Bishop Gabriel A.S. was born in the town of Beit Sahour on the twenty seventh of November,1907. His father was called Issa and his mother Aziza Abu Sa'da. They were known for their strong faith and good Christian reputation besides their simple life.

 Bishop Gabriel was greatly affected by this life. Fr. Adeeb Badawi described him as a poor, humble and simple great person. In his will, he wrote, I lived poor and I wish to die poor, and I hope to be put in a simple blackcoffin to be buried in my town Beit Sahour so that my tomb would be as a proof of my humble and simple life. Therefore, he wasn't ashamed of his love to the poor and for his living in poverty and in bitterness.

 Torment had been as a companion for that great Bishop. He was forced to go to Amman because of war. There, his father left him for he was forced to join the Turkish army. In fact, the family went to Jordan to earn their living. When the family returned from Jordan, Gabreal joined Frere School ' in Bethlehem. This was the place where many generations were brought up and educated well and brought enlightenment in Palestine.

Saint Anne Institute in Jerusalem ' Assalahiyyah'

During his studying at the Freres Institute, The Lord was whispering in Gabreal's ears, calling him to leave the worldly desires in order to devote himself to Him. He heard this while he was visiting the Holy Places in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Beit Sahour. Sometimes he had certain duties towards his family but his duty towards the Lord was much stronger. Though, his family was waiting for him to finish his education to support them financially especially after his mother's death, But his father took him to Saint Anne Institute in Jerusalem. He said ' I remember my father ' God mercy be upon him' leading me by himself to St. Anne Institute and he was always following me up during my studying. He used to be my supporter, and my advisor to achieve and fullfil my aim in life despite his poverty and his need for me to help him.

A priest, a teacher and an educator

He learnt a lot of things at that Institute, the things that embody the priestly life. He learnt the priestly morals that most of the priests had. Besides, he learnt the correct logic and the real philosopby. In fact, the Seminary was a school for G. He was gradually able to know tha mystery of salvation. Then he kept on, reading the Holy Bible and some useful spiritual reading, also, he did virtual deeds. All of this strengthened his faith in Jesus, the Christ. He was well known for his sacrifices for others. He was so humble and never was he selfish. He was carving the strong rock to make a wonderful statue.

On the twentieth of July, 1933 the deacon G. was chosen to be a priest. He became a priest serving the Patriarchal See of Jerusalem. But because the Seminary was in a need of good educators, they chose him as a Greek and Arabic teacher. Besides, he got certain lessons on the ecclesiastical history and the history of the Greek Catholic Church.

Literate and writer

From 1933 – 1948, Fr. G. spent that period of time in Jerusalem. He gave a lot of lessons in languages. He brought up young men who were known for their good education and their virtues. During this period, he learnt the Arabic language very well in all its aspects. He kept knowledge in his heart and philosophy in his mind. This appeared very well in what he published including books, and articles which were full of literature, philosophy and history.
 From these books there are Five parts of Arabic Grammar, studies on Ahmad Shawqi and Qambeez, Hafez Ibrahim the Egyptian, Khalil Mutran the poet of the Arab Countries, and series of lectures on Love.

From his articles, Fr. Cornrad Fisher, Thinking and Imagination in the Poetry of Khalil Bek Mutran, the High Ideal in Life, the Church and Jewish, and the miracles of the Lord.

The Archmandrite G. Abu Sa'da

In 1948, the Patriarchal Vice was Fr. Michael Assaf he was the priest who asked the Patriarch Meximos Assayegh to let Fr. Gabriel, directly and in an eager way to help him. He was waiting for any chance to do his duty towards the others.
 He was helping the others with high spirits that he was able to spread Jesus' Love among the people. The Patriarch Meximos had heard this and he was so satisfied with what Fr. Gabriel was doing, so he appointed him as a General Vice at the Patriarchal Diocese of Jerusalem after Fr. Michael Assaf. Then, he found all the required qualities in Fr. Gabriel. He promoted him to be an Archimandrite. During this time he established the societies, associations and all the charitable deeds which the Patriarchate had.

The Diocese included the Parishes of Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Beit Sahour. There were others in Nablus, Rafidya, and at Taibah. Fr. Gabriel was so sad for the poverty of these parishes and for the lack of churches and schools.

He thought very well of the essential tasks that he had to do. He got used to the difficult hard work, and to the courage. He knew very well the situation of the churches, the Parishes and the responsible people. Through his good thinking, logic, and his way of behaving, he was able to build a church of stone and a church of people which was active, energetic and wonderful. This great action was done by the Patriarchal Vice being a priest and a Bishop together since it was achieved in one ecctesiastical phase lasted for 1948 to 1965.

A Palestinian Bishop in Jerusalem

The Patriarch Meximos Assayegh with the Holy Synod recognized that the people need a real Priest, and the Real Father for the Christian people is the Bishop and he needed an Arabian bishop besides foreign bishops so that he could have a great effect on the Arabs.
On the seventh of March, 1961 the Holy Synod was determined to elect Bishop G. Abu Sa'da as the Archbishop on Caesarea and as Patriarchal Vice on Jerusalem the city which is considered a destination for the Christians.

The festival happened on the twenty fifth of June, 1961 and it was headed by the Patriarch Meximos Assayegh with the help of other bishops and priests and a deputy sent by King Hussain Ibn Talal.

This great Archbishop started a great projects of buildings. Of these buildings: a convent, a church and a school in Ramallah, two churches in Taibeh and Rafidya, a church, a minor Seminary and a secondary school in Beit Sahour. In addition to that, he bought areas of land in Bir Zeit, Jafna, Beit Hanina, Beit Jala and Jericho.

 Some of the mission achievements that the Archbishop did were:

1. The establishment of Saint Michael in Beit Sahour.
2. The establishment of the Lady of Annunciation Charitable Association in Jerusalem.
3. Establishing a centre for looking after the children in Jerusalem.
4. Making an annual plan at Christmas for the needy children in Jerusalem.
5. Establishing the Youth Cultural Club in Beit Sahour.
6. Establishing a Greek Catholic Charitable Association in Ramallah.
7. Establishing the Girls movement and the Youth movement in Ramallah.
8. Making Biblical discussions in Beit Sahour, Jerusalem and Ramallah.
9. Giving monthly leaflets in the Diocese of Jerusalem for explaining the Sundays' Gospels.

On the twentieth of February 1965 on Saturday of the Dead at the Byzantine Church, the Archbishop Gabriel had a severe heart attack, he was taken to hospital and on Monday evening on the First of March, he had another heart attack. There were only two other priests by him who provided him with the final sacraments. He opened his eyes for the last time saying. ' I am ended ' then he died.