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Seven Archangels

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"Synaxis of the Archangel Michael" ("Собор Архистратига Михаила"). An Eastern Orthodox Church icon of the "Seven Archangels." From left to right: Jegudiel, Gabriel (גַּבְרִיאֵל), Selaphiel, Michael, Uriel, Raphael, and Barachiel. Beneath the mandorla of Christ Emmanuel are representations of Cherubim (in blue) and Seraphim (in red).

The concept of Seven Archangels is found in some works of early Jewish literature and in Christianity. In those texts, they are referenced as the angels who serve God directly.

The seven highest archangels are numbered 3,4,5,6,7,8,9. 3 is Michael 4 is Camael 5 is Samael 6 is Jophiel 7 is Zadkiel 8 is Haniel and 9 is Azrael also known as the 7 lords of amenti in the emerald tablets of Thoth.

Bible

The term archangel itself is not found in the Hebrew Bible or the Christian Old Testament, and in the Greek New Testament the term archangel only occurs in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and the Jude 1:9, where it is used of Michael, who in Daniel 10:12 is called 'one of the chief princes,' and 'the great prince'. In the Septuagint this is rendered "the great angel."[1]

The idea of seven archangels is most explicitly stated in the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit when Raphael reveals himself, declaring: "I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand in the glorious presence of the Lord, ready to serve him." (Tobit 12,15) The other two angels mentioned by name in the Bible are archangel Michael and angel Gabriel. The four names of other archangels come from tradition.

Zechariah 4,10 tells about "seven rejoices" that are "the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and from throughout the whole earth."[2] Revelation 8,2 mentions seven angels (ἀγγέλους[3]) who "stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets." Similarly, Revelation 16,1 indicates: "and I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels (ἑπτὰ ἀγγέλοις[4]): Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth." Lastly, Revelation 4,5 mentions "seven Spirits" ( Πνεύματα, ta hepta Pneumata, with the capital letter[5]) -whose identity is not well specified- who are the "seven lamps of fire [that] were burning before the throne".[2]

1 Enoch

One such tradition of archangels comes from the Old Testament biblical apocrypha, the third century BCE Book of the Watchers,[6] known as 1 Enoch or the Book of Enoch, eventually merged into the Enochic Pentateuch.[7][8] This narrative is affiliated with the Book of Giants, which also references the great archangels[9][10] and was made part of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church's scriptural canon. Although prevalent in Jewish and early Christian apostolic traditions and the early Christian Fathers, the Book of Enoch gradually fell from academic and religious status, and by the seventh century was rejected from the canonical scriptures of all other Christian denominations, a banned and unknown work. The various surviving oral traditions recounted many differing lists of archangels. [citation needed]

The names entered Jewish tradition during the Babylonian captivity (605 BCE). Babylonian folklore and cosmology,[11] and early Mesopotamian beliefs under the dualistic influence of Zoroastrianism, centered around anthropomorphic and zoomorphic representations of stars, planets, and constellations, including the four sons of the Sky Father carrying the Winged Sun, the throne of Wisdom. First the prophet Daniel, then authors such as Ezekiel hebraized this mythology, equating the Babylonian constellations with abstract forms held to be "sons of the gods", angels of the Lord of Israel, and heavenly animal cherubim. The 2 BC Book of the Parables (Ch XL) names the four angels accompanying the Ancient of Days, standing before the Lord of Spirits, "the voices of those upon the four sides magnifying the Lord of Glory": Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Phanuel.

The Book of the Watchers (Ch IX) lists the angels who in antediluvian times interceded on behalf of mankind against the rogue spirits termed "the Watchers": Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel.

Christian traditions

Seven Archangels as given by Pseudo-Dionysius depicted in the stained glass window at St Michael's Church, Brighton. From left: Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Chamuel (Camael), Raphael, Jophiel, and Zadkiel.

The earliest specific Christian references are in the late 5th to early 6th century: Pseudo-Dionysius gives them as Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Camael, Jophiel, and Zadkiel.[12] In most Protestant Christian oral traditions only Michael and Gabriel are referred to as "archangels", which echoes the most mainstream Muslim view, whereas Roman-Rite Catholic Christian traditions also include Raphael to complete a group of three. Through its Byzantine tradition, however, the Catholic Church recognizes seven archangels altogether, sometimes named, sometimes unnamed other than the three mentioned above.

Lists of characters referred to as "angels" also exist in smaller religious traditions usually regarded as occultist or superstitious. A reference to seven archangels appeared in an 8th or 9th-century talisman attributed to Auriolus, a "servant of God" in north-western Spain. He issues a prayer to "all you patriarchs Michael, Gabriel, Cecitiel, Uriel, Raphael, Ananiel, Marmoniel.[13]

Archangels in current church traditions

The four archangels in Anglican tradition, from left to right: Gabriel, Michael, Uriel, and Raphael. Stained glass window at Hull Minster.

In the Catholic Church, three archangels are mentioned by name in its canon of scripture: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Raphael appears in the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit, where he is described as "one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of the lord of spirits",[14] a phrase recalled in Revelation 8:2–6. Three Popes rejected to authorize worship of the purpoted names of the Seven Archangels within the Roman Catholic Church: Pope Leo XII (1826–1828),[15] Pope Pius VIII (1830) and Pope Gregory XVI (1831-1832).[16] The Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy (2002) at n. 217 states that "the practice of assigning names to the Holy Angels should be discouraged, except in the case of Gabriel, Raphael and Michael whose names are contained in Holy Scritture."[17]

Some Eastern Orthodox Churches, exemplified in the Orthodox Slavonic Bible (Ostrog Bible, Elizabeth Bible, and later consequently Russian Synodal Bible), recognize as authoritative also 2 Esdras, which mentions Uriel.

The Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine tradition venerate seven archangels and sometimes an eighth. Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel (Salathiel), Jegudiel (Jehudiel), Barachiel, and the eighth, Jerahmeel (Jeremiel) (The Synaxis of the Chief of the Heavenly Hosts, Archangel Michael and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers: Feast Day: November 8).[18] The Melkite Catholic Church additionally venerates the Archangel Raguel.

As well as Uriel, the Book of Enoch, not regarded as canonical by any of these Christian churches, mentions (chapter 20) Raguel, Saraqâêl, and Remiel, while other apocryphal sources give instead the names Izidkiel, Hanael, and Kepharel.[19]

In the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition the seven Archangels are named as Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Raguel, Phanuel, and Sachiel. In the Coptic Orthodox tradition the seven archangels are named as Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Suriel, Zadkiel, Sarathiel, and Ananiel.[20][21][22]

In Anglican and Episcopal tradition, there are three or four archangels in the calendar for September 29, the feast of St Michael and All Angels (also called Michaelmas), namely Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael,[23] and often also Uriel.[24][25][26][27][28]

Other traditions

Other names derived from pseudepigrapha and recognized by Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches are Selaphiel, Jegudiel, and Raguel.

In Ismailism, there are seven cherubim, comparable to the Seven Archangels ordered to bow down before Qadar, of whom Iblis refuses.[29]

In Yazidism, there are seven archangels, named Jabra'il, Mika'il, Rafa'il (Israfil), Dadra'il, Azrail and Shamkil (Shemna'il) and Azazil, who are emanations from God entrusted with care of the creation.[30]

Various occult systems associate each archangel with one of the traditional "seven luminaries" (classical planets visible to the naked eye): the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn;[31] but there is disagreement as to which archangel corresponds to which body.

According to Rudolf Steiner, four archangels govern the seasons: spring is Raphael, summer is Uriel, autumn is Michael, and winter is Gabriel.[32]

According to occultist Helena Petrovna Blavatsky,[33] the Seven Archangels were a form of syncretism between different religions: they were the Chaldeans great gods, the Seven Sabian Gods, the seven Hinduist Manus and Seven Rashi, as well as the Seven Seats (Thrones) and Virtues of the Kabbalists.

In the early Gnostic text On the Origin of the World, the aeon named Sophia sends seven archangels to rescue the Archon Sabaoth and bring him to the eighth heaven.[34]

