In the Abrahamic religions, the Angel Gabriel is an archangel who typically serves as God's messenger. He is mentioned in the Old and New Testament and is associated with many happenings in Holy Scripture and most notably by his announcement to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus.

The name Gabriel comes from the Hebrew meaning "Man of God." According to Scripture, Gabriel appears to at least three people in the Bible, first to the prophet Daniel, to the priest Zechariah to foretell the miraculous birth of John the Baptist and finally to the Virgin Mary.

Gabriel’s appearance seemed to be terrifying; when Daniel meets Gabriel, Daniel was frightened and fell on his face. Gabriel told to Zechariah and Mary “do not be afraid.” Although angels are incorporeal beings, they take on human form when appearing to people. On icons, Gabriel typically wears blue or white garments; he could hold a lily (representing the Theotokos), a trumpet, or a spear in his right hand and often a mirror with a X (the first letter of Christ in Greek) in this left hand.

He should not be confused with the Archangel Michael who typically wears red and could carry a sword and shield or a spear. Michael’s mission is to suppress enemies of the Church, while Gabriel’s is to announce salvation to humankind.

This icon is based on the Orthodox icon of Archangel Gabriel, St Catherine Monastery, Sinai Egypt, 13th century.

Egg tempera and gold leaf on reclaimed wood, 12x15 inch, hand-painted frame.  Ready to hang.