Archimandrite

Gabriel of Dionysiou
Native name
Γαβριήλ Διονυσιάτης
ChurchGreek Orthodox Church
Personal details
Born
Georgios Kazazis (Γεώργιος Καζάζης)

1886
Mesenikolas, Karditsa, Greece
Died6 November 1983
Dionysiou Monastery, Mount Athos
BuriedDionysiou Monastery, Mount Athos
NationalityGreek
DenominationEastern Orthodox Christianity
ResidenceDionysiou Monastery, Mount Athos
ParentsTheodosius and Constantina Kazazis
OccupationAbbot and monk

Archimandrite Gabriel of Dionysiou (or Gabriel Dionysiatis, Greek: Γαβριήλ Διονυσιάτης, romanized: Gavriil Dionysiatis; Mesenikolas, Karditsa, Greece, 1886 – Dionysiou Monastery, Mount Athos, 6 November 1983[1][2]) was a Greek Orthodox Christian monk who served as the abbot of Dionysiou Monastery from 1936 to the 1970s.[3][4]

Early life

In 1886, he was born Georgios Kazazis (Γεώργιος Καζάζης) in the village of Mesenikolas in Karditsa, western Thessaly, Greece to Theodosios and Konstantina Kazazis. At the age of 17, he volunteered in the guerrilla army of Pavlos Melas during the Macedonian Struggle. In 1910, he moved to Mount Athos and settled at Dionysiou Monastery. At Mount Athos, he took on the monastic name of Gabriel.[3]

During World War I, he became a prisoner of war and was taken to Bulgaria. After his release, he returned to a monastic life.[5]

In July 1936, he was ordained Abbot of Dionysiou Monastery, succeeding Abbot Dositheos.[3]

During World War II, he played an instrumental role in negotiating with the German occupying forces during the German invasion of Greece and Axis occupation of Greece. As a result, Mount Athos was spared from bloodshed and military conflicts.[6] After World War II, he continued to serve as the abbot of Dionysiou Monastery for three full decades.

In 1979, Charalambos of Dionysiou succeeded Archimandrite Gabriel as Abbot of Dionysiou Monastery.[7]

He died on 6 November 1983 (Old Style date: 25 October 1983).[8]

After his death, several biographies have been written about him, including one in English by Constantine Cavarnos (1999).[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Cavarnos, Constantine (1999). Blessed elder Gabriel Dionysiatis (1886-1983): remarkable confessor and spiritual guide, profound analyst of twentieth century society, inspiring writer on many vital topics, and for forty years Abbot of the Monastery of Dionysiou at the Holy Mountain of Athos. Belmont, MA, U.S.A.: Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies. ISBN 1-884729-47-9. OCLC 42924301.
  2. ↑ Cavarnos, Constantine (1999-09-01). "Modern Orthodox Saints (1886-1993)". Goodreads. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  3. 1 2 3 "Αρχιμανδρίτης Γαβριήλ Διονυσιάτης (1886-1983)". Διακόνημα (in Greek). 2021-10-24. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  4. ↑ Sanidopoulos, John (2004-02-27). ""Spiritual Invocation" by Elder Gabriel Dionysiatis". www.johnsanidopoulos.com. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  5. ↑ "Ιερομόναχος Γαβριήλ Διονυσιάτης (1886 – 24 Οκτωβρίου 1983)". Πεμπτουσία (in Greek). 2015-10-25. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  6. ↑ Χαλκιαδάκης, Εμμανουήλ Γ. "Ο Γέρων Γαβριήλ Διονυσιάτης και ο ρόλος του στην προστασία του Αγίου Όρους κατά τη διάρκεια του Β΄ Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου", Επιστημονική Επετηρίδα Πατριαρχικής Ανώτατης Εκκλησιαστικής Ακαδημίας Κρήτης 4 (2020), σ. 197-211. (in Greek)
  7. ↑ Dorobantu, Marius (2017-08-28). Hesychasm, the Jesus Prayer and the contemporary spiritual revival of Mount Athos (Master's thesis). Nijmegen: Radboud University. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  8. ↑ "Αρχιμ. Γεώργιος: Ο Γέροντας Γαβριήλ Διονυσιάτης ήταν η φωνή των αιώνων, του Αγ. Όρους!". Πεμπτουσία (in Greek). 2021-10-24. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
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