Is he right?

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Full disclosure: we are unable to confirm whether Elder Gabriel, one of the best known living disciples of St. Paisios of Mt. Athos, really said this, or when, nonetheless, we decided it was worth reporting on, because of the popularity of the claim that he did among Russian Christians, and because other observers, both Russian and foreign, have commented on the Russians', and Slavs' in general, marked religiosity, in contrast to their European cousins.

In Russian churches, Christian bookstores, and on the Christian internet, one frequently encounters popular pamphlets with the Elder's supposed words about this Russian quality. A search for 'О русском народе Старец Гавриил' (About the Russian people Elder Gabriel) on the Russian internet returns pages of results. Unfortunately we haven't encountered any which indicate the source.

If any of our esteemed readers can shed some light on the provenance of the quote below, we would be very glad if you could do so in the comments section of our social media.

Russian pilgrims visiting Elder Gabriel

Often the reputed words of Athos Elders are reported by people who have visited them, and recorded or written down their words, translated them from the Greek (usually), and then passed them along. This often leads to confusion about sourcing and accuracy. Whatever the case, in this instance, his alleged words have spread far and wide across Russia, and are proudly pointed out by Russian believers as definitely true.

So without further ado, here is what Gabriel supposedly said, taken from this Russian site:

ABOUT THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE. Elder Gabriel of Karelia. Holy Mount Athos.

"The Russian people in my humble opinion are a wonderful people, an outstanding people, a bright and beautiful people, a grace-filled and blessed people.

The Russian people are truly people of God. The people of the new Israel by grace. The new chosen people of the Lord.

The Russian people among all the peoples of the earth and the universe are blessed by God and are very, very grace-filled. God has blessed the Russian people with many blessings and tens of thousands of graces.

The Russian people enjoy eternal praise and imperishable glory in the form of innumerous choirs of holy saints and martyrs whom God has given them.

In my humble judgment, today, the Russian people, in comparison with the other peoples of the earth, are the most superior, the holiest, whose behavior is the most befitting, the most moral, the most virtuous, the most majestic, the most luminous people.

In comparison with the other nations of the earth, the Russian people, as concerns faith in, and devotion to, God, and love and worship of God, are incomparably great and incomparably, incomprehensibly, inconceivably superior.

No nation or tribe under the sun today can compete with the Russian people in love and devotion to God, in deeds of mercy and humanity.

In these qualities the Russian people hold the scepter and has primacy compared to other peoples who live across the universe.

These people are indeed incomparable and inimitable, unwavering and unsurpassed.

There is one nation among all the nations under the sun, which is to the highest degree, and at the highest level, strong in their ability for love, devotion and reverance to God. They are unique, and no other people are even close to them.

What nation on earth, and what nation in the universe, can compare with the Russian people in love and devotion to God, in reverence, awe and love of mankind? Absolutely none.

In these qualities, the Russian nation is far superior and ahead of all the other nations on earth. It is outstanding, towering, superior, surpassing incomprehensibly all the achievements and acquisitions of other nations on earth, and the nations of the entire universe.

Indeed and truly, this nation is of the highest level, worthy of admiration and imitation. In my humble opinion, in the areas I have described, there is no one equal to the Russian people.

In the history of mankind these people are incomparable, peerless, unique and impossible to replicate.

These people are the only ones of their kind on earth, and no one else can compare to them in love for God, in worship and love of mankind.

Gabriel, monk of Mt. Athos"

Quite the compliment, and one can see why it would be popular in Russia.

Western observers of Russia have commented on how Russians seem to have a greater ability to act from the heart, in contrast to Western Europeans, who in contrast rely more on reason. This does not imply that Russians are inferior in reason, as amply demonstrated by their many achievement in science. And neither is this emotionalism, frequently attributed to southern peoples. It is a soulfulness, a sensitivity to higher emotions.

A popular Edwardian era British journalist and author, Stephen Graham, walked on foot across much of Russia just prior to the revolution, and he became convinced that the Russian people were fundamentally difference from Europeans, in the sense that they had retained a primal attachment to nature, to the mystical, and found this particular quality irresistable. His books make for fascinating reading.

Gabriel's quote has additional relevance due to the idea that, because of the incalcuable suffering of the Russian people during and after the revolution, Russia has more saints than any other country in history, despite being much younger than other Orthodox cultures, and predictions by many Orthodox saints that right up until the End Times, Russia will remain free from the antichrist, due to their devotion to God, the prayers of their thousands of martyred saints.

Here are some quotes of Saints confirming that Russia will stand out while the rest of the world careens towards antichrist.

Follow us! - Telegram, Twitter, Gab, and Reddit. More great content, memes, commenting and community not available on this site.

We are also on Facebook and Instagram which have been designated terrorist organizations by the Russian government.  ; - )