Archangel Gabriel enters the host of higher Angels — immortal ethereal spirits, servants of God, created by God before man. The Holy Scriptures do not particularly consider the lives of angels, reporting only their phenomena to people; the faith of Christ, which directs all the forces of the human mind and heart to God, also does not delve into the field of angelology. Angels were created by God by free beings.
Some angels took advantage of this to fall away from God (fallen angels, demons). Others remained faithful to the Creator and remained Angels of Light. The Church teaches that the angelic world consists of nine ranks (Rome. 8:38; Eph. 1:21, 3:10; Sol. 4:9), distinguished by their closeness to God and descending from God to the human race: Cherubim, Seraphim, Thrones, Beginnings, Dominations, Powers, Powers, Archangels and Angels. The comprehension of the hierarchical structure of the angelic world is providentially hidden from people in the current century, but will be revealed in the future to the « sons of the resurrection», who, according to the word of the Lord, will be « equal to the angels» (Lk. 8:36 pm).
By the power of their love for the Tripos God, the holy Angels are introduced to the life of the Holy Trinity, and by the power of love for the world and people — to the life of the world. They serve her, remaining invisible beings. Thus, between Heaven and earth, the Angels of God continually ascend and descend. The Church of Christ especially singles out and honors the two highest Angels — Archangel Michael and Archangel Gabriel, in view of their special participation in the destinies of humanity.
The ministry of the Archangel Gabriel is providentially directed by God to save the human race, to return people who have fallen away from God to the Creator and Almighty. Both in the Old Testament and New Testament times, Archangel Gabriel informs people of saving knowledge from above and announces the main events in the spiritual history of mankind.
Archangel Gabriel taught the forefather Moses book scripture in the desert, informed him about the beginning of the world and the creation of the first man, and taught him all wisdom. Archangel Gabriel appeared to the prophet Daniel and revealed the mysterious meaning of the prophecy about seventy weeks, reporting the time of the liberation of the Jews from Babylonian captivity, as well as the time of the Incarnation (Dan. 8:16; 9:21). According to church tradition, it was the Archangel Gabriel who announced to the righteous Joachim and Anna the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary from them, and to the priest Zechariah — the birth of the holy prophet John the Baptist (Lk. 1:5-25).
Having been sent by God to Nazareth, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Blessed Virgin, betrothed to the righteous Joseph, and announced to Her the conception of the Son of God by the autumn and the action of the Holy Spirit in her (Lk. 1:30-35). It is believed that it was the Archangel Gabriel who appeared in a dream to the righteous Joseph to assure him of the sinlessness of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:20-21), and when the Lord Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the shepherds and announced to them the birth of the Savior (Lk. 2:8-11).
It is also believed that it was the Archangel Gabriel who strengthened the Lord in His prayer on the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:43) and informed the myrrh-bearing women about the Resurrection of Christ (Mk. 16:5-7). Archangel Gabriel also appeared to the Mother of God when She prayed on the Mount of Olives and announced: «Your son and our God are waiting for You with all the Archangels and Angels, Cherubim and Seraphim, with all the heavenly spirits and souls of the righteous, to take You, Your Mother, to the mountainous Kingdom, where you will live and reign with Him forever!». As a sign of the Grace's triumph over bodily death, Archangel Gabriel presented Her with a heavenly branch from a date tree.
In Orthodox iconography, Saint Archangel Gabriel is usually depicted as an Angel the Evangelist with an olive branch in his hands — as a symbol of the reconciliation of God and creation. This image is placed in the temple above the Royal Doors. The Holy Church, remembering the repeated appearances of the Archangel Gabriel in the history of the Old and New Testaments, offers fervent prayers to this vigilant intercessor, intercessor and benefactor of the human race.