Gabrielia of Leros

Venerable Gabrielia (Papayianni) of Constantinople, the ascetic of love, who reposed on Leros.

St. Gabrielia was born Avrilia Papayianni in Constantinople in 1897 and trained as a physiotherapist in England. After the death of her mother she gave away everything and went to India, where she cared for lepers and the poor for years, and later was tonsured a nun in Jerusalem, living a life of hidden service in Greece, Africa, Europe and America.

She spent her last years on the island of Leros, where she reposed in 1992. Her sayings, gathered in the book The Ascetic of Love, are widely read. She was glorified by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2023, and her memory is kept on March 28.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Gabrielia of Leros is commemorated on March 28. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on April 10 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on March 28

• 

  Hilarion the New

  Venerable, Ιλαρίων

  Venerable Hilarion the New, Abbot of Pelekete.

  Name days: Hilarion, Ilarion

• Herodion the Apostle

  Apostle, Ηρωδίων

  Holy Apostle Herodion of the Seventy, kinsman of Saint Paul.

  Name days: Irodion, Herodion, Rodion

• Stephen the Wonderworker

  Venerable, Στέφανος ο Θαυματουργός

  Venerable Stephen the Wonderworker, who reposed in peace.

• Eustratios of the Kiev Caves

  Martyr, Ευστράτιος ο Νηστευτής

  Holy Monk-Martyr Eustratios the Faster of the Kiev Caves, crucified for Christ.

• Hesychios of Jerusalem

  Venerable, Ησύχιος ο Ιεροσολυμίτης

  Venerable Hesychios the Presbyter of Jerusalem, spiritual writer.

• Boyan of Bulgaria

  Martyr, Βογιάν Ενραβωτάς

  Holy Martyr Boyan (Enravota), Prince of Bulgaria, first martyr of the Bulgarian people.