Gavril Svetogorec (Gabriel of Mount Athos; 10 March 1926 â 12 January 1990) was an Eastern Orthodox monk, ascetic, and Macedonian Orthodox bishop. In 2017, he was canonized as a saint by the Macedonian Orthodox Church.
He was born as MijalÃÂe Parnadà ¾iev on 10 March 1926 in à  tip, Kingdom of Yugoslavia, to Eastern Orthodox parents. Parnadà ¾iev graduated from primary school and high school in à  tip. In 1944, Parnadà ¾iev joined the Yugoslav Partizans, becoming involved in World War II in Yugoslav Macedonia. Later, he became part of a defense unit stationed on the borders, including in DelÃÂevo, Kavadarci, and the KajmakÃÂalan mountain. According to Macedonian Orthodox Church's hagiography, due to his service, Parnadà ¾iev was recommended for membership in the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, but he was excluded because he went to church. He earned the rank of sergeant and was awarded the Order of Merit for People. After the war, Parnadà ¾iev worked in the People's Committee in à  tip and participated in public works projects, including in New Belgrade. In 1955, he graduated in sculpture from the University of Belgrade.
He worked as a professor of art in the à  tip gymnasium and made sculptures that were placed around the city. From 1963, Parnadà ¾iev served as a monk of Agiou Pavlou Monastery at Mount Athos, where he gained ascetic experience. There he took the monastic name Gavril (Gabriel), after the archangel Gabriel. After returning to Yugoslav Macedonia in 1971, he continued his monastic asceticism, staying in monasteries in the Skopje region, such as "St. Mary" in the village Poboà ¾je, "St. Mary" at Matka Canyon, and the Markov monastery, "St. Demetrius". He became the abbot of Lesnovo Monastery In December 1975. His father also came to the monastery, becoming a monk named Kiril. After six years serving in Lesnovo Monastery, the Holy Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church appointed him as an archimandrite on 30 June 1981. He spent the rest of his life in Lesnovo Monastery as a hermit and ascetic. He advocated for monastic renewal in Yugoslav Macedonia and became the spiritual father of many Orthodox believers, familiarizing them with Jesus Prayer. Shortly before his death, the Holy Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church consecrated him as Bishop of Velika on 28 August 1989. Internal conflicts in the Macedonian Orthodox Church affected his consecration. He died on 12 January 1990 at Lesnovo Monastery.
His grave behind the temple of Lesnovo Monastery became a sanctuary for pilgrims. Only one sculpture of his has remained in front of the entrance to the "Makedonka" textile factory in à  tip, while the rest are absent. He was officially canonized as a saint by the Macedonian Orthodox Church â Ohrid Archbishopric on 28 May 2017 in the cathedral "St. Nicholas" in à  tip in the Bregalnica Diocese. His feast day is commemorated annually on 12 January. His relics have been preserved by Lesnovo Monastery and Simonopetra Monastery.
Parnadà ¾iev was also a prolific author of works of theological prose and poetry, such as: