Archangel (Main extracts reproduced with kind permission from the Sarah's Archangels website).

Archangel  n : in medieval angelology archangels were high ranking angels who belonged to the eighth of the nine ranks of the Celestial Hierarchy.  The word from Middle English and from Old French is 'archangele' and 'archangelus' from Late Latin. 'Arkhangelos' from Late Greek. 

Pseudo-Dionysis, a scholar who gave us the possibly one of the best known forms of the Celestial Hierarchy, lists the following angels as being among the highest ranking:  Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Chamuel, Jophiel and Zadkiel.  Although depending upon which scholar or listing is used variations and additions can occur.  Some listings give mention to Raguel, Remiel, Sariel, and Raziel among others. However, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel are nearly always given the post.

Descriptions of the Archangels:

1). Michael (Who is as God)

(Feastday: September 29)

Patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police, and sickness

5). Chamuel (He who sees God)

9). Remiel (Mercy of God)

Gabriel (God is my strength)

(Feastday: September 29)

Patron of communications & postal workers

6). Jophiel (Beauty of God)

Jophiel is preceptor angel to the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham and Japhet

10). Sariel (Command of God)

3). Raphael (God has healed)

(Feastday: September 29)

Patron of travelers

7). Zadkiel (Righteousness of God)

Angel of freedom, benevolence, mercy, and the patron angel of all who forgive

11). Raziel (Secret of God)

Raziel is ranked as the special patron to the first human

4). Uriel (Fire of God)

8). Raguel (Friend of God)

 

Michael (Feastday: September 29).

It is is generally thought that Michael is foremost among angels.  He is considered to be of the class of seraphim and also known as the angel of the burning bush through which God spoke to Moses.  He ranks as the highest of the host regardless of which major faith is being followed and also appears in the book of Daniel, where God states him as being the highest within the angelic ranks.  He was responsible not only for fighting and enchaining Satan during the war, but he also leads the celestial armies.   Although classed as the chief angel, Michael also heads up other ranks within the hierarchy: 

"the ruler of the archangels, leader of the virtues, and head of the principalities in his role as protector of Israel.   Although other angels have been attributed with the title of Angel of Death, it is Michael who weighs the souls on judgment day, after his battle once more with the forces of evil. He is mentioned as both an angel of destruction and vengeance in the name of God, but also as a protector and the angel who kept Satan from claiming the body of Moses after the patriarch's death."  

Michael is the patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police, and sickness.

For more on the Archangel Michael please see the following extract reproduced with kind permission from Sarah's Archangels:

"First defender of Jesus Christ in his Sacred Humanity and of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Mystery of the Incarnation.

Associated with the miracles manifesting the almighty power of God with the Blessed Virgin Mary. (Daniel 10:12 ; 12:1 ; Apoc. 12:7)

Regardless of which major faith's angelic beings is being followed, Michael ranks as the highest of the host. With Gabriel, Michael is the only angel mentioned in the Bible. In the Aggadah, he is seen as the guardian of Israel. He is the head of all the great warring angels who do battle against evil. Michael is often depicted as winged and with unsheathed sword. In the Renaissance period, he is shown as young, strong, and handsome, wearing a splendid coat of mail and equipped with sword, shield and spear. His wings are generally conspicuous and very grand. He usually holds in his hand the scales of justice.

In Muslim lore, Michael's wings are said to be "the color of green emerald," and he is covered with "Saffron hairs, each of them containing a million faces and mouths and as many tongues which, in a million dialects, implore the pardon of Allah."

The name Michael signifies "Who is like to God?" and was the war cry of the angels in the battle fought in heaven against Satan and his followers. Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as "one of the chief princes," and as leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. He has been especially honored and invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles. Although he is always called "the Archangel," the Greek Fathers and many others place him over all the Angels - as Prince of the Seraphim.

Michael is the protection Archangel, patron of policemen and bringer of the gift of patience. Angel of careers, courage, achievements, ambitions, motivation, and life tasks. He is the great prince charged to defend the people.

Legend tells that the Cherubim were formed from the tears Michael shed over the sins of the faithful.

God has created the Archangel Michael and put him in charge of nature, rain, snow, thunder, lightning, wind, and clouds. God has appointed a complete creation of angels to assist him and placed them under his command. These angels are countless and no-one other than God knows their number. God has given Michael power to see the entire span of the created universes at once, with no interference of other universes. He knows at all times where he has to send rain, wind, snow, and clouds without effort on his part. The angels who assist him range in size from the hugest size imaginable to man to that of the smallest species living on this earth. They fill the entire atmosphere of every star and planet in every universe. Their praise to God can be heard by the other angels, by prophets, by saints, and by young children.

Michael is the angel of mercy which is another name for rain in Arabic. He is created from the light of God's attribute al-Rahman, "the Merciful." He was never seen smiling after hell was created. He was created before Gabriel.

Archangel Michael is believed to have appeared to Moses as the fire in the burning bush, and to have rescued Daniel from the lions' den. To Christians, he's the angel who informed Mary of her approaching death.

Once upon a time, Gabriel and Michael visited the Prophet Muhammad, Peace be upon him. The latter had a toothstick in hand which he immediately handed to Gabriel, the angel who constantly brought him Revelation. Gabriel said: "O Muhammad! give it to the elder angel." The Prophet gave it to Michael.

The Prophet said: "God gave me two celestial assistants to help me deliver my Message: Gabriel and Michael." He used always to send for Gabriel and Michael concerning matters important to human beings.

The caller to prayer (muezzin) in the heavens is Gabriel and the prayer-leader (imam) is Michael. God created a house for Himself in Paradise (al-Bayt al-Ma`mur) to which the angels make pilgrimage every day five times. There, five prayer-services are held and every service is heralded by Gabriel and led by Michael. The angels all come with their lights and ornaments, their jewels and fragrances, chanting and praising God with their heavenly music. Some people on earth, especially children, are able to hear their voices. This sound gives them indescribable pleasure. Every angel chants and praises in a different language without clash or disharmony. All are pleading to God for mercy for human beings and asking Him to elevate the state of people so that they can hear and see these daily ceremonies. To reward the angels for their praise, for the sincerity of their intercession, and to show them the great extent of His mercy, God at every moment showers His mercy on human beings.

Until the time of the Prophet Noah the House of God existed on the face of the earth. People came from all over the world to walk ceremoniously around it the way pilgrims walk around the Ka`ba in Mecca today. When God set His face on sending the flood to drown the entire world, He ordered His angels to transport the Heavenly House up into the fourth heaven. It stands there until now with the angels walking continually around in solemn state. It was transformed into a Palace of Paradise. Its only remnant on earth is the Black Stone in the Holy Kaaba: it used to be white like the Palace it came from but has been clouded over blackened by the sins of mankind. It has been left on earth for the sake of remembrance. All who kiss it, it is as if they are kissing the right hand of God on earth.

In the Catholic Epistle of St. Jude: "When Michael the Archangel, disputing with the devil, contended about the body of Moses", etc. St. Jude alludes to an ancient Jewish tradition of a dispute between Michael and Satan over the body of Moses, an account of which is also found in the apocryphal book on the assumption of Moses (Origen, "De principiis", III, 2, 2). St. Michael concealed the tomb of Moses; Satan, however, by disclosing it, tried to seduce the Jewish people to the sin of hero-worship. St. Michael also guards the body of Eve, according to the "Revelation of Moses" ("Apocryphal Gospels", etc., ed. A. Walker, Edinburgh, p. 647).

It was from early times the centre of the true cult of the holy angels, particularly of St. Michael. Tradition relates that St. Michael in the earliest ages caused a medicinal spring to spout at Chairotopa near Colossae, where all the sick who bathed there, invoking the Blessed Trinity and St. Michael, were cured.

The Christians of Egypt placed their life-giving river, the Nile under the protection of St. Michael; they adopted the Greek feast and kept it 12 November; on the twelfth of every month they celebrate a special commemoration of the archangel, but 12 June, when the river commences to rise, they keep as a holiday of obligation the feast of St. Michael "for the rising of the Nile", euche eis ten symmetron anabasin ton potamion hydaton.

Chief among the angel-princes, appearing as such in the Old Testament books of Enoch and Daniel. In Revelations, it is Michael who leads an army of God's angels against Satan. He is an angel of repentance, mercy, and righteousness, appearing in Islamic, Jewish, and Christian "angelology". He is often depicted with a sword...

The feast of St. Michael is 8 Nov.

The Archangel Michael, whose name means 'who is as God', is generally considered to be the foremost of the seven archangels and the leader of the Host of Heaven. He derives originally from the Chaldeans by who he was worshiped as something of a god. He is the chief of the order of virtues, Prince of the presence, angel of repentance, righteousness, mercy and sanctification: also ruler of the 4th Heaven, tutelary sar (angelic prince). He is the prince who defended the Israelites and later, it was claimed, the Christian Church, when as guardian he may be called on (sometimes with Gabriel) to defend church doors against the evil angels. According to the Book of Revelations, Michael and his angels' are described as fighting the dragon and his angels. Hence Michael is often shown fighting or overcoming a dragon armed with spear or sword as God's Warrior.

Michael is the spirit of the planet Mercury, Governor of the North and the element of Earth. He is ruler over Sunday and Thursday. He is the alchemy of motivation, activation and achievement.

Michael's candle colors are orange, white and gold. His color energies are orange, violet, white, crystal, gold, and brown.

Invoke Michael in the North for motivation and empowerment in your work. Call on him to protect you from day to day."


Gabriel(Feastday: September 29).  

Is probably most well known for the Annunciation where he told Mary of the impending birth of Christ.  Generally Gabriel is seen as a slightly more benevolent spirit than his ally Michael. He was also the messenger that brought news of the coming birth of John the Baptist and appeared to Zacharias. 

It is also told that he was the angel responsible for the downfall of the cities of Sodom and Gommorah as well as other places of sin throughout the Old Testament although he is never named there as such. 

"Within all of the legends of birthing, Gabriel as been accredited as the angel who selects souls from heaven to be birthed into the material world and spends the nine months as the child is being developed informing the new person of what he or she will need to know on Earth, only to silence the child before birth by pressing his finger onto the child's lips, thus producing the cleft below a person's nose. Besides births however, Gabriel is also the angel who came before Daniel and told him of the future as well as the angel responsible for strengthening Christ prior to the Crucifixion."

Gabriel is the patron of communications & postal workers.

For more on the Archangel Gabriel please see the following extract reproduced with kind permission from Sarah's Archangels:

"The bearer of God's secret messages to His chosen ones.

One of the two highest ranking angels. He is the leading angel who stands in the presence of the God/Goddess as a co-ordinator. He is the Archangel of annunciation, humanity, resurrection, heavenly mercy, vengeance, death, revelation, truth, and hope. Bringer of news and heralds the revealing of answers. Maker of changes. He is the Patron Saint of Communications Workers.

The name Gabriel means "Man of God" or "God Has Shown Himself Mightily." It appears first in the prophecies of Daniel in the Old Testament. This Angel announced to Daniel the prophecy of the seventy weeks, (Daniel 9, 21-27). His name also occurs in the apocryphal book of Henoch. He was the Angel who appeared to Zechariah to announce the birth of St. John the Baptizer, (Luke 1, 11), the messenger Angel who announced to Mary that she would bear a Son who would be conceived of the Holy Spirit, Son of the Most High, and the Saviour of the world, (Luke 1, 26), and the angel who buried Moses.

