Gabriël is usually portrayed with certain distinguishing characteristics. He typically wears blue or white garments; he holds either a lily (representing the Theotokos), a trumpet, a shining lantern, a branch from Paradise presented to him by the Theotokos, or a spear (on my icon) in his right hand and often a mirror—made of jasper and with a Χ (the first letter of Christ (Χριστος) in Greek)—in his left hand.
Often Gabriël is recognized as the angel who announced the birth of the Theotokos to her parents Joachim and Anna and who came to Joseph the Betroyed in a dream, telling him that Mary’s pregnancy was indeed miraculous and that he should protect and care for her. He then appeared to the shepherds near Bethlehem, telling them of the Nativity. Thus he was the key figure in revealing to humanity the Incarnation of our Lord Jezus Christ. He will also announce the Second Coming of the Lord by blowing a trumpet.
