book by Nana Merkviladze, Saint Gabriel the Fool for Christ and Confessor. Translation by John Sanidopoulos.