Archangel – One Viewpoint for Thier General Description

Archangels (/ˌɑːrkˈeɪndʒəl/) are the second lowest rank of angel in the hierarchy of angels. The word “archangel” itself is usually associated with the Abrahamic religions, but beings that are very similar to archangels are found in a number of other religious traditions.

The English word archangel is derived from Greek ἀρχάγγελος (arkhángelos), the Greek prefix “arch-” meaning “chief”. A common misconception is that archangels are the highest rank of angel. This misconception stems from John Milton‘s Paradise Lost and likely confusion over the “arch-” prefix.

Michael and Gabriel are recognized as archangels in Judaism, Islam, and by most Christians. Some Protestants consider Michael to be the only archangel. Raphael—mentioned in the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit—is also recognized as a chief angel in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael are venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast on September 29 (between 1921 and 1969, March 24 for Gabriel and October 24 for Raphael), and in the Eastern Orthodox Church on November 8 (if the Julian calendar is used, this corresponds to November 21 in the Gregorian). The named archangels in Islam are Jibra’il, Mika’il, Israfil, and ‘Azra’il. Jewish literature, such as the Book of Enoch, also mentions Metatron as an archangel, called the “highest of the angels”, though the acceptance of this angel is not canonical in all branches of the faith.

Some branches of the faiths mentioned have identified a group of seven Archangels, but the named angels vary, depending on the source. Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael are always mentioned; the other archangels vary, but most commonly include Uriel, who is mentioned in 2 Esdras.

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In Zoroastrianism

In Judaism

In Christianity

Catholic

Eastern Orthodox

Coptic Orthodox

Ethiopian Orthodox

Protestant

Restorationist

In Islam

In Gnosticism

Other traditions

Cultural references

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