Who is the Archangel Gabriel?
Gabriel is the messenger. Every time he appears in Scripture he comes to explain, to announce, or to open up what God is doing.
He first appears in the Book of Daniel, sent to help Daniel understand his visions (Daniel 8:16, 9:21). In the Gospel of Luke he comes to Zechariah in the Temple to announce the birth of John the Baptist, and names himself: "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God" (Luke 1:19).
Six months later he is sent to a young woman in Nazareth named Mary (Luke 1:26). That visit, the Annunciation, is one of the most painted moments in Christian art. The angel greets her, tells her she will bear a son, and waits for her answer.
Because of that, Gabriel is remembered wherever good news has to be carried, and he is the patron of messengers and people who work in communication. The Catholic Church keeps his feast with Michael and Raphael on September 29. The Orthodox Church honours him with all the bodiless powers at the Synaxis on November 8.
What makes Gabriel's visits so moving is how gentle they are. He begins, again and again, by telling people not to be afraid. To Zechariah he brings an answer to years of prayer for a child. To Mary he brings a question, and he waits for her yes. Christians remember his greeting to her every time they pray the Hail Mary or sing the Orthodox hymn to the Theotokos, both of which begin with his words in Luke 1:28. Wearing his icon is a reminder that good news is still being carried, and that it usually starts with "do not be afraid."
About the icon
Gabriel is usually painted with a messenger's staff, his hair bound with a ribbon, sometimes holding a lily or a sphere. In icons of the Annunciation he is caught mid-step, as if he has just arrived.