Gallery

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Barker, Margaret (2004). An Extraordinary Gathering of Demons. Publications Ltd.
  2. ^ a b Alvino, Carmine. "I Sette Angeli nel Panorama Cattolico (the Seven Angels in the Catholic Context)". I Sette Arcangeli nel Cattolicesimo [The Seven Archangels in the Catholicism] (PDF) (in Italian). Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  3. ^ "Revelation 8 NKJV (Greek-English Interlinear Bible)". Biblehub.
  4. ^ "Revelation 16 (Greek-English Interlinear Bible". Biblehub.
  5. ^ "Revelation 4,5 NKJV (Greek-English Interlinear Bible)". Biblehub.)
  6. ^ Nickelsburg, George W. E. (2001). 1 Enoch 1 : A Commentary on the Book of 1 Enoch, Chapters 1-36; 81-108 (PDF). Minneapolis: Fortress. p. 7.
  7. ^ VanderKam, James C. (2008) [1995]. Enoch: A Man for All Generations. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 978-1570037962. See also the author's Enoch and the Growth of an Apocalyptic Tradition (1984), published by the Catholic Biblical Association of America: Washington, DC
  8. ^ Barker, Margaret. (2005) [1987]. "Chapter 1: The Book of Enoch," in The Older Testament: The Survival of Themes from the Ancient Royal Cult in Sectarian Judaism and Early Christianity. London: SPCK; Sheffield Phoenix Press.
  9. ^ Barker, Margaret. (2005) [1998]. The Lost Prophet: The Book of Enoch and Its Influence on Christianity. London: SPCK; Sheffield Phoenix Press. ISBN 1-905048-18-1
  10. ^ Nibley, Hugh (1986). Enoch the Prophet. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book. ISBN 978-0875790473.
  11. ^ Encyclopedia, Jewish. "ANGELOLOGY - Angelology systematized". Jewish Encyclopedia.
  12. ^ A Dictionary of Angels, Including the Fallen Angels by Gustav Davidson, 1980, Free Press Publishing
  13. ^ Julia M.H. Smith, Europe After Rome: A New Cultural History 500-1000. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. Page 77
  14. ^ Tobit 12:15
  15. ^ Carmine Alvino. La prima causa del 1826 innanzi a Leone XII per l'approvazione del culto dei Sette Arcangeli (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2022-09-29.
  16. ^ Carmine Alvino. La quarta causa del 1831 innanzi a Gregorio XVI per l'approvazione del culto dei Sette Arcangeli (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2022-09-29.
  17. ^ "The Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy - Principles and Guidelines". Holy See. 2002.
  18. ^ "Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers". oca.org. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  19. ^ James F. Driscoll, "St. Raphael" in The Catholic Encyclopedia (New York 1911)
  20. ^ "2. Intercessors :: The Heavenly Orders Doxology :: ذوكصولوجية للسمائيين". tasbeha.org. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  21. ^ Alex, Michael Ghaly -. "رؤساء الملائكة الآخرين - كتاب الملائكة - St-Takla.org". st-takla.org. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  22. ^ Ghlay, Michael. "الملائكة.. ما هم، وما هو عدد وأسماء رؤساء الملائكه؟ - St-Takla.org". st-takla.org. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  23. ^ Oremus.org website. Retrieved September 15, 2008.
  24. ^ Saint Uriel Church website patron Saint web page Archived 2015-09-30 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 15, 2008.
  25. ^ Lesser Feasts and Fasts, p. 380.
  26. ^ Anglican.org website Michaelmas page. Retrieved September 15, 2008.
  27. ^ St. George's Lennoxville website, What Are Anglicans, Anyway? page Archived 2008-09-26 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 15, 2008.
  28. ^ Christ Church Eureka website, September Feasts page Archived 2008-05-11 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 15, 2008.
  29. ^ Ian Richard Netton Allah Transcendent: Studies in the Structure and Semiotics of Islamic Philosophy, Theology and Cosmology Psychology Press, 1994 ISBN 9780700702879 p. 205
  30. ^ Adam Valen Levinson The Abu Dhabi Bar Mitzvah: Fear and Love in the Modern Middle East W. W. Norton & Company 2017 ISBN 978-0-393-60837-3
  31. ^ Morals and Dogma (of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry) by Albert Pike (1871, 1948, L. H. Jenkins)
  32. ^ The encyclopedia of angels, p.45, by Rosemary Guiley, Infobase Publishing, 2004.
  33. ^ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (May 10, 2021). Worship of Planetary Spirits is idolatrous Astrolatry: Divine Astrology is for Initiates; superstitious Astrolatry for the masses. Philaletheians UK. p. 9.
  34. ^ Marvin Meyer; Willis Barnstone (2009). "On the Origin of the World". The Gnostic Bible. Shambhala. Retrieved 2022-02-06.

Further reading

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