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[[Image:Gabriel de Vylder.jpg|right|frame|Abp. Gabriel]]
His Excellency the Most Reverend Archbishop '''Gabriel (de Vylder) of Komana''' is the current [[primate]] and [[exarch]] of the [[Patriarchal Exarchate for [[Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe|Russian Orthodox Exarchate in Western Europe]], a [[diocese]] under the [[jurisdiction]] of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]].
During this time he became acquainted with the Orthodox Christian parishes in Belgium and the Netherlands which led him to refuse ordination to minor orders in the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. In January 1974, he was received into the communion of the Orthodox Church at the Parish of St. Andrew in Ghent.
On [[October 5]], 1975, he was [[ordination|ordained]] a celibate [[deacon]] by Archbishop George (Tarassoff) of Syracuse in the Crypt of the Holy Trinity Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Paris. On [[June 27]], 1976, he was ordained [[priest]] also by Abp. George in Holy Trinity Cathedral.
In 1977, he was assigned as first priest of the parish of Saint-Jean-Chrysostome in Maastricht, Netherlands. During this time he also participates in the establishment of parishes in Deventer, Breda, and Antwerp. On [[March 9]], 1985, he was elevated to [[archpriest]]. On [[December 12]], 1992, he was appointed rector of the parish of St. Alexander Nevsky in Liege, Belgium by Abp. George (Wagner).
On [[May 11]], 1994, he took his [[monasticism|monastic]] vows, with the name Gabriel, before Abp. Sergius of Eucarpie, at St. Sergius in Paris. On [[December 10]], 1995, he was elevated to an [[abbot]] and on [[December 20]], 1998 to [[archimandrite]]. On [[December 17]], 1998, he was appointed rector of the parish of Maastricht, while retaining his duties in Liege.
In January 2001, the [[Holy Synod]] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected Fr. Guido [[auxiliary bishop]] of the Exarchate of Orthodox Parishes of Russian Origin in Western Europe with the title "Bishop of Komana". [[consecration of a bishop|Consecrated]] bishop on [[June 24]], 2001, he was given responsibility for the parishes in northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.
In December 2002, Abp. Sergius of Eucarpie became ill and assigned the task of administering the [[archdiocese]] to Bp. Gabriel. Following the death of Abp. Sergius on [[January 22]], 2003, the [[Synod]] of the Archdiocese elected Bp. Gabriel [[Locum Tenens]] of the archdiocese. The [[clergy]] and [[laity]] of the General Assembly of the archdiocese, meeting in Paris on [[May 1]], 2003, elected Bp. Gabriel to lead the archdiocese. His election was confirmed with the rank of Archbishop by Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on [[May 3]], 2003. His enthronement took place in the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Paris on [[June 1]], 2004, attended by clergy and laity of Paris, the Paris region, the provinces, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.
Abp. Gabriel is a member of the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of France. He is also the rector of the [[St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute (Paris, France)|Theological Institute of St Sergius]] in Paris.
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==External links==
*[http://www.aartsbisdom.be/Hierarchen/A_Hierarchen03_titulaire/Gabriel_of_Komana.html Official biography on the page of the Orthodox Church of Belgium (French)]
*[http://exarchat.eu/article.php3?id_article=23 L’Archevêque : Mgr Gabriel, exarque du Patriarche œcuménique] (in French)
*[http://orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/resources/hierarchs/constantinople/current2.htm#gabriel_bish_komana Hierarchical entry] in the database of the Orthodox Research Institute