Within all of the legends of birthing, Gabriel as been accredited as the angel who selects souls from heaven to be birthed into the material world and spends the nine months as the child is being developed informing the new person of what he or she will need to know on Earth, only to silence the child before birth by pressing his finger onto the child's lips, thus producing the cleft below a person's nose.

Gabriel explained to Daniel his vision of a ram and a billy-goat foretelling Alexander the Great's conquest of Persia and a prophecy foretelling the freeing of the Israelites. In both these cases the Archangel is mentioned by name, but it has also been suggested that Gabriel is the angel who wrestles with Jacob in the form of a man and that he was involved in the destruction of Sodom and Gommorah. Enoch says that Gabriel was sent to destroy the giant children of the fallen 'watchers' and did so by turning them against each other In 'Paradise Lost'.

It was Gabriel who dictated the Koran to Muhammad, and according to Babylonian legend, Gabriel fell from grace for not obeying a command exactly as given and remained outside the heavenly curtain for a time.

Gabriel is the angel of the moon who brings man the gift of hope. He is the spirit of truth and the prince of justice. He is the alchemy of psychism, intuition, and receptivity.

According to legend, it is Gabriel who will blow the horn announcing the second coming of Christ.

Gabriel is the Governor of the West and the element of Water. Ruler of Monday, psychic gifts, intuition, visions, magick, clairvoyance, scrying, astral travel, herbal medicine, the cycles of women, and female aspects of men. His symbols are the lily and the trumpet, and his stone is the moonstone.

Gabriel's candle colors are silver, white and blue.

Gabriel's color energies are white, silver, rose, blue, crystal, and scarlet.

Invoke Gabriel in the west for stronger powers of intuition and psychic gifts."


Raphael (Feastday: September 29).

Is considered the head of the guardian angels.  Although the ranking of chief of virtues is sometimes given to Michael it is generally attributed to Raphael.  He is a seraph but Raphael is also mentioned as being a member of the cherubim, dominations and powers. He is known for teaching Solomon how to bind demons into slave labor when Solomon's Temple was being built and also teaching Noah how to construct the ark before the flood.

"His most notable appearance in scripture is his guiding of young Tobias in the apocryphal book of Tobit where he teaches the lad about medicine and demon exorcising among other things. Also in his role as healer, it is Raphael who eases the pain of Abraham after his circumcision, and healing Jacob's thigh after Jacob wrestles with another angel." 

Raphael is considered to be the patron of travelers, the sciences as well as medicine.

For more on the Archangel Raphael please see the following extract reproduced with kind permission from Sarah's Archangels:

"Raphael, "God has healed", is one of the seven chief angels. He is known as the Semitic God of Air and one of the four presences set over all the diseases and all the wounds of the children of men.

Raphael is charged to heal the earth and has a special charge of protecting the young, the innocent, and travelers. He is the regent of the sun, Patron of Travelers, Chief of the order of virtues and overseer of the evening winds. He is the angel of prayer, love, joy, providence, healing, light, science, and knowledge. He is associated with Spring and rebirth. Golden vial of balm, aids in healing and master of healing the earth. Above all, he is the angel of healing.

This Angel first appears in Holy Scripture in the Book of Tobit. He acts as a guide to young Tobiah on his journey to Rages, a city in the country of Medes, east of Nineveh, to collect a debt owed to his father. The Angel binds the demon Asasel in the desert of Egypt, helps Tobiah to find a wife and recover the debt, and heals Tobit from his blindness. He then reveals his identity: "I am the Angel Raphael, one of the seven who stand before the throne of God."

St. Raphael is one of seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord. He was sent by God to help Tobit, Tobiah and Sarah. At the time, Tobit was blind and Tobiah's betrothed, Sarah, had had seven bridegrooms perish on the night of their weddings. Raphael accompanied Tobiah into Media disguised as a man named Azariah. Raphael helped him through his difficulties and taught him how to safely enter marriage with Sarah. Tobiah said that Raphael caused him to have his wife and that he gave joy to Sarah's parents for driving out the evil spirit in her. He also gave Raphael credit for his father's seeing the light of heaven and for receiving all good things through his intercession.

