V. Rev. Archimandrite Gabriel Hanley

(Icon of the Taxiarche Mantamados ~~Monastery of the Taxiarche --Mantamados, Lesbos, Greece)

Fr. Gabriel is available via email if you would like to contact him: frphanley@transfiguration.va.goarch.org

Father Gabriel's message on the Finding and Elevation of the Life-giving Cross is below:

Brethren, the word of the Cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Cor. 1: 18-24)

My Beloved in the Lord,

            I pray that this message finds you well and I greet you on this most solemn occasion of the Finding and Elevation of the Holy and Precious Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

            We hear from St. Paul in today’s reading, about how the Cross of Christ is folly to those who are perishing…For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom… The Cross is a mystery which the world is incapable of interpreting.  Christ used an instrument of death to usher in life [Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death, by  death, and to those in the tombs He has granted life.][1] , to readmit mankind to paradise[2].  So, we should ask ourselves, what is it that the Cross means to us; and how do we honor the Cross of Christ in our lives?  Is it simply a piece of jewelry that we wear, or perhaps a nice sad story we call to remembrance a few times a year?  Indeed, as Greek Orthodox Christians it is much more than that.  The Cross of Christ is the key to our salvation.  There is no magic that infuses the Cross with power.  There are only the Divine Love and Grace of Christ our True God.  Indeed, God above, prefigured this event to the Israelites in the wilderness when Moses lifted up his own staff.[3]

            First, that Cross we wear, and we bless ourselves with, is the Cross upon which we must participate with Christ in His Crucifixion.  We do this by setting aside our self-will and focusing on emulating Christ.  Offering the same love and compassion to those around us, that Christ Himself offered so freely to all.  We are called to lift up our cross and bear it with joy.  For ultimately the issues that we face in this world and struggle against are finite.  We need recognize that the fight has been won by Christ!  We need seek the will of God not our own!  We must understand that without the Cross there can be no Resurection –these two events are inextricably linked together in our lives and our salvation.

            Secondly, we must recognize that to the world, the concept and idea of the Cross of Christ, are ridiculous.  The world cannot comprehend the meaning and significance of the Cross as we do as Greek Orthodox Christians.  We also must recognize that the Cross is not something we can simply discard, so that we might indulge in worldly pleasures.  Only to pick the Cross up again when it is convenient for us.  For in the Revelation [Apocalypse –Gr.] we learn when Christ instructs His Apostle to write to the Church of Laodicea: “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: I know your works you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. (Rev. 3: 15-16)

            In closing, let us recognize and acknowledge that when Christ suffered the Cross for our sakes, He did not pass Judgement on anyone.  Not those who Crucified Him, not the Jews nor the Romans, nor the others who condemned Him without cause, rather He gave His Life for the entire world and all of creation.  By the act of the Cross, all of us and all of creation are renewed.  Salvation is offered to everyone freely.  We must accept the will of the Lord and pick up our cross and follow Him!  May the Cross always be our guide to the Salvation! 

 

God bless you all and may the Cross always be your guide!

+Archimandrite Gabriel Hanley

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[1] Paschal Apolytikion https://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints?contentid=1009&PCode=PASCHA&D=S&date=04/20/2025

[2] Gensis 3: 24

[3] Exodus 14:21-31

 

Brief Biographical information:

Prior to full-time life in the ministry of the Church, Father Gabriel’s background was primarily in public-service (Law Enforcement) both in the civilian and military.  Father Gabriel began his career in Law Enforcement with a University Police Department (NMIMT) in Central New Mexico in 1996.  During this same time period, the opportunity would present itself, to enlist in the New Mexico Air National Guard; at that time the 150th Fighter Wing, today the 150th has been re-tasked, as the 150th Special Operations Wing.   He enlisted and after completion of Basic Military Training and Security Police Technical School at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX, he was assigned to the 150th Security Forces Squadron (NMANG). In January of 1997, he accepted a full-time position with the City of Socorro Police Department in Central New Mexico.  To pursue advancement opportunities and further career objectives a year later, Father Gabriel would enter on active duty in the U.S.A.F., leaving civilian Law Enforcement for Military Law Enforcement.

During his time in the Air Force, Father Gabriel was deployed to many different locations throughout the world, in support of different Military Operations.  Including, Operations Southern Watch, Northern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and the Global War on Terrorism, as well as numerous other deployments for local exercises.  Many of these deployments also were in support of  NATO in Europe.  Father’s primary specialty in the Air Force was Security Police (now renamed Security Forces in the Air Force),  and he was also assigned to the 64th Weapons of Mass Destruction –Civil Support Team (this unit’s primary mission was to assist civilian authorities in the event of a terrorist attack.) In the fall of 2002, Father Gabriel was Honorably Discharged, due to medical issues, that arose as a result of his service.  At the end of 2002, Father Gabriel would enter Seminary, at Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. In 2005, Father completed his Bachelor’s degree and in 2008 the Master of Divinity Degree. 

Father Gabriel is originally from Paramus, NJ.  His Parents of blessed memory are from Lesbos, Greece (Mother --Despina) and Father (Robert Sr.) is of Irish decent.  His mother was Greek Orthodox and his father Roman Catholic.  Although Father was always raised in the Greek Orthodox Church. He is the oldest of three siblings.  Originally,  named after his father, his given name is Robert E. Hanley Jr., and when Baptized, he was given the name Panagioti (August 15^th).  On March 10^th, 2025, he was given the new Ecclesiastical name of GABRIEL (March 26^th), by Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey, when he was elevated to the Rank of Archimandrite.

After Seminary, Father Gabriel was released from the Holy Metropolis of Denver and began working at the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey Headquarters, as a Deacon, for then, Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey (now Sardis). 

After being Ordained to the Holy Priesthood in 2014, he was assigned to St. Katherine Greek Orthodox Church in Falls Church, VA, as a second Priest.  He was in this position for approximately 1 year and 3 months.

In 2015 he was assigned to Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, Charlottesville, VA, as the Priest-in-Charge (Proistamenos). He continues in this position today.

Ordinations:

Holy Deaconate: December 16th, 2007, –by the Hand of His Eminence, Metropolitan ISIAIAH of Denver, at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Denver, CO.

Holy Priesthood: January 19^th, 2014, --by the Hand of His Eminence, Metropolitan EVANGLEOS of Sardis (formerly of New Jersey) at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Toms River, New Jersey

Offikion:

Elevated to Archimandrite –March 10^th, 2025, by Metropolitan APOSTOLOS of New Jersey –At St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Ocean City, MD.