Thread by @Kaleb_Atlanta

How many of you know the tragic story of Saint Gabriel of Poland?

The holy youth Gabriel was born in Zabłudów to pious peasant parents, Peter and Anastasia Govdel, who named him after the Archangel.

He was unlike normal children in that he was more inclined to prayer and solitude than common amusements.

Tragedy befell his family when, one day, his mother brought food out to his father who was plowing the fields, leaving the six-year-old Gabriel in the house.

A Jewish tenant named Schutko came by at that time and took advantage of the child's trusting nature and kidnapped him.

This kidnapping took place during the Jewish passover, and Saint Gabriel was brought to the jews of Białystok where they subjected him to cruel torture in the manner of blood ritual. They crucified him and used a special tool to drain him of his blood for nine days.

Then they returned his deceased body to Zabłudów where they dumped his body in a field. As hungry dogs and birds surrounded the corpse, it was found by his parents yet miraculously untouched. They mournfully buried him and provided him with an Orthodox Christian funeral.

Over a century later, the cemetery where he was buried was becoming overcrowded, and his burial plot was accidentally dug up. The grave diggers saw that his deceased body was incorrupt, having seen no signs of decay or decomposition despite the time that had elapsed.

In 1794, a fire burned the Church where he was buried, yet only his hand had been partially burned. When his relics were transferred to Zabłudów monastery, the injured hand was found miraculously restored.

Saint Gabriel of Poland was canonized on 13 September 1820 and his relics were returned to Białystok in 1992.

May the Child-Martyr Gabriel pray to God for us!