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 Occassion of the Transfiguration of the Lord is below:
You were transfigured on the Mount, Christ God revealing Your glory to Your disciples, insofar as they could comprehend. Illuminate us sinners also with Your everlasting light, through the intercessions of the Theotokos. Giver of light, glory to You.
The light which Christ Himself revealed unto the disciples, on Mount Tabor, is that uncreated light that created all things. A portion of that light, [God Himself] dwells within us. “…then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Gen. 2: 7) We must recognize that God is in all things, this world we live in and indeed the universe itself, that has been created by that uncreated Light. Without God, without Christ, these things would not exist.
The Gospel reading relating this event, is telling, in that it is one of two readings (the other being the Gospel pericope of the Baptism of Christ –Matt.3: 13-17) in the synoptic Gospels, that clearly indicate the existence of the Holy Trinity. Christ is present, and the Holy Spirit is represented in this account, as Light (in other places the Holy Spirit is also represented as Fire or Wind), and the Father is not seen, but rather heard from the bright cloud. “And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli′jah.” He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Matt. 17: 4-5) The Trinitarian doctrine or dogma, is a new revelation given to the faithful and it is a revelation that is unique to the New Testament. While representations of the Trinity can be found in the Old Testament, it is not until the New Testament and the coming of the Christ/the Messiah that God fully reveals Himself to His people.
We are called to be transfigured and deified. We are called out of this world, to be sanctified and redeemed. This is so that we can rejoin God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Paradise (Gen. 2: 1-15), a state in which we were always meant to live. With God! Not in a broken and fallen world. The work (not the 9-5 jobs that we hold in the world) that we undertake in our lives, the labors in the vineyard of Christ, that we perform are not done as a punishment. Howbeit, there are always consequences for our actions. Adam and Eve recognized this certainly; yet they also experienced God’s grace and love (Gen. 3: 14-19; 4: 1). Neither are the prayers, private and corporate, services, fasts, acts of charity and giving alms, designed to be ‘busy’ work. Rather these things are designed to help us fashion and build a spiritual foundation so that we can offer ourselves to God. These things in and of themselves will not save us. Only Christ through the power of His Cross, and through His death and Resurrection can offer salvation. We can either accept and embrace that Salvation or go our own way. That is the gift of free will.
We are told that Moses and Elijah are standing on either side of Christ during His Transfiguration. Why these two prophets? Certainly, Moses was probably one of the two most significant figures in Judaism –Abraham being the other. Moses’ ministry prefigured and prophesied the coming of Christ and the Cross. That is clear from the OT readings that we hear during the Great Vespers service for the Feast (c.f.: Ex: 24: 12-18; and Ex 33:11 – 23, 34:4 – 6, 8). This feast is not simply a nice story about Jesus. It is indicating to us what we are called to. The divinity that is in each of us is of paramount importance in our lives. It is our salvation that is the most significant thing that we will have to address every single day of our lives. Yet somehow, like our forefathers, we cannot seem to escape the temptation of sin, and we fall from God’s grace. Indeed, many times we even fail to repent or acknowledge our wrong doings. We as a society have become masterfully adept at moving our sins onto the feet of others. Simply think of the political arguments and scandals across the world today, alongside the personal scandals (and mind you even the Church is not immune to this behavior) that make news in our society, and one can see how this shifting of blame and lack of taking responsibility, shows itself in our society. This is precisely what Adam and Eve did in the Garden. In today’s vernacular we call that passing the buck. The Jews continually disobeyed Moses, in spite of the many miracles that he performed. In spite of all that God delivered them from, the Jews failed to recognize, that there is indeed within themselves the Divine Breath of God. They also would fail continually, much like the Christians after them, to recognize the consequences of their own actions! That gift of the Holy Spirit, that uncreated Light that we witness during this great Feast.
We must also recognize Elijah in this instance, opposite Moses, and on the other side of Christ. Elijah we are told was taken up into Heaven alive on the fiery chariot (2 Kings 2:1-12). He too is an OT prophet, a prefigurement of Christ. In this case Elijah’s ministry was much different than Moses’ and even Christ’s. Yet Elijah illustrates to us the intimacy (c.f.: 3Kg 19:3 – 9, 11 – 13, 15 – 16) that man can (and will have) with God –if he chooses too (in fact, both of these great Prophets show us this intimacy man can have with God). Christ, when He is born into the world (begotten) perfectly demonstrates this God/Man relationship. Neither of the two great prophets are looking at Christ as a lessor or an equal, but as GOD Himself; having been transfigured themselves and having recognized the divine in themselves and around them, they now see Christ as He truly is, how He has always been, in all His Glory. This revelation, this Transfiguration was for the sake of the disciples –not Christ!
The Apostles fail to recognize this because they are looking through worldly eyes that have not yet become capable (they are still working on their foundation) of recognizing these things. This miracle was revealed to them so that they could instruct the remaining disciples AFTER the Resurrection. But why, why did God want this to be so? First and foremost, Christ did not want people flocking to Him because of fame and popularity, but rather from faith in God above. In addition, and perhaps more importantly, this would educate the people that God Himself taught them, healed them, and then willingly suffered the Passion, Crucifixion, Death, and Resurrection for US –His Creation! That Transfigured person of Christ, that Peter, James, and John witness on Mount Tabor, is the one who suffered all those things so that we can be reunited to God (Communion restored).
So do the work, offer the prayers, keep the fasts, recognize there are consequences for our actions and understand that God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) offers Himself so that we can return to Paradise. Build first the foundation upon which our spiritual lives will be set. Cast aside the worldly matters. Take responsibility for your actions and recognize the consequences that may result in those actions. I pray that God’s will not ours be done!
Have a blessed Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord,
†Archimandrite Gabriel Hanley
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 15th). On March 10th, 2025, he was given the new Ecclesiastical name of GABRIEL (March 26th), 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 19th, 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 10th, 2025, by Metropolitan APOSTOLOS of New Jersey –At St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Ocean City, MD.
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