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 --taken from the Parish Newsletter on the occassion of the Ascension:
As I prepare this message for our newsletter, it is the eve of the Ascension of our Lord; the fortieth day after Pascha. The excitement of the Anastasi (Άνάστασις) now eases into the anticipation of Pentecost but not before we witness the Enthronement of Christ at the right hand of the Father. And though our Lord returns to the Father, His mission on Earth completed (for now), He is not abandoning us. We belong to Him; a status which affords us His presence, a purpose and the redemption of our very humanity.
As the Apostles and Disciples witness the Lord Ascending into heaven, being escorted by the Heavenly Host, we remain secure in His promise of the coming of the Comforter. Luke the Evangelist tells of Christ’s own reassurance to us:
“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on High [the Promise of my Father –Power from on High is the Holy Spirit c.f.: Acts 1:4].” (Luke 24:49)
It is through the Holy Spirit that Christ now works through all of us.
At the event of the Ascension, the Apostles, and thereby us also who have received the faith that Apostles preserved and passed down, are charged by Christ to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) These instructions come with yet another a promise, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)
Baptism is not simply a symbolic sacrament. It is not a parade of empty rituals. Baptism does something. Being baptized into the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ initiates us into the Church of Christ, the body of Christ. Once Baptized, all members of the body of Christ, are now charged with the mission to go out and to preach the Gospel. Our purpose is not only to receive the Gospel message, be baptized, and then remain in the Church. We must be obedient to the role of apostle as well, sent out into the world to offer the Gospel to everyone! So that the world might be brought into the Church, to receive sanctification.
Our mission is to offer the message of sanctification to a world in desperate need of redemption. Having been sanctified by baptism, we go out into the world and preach the Gospel of Christ.
That He has defeated the enemies of mankind (sin and death) and ascended to Heaven.
The lectionary since Pascha illustrates examples of His divinity and authority–distinctly in the Gospel messages on the Sundays following Pascha. Yet, we must always remember that it is not only divinity that Christ possessed. Christ was, having come into the world, fully man as well-now begotten in the flesh. It is through His glorious Ascension that the flesh now goes to sit at the right hand of the Father. The created now reunited with the Creator, who is God Almighty (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
All the things that happened to Christ occurred for our sake, not His. This is made evident yet again as He goes to the Father to make way for the coming of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit –who will be sent by the Father.
It is my prayer that you all have a blessed feast of the Ascension and a most glorious Pentecost; a feast day of the Lord which we will discuss in our next newsletter.
In the Risen 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.
Upcoming Events
