www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West New Archangels?

Some of these archangels can be found in a venerable tradition of the Ethiopian Church that received the influence of the "falashas" and their own judaism. The "Book of Jubilees", the "Book of the Secrets of Henoch", the "Sybiline Oracles" and some other ancient books have some legends about the archangels mixed with pagan and syriac traditions.

Dear jc Lev,

Excellent!

However, the fact that other non-Christian traditions venerate similar Angels doesn't mean that we should discard our veneration for those accepted and acknowledged by Christian tradition.

We have received much from Judaism and from its holy books.

St Michael was and is the Patron of the Jewish People.

Angels are something that bring so many people together, of whatever faith.

As beings who live to praise and serve God so completely as they do, is it any wonder that they are sources of love and unity?

In Sts. Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel ("he who inspires prayer"), Salaphiel, Yehediel, Barachiel, Raguel and St Machidiel the angelic patron of the month of my birth,
St.Alexander, my Guardian Angel (I hope he likes the name I gave him - I, for one, think it is "Great" ),

Alex

Uriel means "fire of God".

My only question is this: if various sources have differing lists of "Archangels", how do we determine who is and who is not an archangel? Scriptures give some names; deuterocanonical sources give other names. If I have a vision of 'Macaroniandcheesiel' as a Archangel, is this enough to get him/her added to the list? Or do we have to rely only upon Scriptural sources?

Is a puzzlement.

Blessings!

Dear Dr. John,

Actually, the names of the Archangels are the same throughout the historic Orthodox and Catholic Churches.

There are some others who are honoured locally, such as St Raguel and some others taken from deuterocanonical sources and affirmed through the liturgical traditions of the various Particular Churches.

The same occurs, as you know, with the Saints.

The Coptic Church honours the Four Beings ("Beasts") standing before the Throne of God.

They consider them to be highest order of Angels. My parish relates them to the four symbols of the Gospel writers.

The Church has always allowed us to name our own Guardian Angel.

In any event, the names we give Angels or which are revealed to us are not the names by which God calls them.

As the mystics wrote, God calls each of us by our own name known only to Him. Some Saints have been privileged to hear their names as God continually calls them.

We are also called to continually call on the Name of Christ our God.

I think you've had enough of me for one day . . .

Alex

Dear Marshall,

You are right. One of the other Archangels I mentioned bears that title. Would you happen to know which (smarty pants ).

I guess one should never try to "wing it" when it comes to Angels.

Hope you are having a great summer.

Alex

Orthodox Catholic,

Why yes I do. It's Salaphiel. And actually it doesn't mean "he who inspires prayer", but something like "prayerbook to God".

yours,
Smarty Pants

[This message has been edited by Marshall (edited 08-02-2001).]

Dear Marshall,

That's right, Salaphiel! (I guess I should be grateful you didn't call me a "Smart Aleck" ).

He is the one who has the job to help inspire us to prayer, in any event.

In the Church I attend, there are beautiful icons of the Seraphim with six wings each, two to walk on, two to fly with and two to cover their faces with as they bow before the Throne of God.

The Eastern manuals of prayer tell us to wait a bit after morning devotions and listen to the silence. Sometimes we might just hear our Guardian Angels speaking to us.

May the Holy Angels pray for us all!

Alex





[This message has been edited by Orthodox Catholic (edited 08-02-2001).]

Dear Friends,

After being given some oh so friendly provocation by Marshall , here is a list of the Archangels as venerated in the Byzantine Church and the meanings of their names:

Michael - "Who is like God" etc.

Gabriel - Strength of God, herald and servant of Divinity.

Raphael - the healing of God, curer of human infirmities.

Uriel, the fire or light of God, enlightener (3 Ezdras, 5:20)

Salaphiel, the prayer of God, impelling to prayer, (3 Ezdras 5:16).

Jehudiel - the glorifying of God and interceding aobut the reward of efforts.

Barachiel - distributer of the blessing of God for good deeds, entreating the mercy of God for people.

Jeremiel - the raising up to God (3 Ezdras 4:36).

Holy Archangels, pray unto God for us!

Alex

Have you abandoned Takhiel from your original patron saint list?

Also, I think Holy Scripture is very clear that there are SEVEN archangels before the throne. St Raphael in Tobit and St John's Revelation seem to indicate but seven. How does the east justify 8?

Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael have strict Scriptural support. Uriel, Salaphiel, and Jeremiel have apocryphal support. Where do Jehudiel (Yegediel) and Barachiel (Barchiel) come from? Thanks for the interesting topic Alex. I'm learning lots.

Angelic intercessors pray for us!

in Christ,
Marshall

PS: Here's another angelic trivia question: Which archangel does tradition identify with the story of the angel who stirs up the healing pool in St John's Gospel?

I was reading Revelation in my devotions and noticed that the book speaks of an "angel who has power over the fire." [Rev 14:18]This seems to be a reference supporting the apocryphal notion that there is a fire angel. Thus we have biblical support for the angel Uriel, which means "fire of God."

Marshall

Dear Marshall,

I don't know, which Archangel is associated with the pool?

There are indeed seven Archangels before the Throne of God, but that doesn't mean that those are the ONLY Archangels that exist.

As you know, the Archangels are one in a series of nine categories of angels (how many was it that could dance on the head of a pin? ).

The Archangel I mentioned is venerated in Russia and I don't know much about him . . .

I have been away on business and vacation, but had the opportunity to visit an English/French town I grew up in.

As you drive in to the town, there are two Angels on either side of the road. These are the Guardian Angels of Ontario and Quebec.

The main point here is that Angels are everywhere, around us and nearby.

What I love about the Eastern Church especially is its high devotion to the Angels and to our GUardian Angels in the first instance.

The Canon of the Guardian Angel is prescribed for daily devotions and each Monday's Office is dedicated to the Angels as well.

As you know (Smarty Pants ), God Himself is sometimes portrayed in the Bible as having wings and certainly the Icon of the Trinity by St Andrei Rubleev depicts God as Three Angels.

God bless you, Servant of Christ!

Alex

Alex,

It's Raphael (Healing of God). Since he has a healing function in Tobit, and his name corresponds, a tradition developed that the angel who stirred to pool in St John's Gospel was St Raphael. I think that at one point, this section of John was read for the Gospel in the mass in honor of St Raphael.

Yes, I do like the Eastern veneration of angels. Very encouraging.

your brother in Christ,
Marshall

Dear Marshall,

You're a Cherub in your own Rite .

Alex

GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!
GLORY TO HIM FOREVER!

Alex wrote: "There are indeed seven Archangels before the Throne of God..."

In a book I have called KRATKAYA IKONPISATIL SLOVAR (A short ikonpainter's dictionary) the PRESTOLE (before the throne) are archangels that are circular with four wings and eyes ( some have dubbed them Michellen Angels because they look like tires). There is no mention of the number of these angels as they are constantly moving before the Throne of God calling back and forth to each other.

I don't think that these are the named Archangels.

the ikon writer mark