The
New Testament makes over a hundred references to
angels, but uses the word "archangel" only twice, in ("For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first",
KJV) and ("Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee", KJV).
Catholic In Catholicism, three are mentioned by name: •
Gabriel •
Michael •
Raphael These three are commemorated together liturgically on
September 29. Each formerly had his own feast. The latter of these identifies himself in Tobit 12:15(NAB) thus: "I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand and serve before the Glory of the Lord." The
Fourth Book of Esdras, which mentions the angel
Uriel (and also the "archangel"
Jeremiel), was popular in the West and was frequently quoted by Church Fathers, especially
Ambrose, but was never considered part of the Catholic
biblical canon. The Catholic Church gives no official recognition to the names given in some apocryphal sources, such as
Raguel,
Saraqael and
Remiel (in the
Book of Enoch) or Izidkiel, Hanael, and Kepharel (in other such sources). , Archangels Raphael, Michael and Gabriel, showing their attributes in Catholic art In 1851
Pope Pius IX approved the
Chaplet of Saint Michael, based on the 1751 apparition of the
Archangel Michael experienced by the Carmelite nun Antonia d'Astonac, which includes prayers with specific invocations to the Archangels and each of the nine Choirs of Angels. Of the three major archangels in the Catholic hierarchy of angels, all normally with large wings,
Archangel Michael is easy to recognize, in armour with a weapon (sword or spear), often standing on a winged man or a dragon representing Satan, and he may carry a pair of scales to represent his role in the
Last Judgement.
Gabriel carries a stem of lilies, traditionally part of the
iconography of the
Annunciation, his most significant work as the messenger of God. The
iconography of
Archangel Raphael derives from the story from the
Book of Tobit of
Tobias and the Angel. Especially in the Renaissance, Tobias, his dog and the fish he carries may all appear, otherwise Raphael holds a walker's staff, may wear sandals, and may carry a small container (for the healing organs from the giant fish Tobias caught).
Eastern Orthodox icon of the seven archangels, left to right:
Jegudiel,
Gabriel,
Selaphiel,
Michael,
Uriel,
Raphael,
Barachiel. Beneath the
mandorla of Christ-
Immanuel (God is with us) are representations of
Cherubim (blue) and
Seraphim (red).
Eastern Orthodox Tradition mentions "thousands of archangels". Only
Seven Archangels are venerated by name. Three are the same as mentioned in Catholicism; namely Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Uriel is included. The other three or four are most often named
Selaphiel,
Jegudiel,
Barachiel and (sometimes)
Jeremiel. The Orthodox Church celebrates the
Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other
Bodiless Powers on
November 8 of the
Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar (for those churches which follow the
Julian Calendar, November 8 falls on November 21 of the modern
Gregorian Calendar). Other
feast days of the Archangels include the Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel on March 26 (April 8) and July 13 (July 26), and the
Miracle of the Archangel Michael at
Colossae on September 6 (September 19). In addition, every Monday throughout the year is dedicated to the Angels, with special mention being made in the church hymns of Michael and Gabriel. In Orthodox
iconography, each angel has a symbolic representation: Raphael is depicted leading
Tobias (who is carrying a fish caught in the
Tigris) with his right hand and holding a physician's
alabaster jar in his left hand. •
Uriel in the Hebrew language means "God is my light", or "Light of God" (, ). He is depicted holding a sword in his right hand, and a flame in his left. •
Sealtiel means "Intercessor of God". He is depicted with his face and eyes lowered, holding his hands on his bosom in prayer. •
Samuel means "Glorifier of God". He is depicted bearing a golden wreath in his right hand and a triple-thonged whip in his left hand. •
Barachiel means "Blessed by God". He is depicted holding a white rose in his hand against his breast. •
Jerahmeel means "God's exaltation". He is venerated as an inspirer and awakener of exalted thoughts that raise a person toward God (). As an
eighth, he is sometimes included as an archangel.
Coptic Orthodox of the Archangel Michael. Among all the archangels, the Copts pay special attention to St Michael. In addition to Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, the
Coptic Orthodox Church recognises four more archangels by name: •
Suriel means "Prince of God" •
Sadakiel (Zedekiel; Sadakiel) means "Grace of God" •
Sarathiel (Serathial) means "Discipline of God" •
Ananiel means "Rain of God"
Ethiopian Orthodox of an angel, possibly St Michael The
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church venerates the four archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel, as well as: •
Phanuel, meaning "Face of God" •
Raguel, meaning "Friend of God" •
Remiel,
Lutherans only recognise Michael, Gabriel, and sometimes Raphael (not Uriel or Jerahmeel, because Esdras books are not included in the Lutheran apocrypha). Statuary of these angels can be found in Lutheran churches,
Seventh-day Adventists hold that the titles "Michael" and "archangel" are references to Jesus. In the Adventist view, they only signify his role as chief of angels and make no reference to his divine nature. Adventists credit nonconformist minister
Matthew Henry as supporting this view. File:Seven Archangels (St Michael's, Brighton).jpg|Seven archangels depicted in the stained-glass window at
St Michael's Church, Brighton; from left:
Michael,
Gabriel,
Uriel,
Chamuel (Camael),
Raphael,
Jophiel, and
Zadkiel File:The Annunciation, Philadelphia Museum of Art, W1899-1-1-pma, by Henry Ossawa Tanner.jpg|
The Annunciation by
Henry Ossawa Tanner File:Archangel Jeremiel, St Michael and All Angels, Hughenden.jpg|The
Archangel Jeremiel holding a book, depicted in a stained-glass window at
St Michael and All Angels Church, Hughenden Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses, citing a reference to "the voice of the archangel" at
1 Thessalonians 4:16, also believe that "Michael" is another name for
Jesus in heaven. They believe Jesus is an archangel in the true sense of the word—the supreme leader of angels.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) interprets the term "archangel" as meaning "Chief Angel", Michael is the only individual so designated in the
Latter Day Saints canon. It is believed that he is the head of all of the angels. Though no other being is identified as an "archangel",
Joseph Smith taught that the angel
Gabriel was known in mortality as
Noah and the angel
Raphael is a being of significant standing, even though he has never been identified with any mortal prophet. ==Islam==