Besides Raphael, Michael and Gabriel are the only Archangels mentioned by name in the bible. Raphael's name means "God heals." This identity came about because of the biblical story which claims that he "healed" the earth when it was defiled by the sins of the fallen angels in the apocryphal book of Enoch. Raphael is also identified as the angel who moved the waters of the healing sheep pool. He is also the patron of the blind, of happy meetings, of nurses, of physicians and of travelers. His feast day is celebrated on September 29th.

In the Book of Euocb, Raphael is the guide to Sheol, the Judaic underworld, and it was he who was sent to bind the fallen 'watcher' Azazel, burying him under rocks in a desert place on earth. According to the Talmud, he is one of the three angels who visited Abraham after his circumcision.

A legend taken from the book of Solomon says that when Solomon prayed to God for help in the building of a temple, God answered with the gift of a magic ring brought to the Hebrew king personally by Raphael. The ring, engraved with the pentalpha, (5-pointed star), had the power to subdue all demons. It was with the "slave labor" of demons that Solomon was able to complete the building of the temple. It was also Raphael who gave Noah, after the flood, a medical book said to have been the famous "The Book of the Angel Raziel".

Raphael rules over Mercury, Wednesday and Saturday. He is the governor of the South and the element of Fire. He is often shown carrying a pilgrim's staff.

Raphael's candle colors are yellow, white and gray.

Raphael's color energies are yellow, white, gray, black, crystal, and indigo.

The Feast of St. Raphael is October 24."


Uriel  

Is one of the most dedicated and faithful members of the host and as such was put in charge of Tartarus (another name for Hades),  He Identified as both a seraph and a cherub and is most well known for his appearance in the book of Revelation where he calls forth the birds of the air to feast upon the fallen. Here his role was as Regent of the Sun.  Although Raphael is credited with teaching the building of the ark, Uriel warned Noah of the impending flood. He also attacked Moses for failing to circumcise his son. 

"Accepted as an archangel by the Church for many centuries, he was finally removed from the records in 745 CE as the Church became increasingly concerned with the prominence the public was placing upon angels."

For more on the Archangel Uriel please see the following extract reproduced with kind permission from Sarah's Archangels:

"Uriel is the spirit of ministration and peace. He helps turn our worst disappointments into our greatest blessings. He is the Archangel of salvation. The ruler over magick, devotion, alchemy, sudden changes, ("The Winds Of Change"), astrology, universal cosmic consciousness, divine order, distribution of power and universal flow, emergencies, judgment, enlightenment and insights.

The name Uriel means God is my Light; or God is Light; or Radiation of God; or God is the radiating principle of Light; or Fire of God.

Uriel is one of the Archangels of rabbinical angelology. He was sent by God to answer the questions of Esdras (II Esdras iv). He is mentioned in I Enoch and IV Ezra, where he "watches over thunder and terror." In the Midrash 1, Uriel is said to be one of the four guardians of God's throne. In The Book of Adam and Eve he presides over repentance.

Uriel appears in Milton's Paradise Lost where he is the 'Regent of the Sun' and 'sharpest-sighted spirit of all in heaven.'

Uriel is of the leading angels in noncanonical lore, and ranked variously as a Seraph, Cherub, Regent of the Sun, Flame of God, and Angel of the Presence. As one of the most faithful and dedicated members of the host, Uriel was also placed in charge of Tartarus (another name for Hades).

Uriel has been identified as one of the angels who helped bury Adam and Abel in Paradise. He is known as the dark angel who wrestled with Jacob at Peniel; as the destroyer of the hosts of Sennacherib ; as the messenger sent by God to Noah to warn him of the impending deluge, (although Raphael is credited with teaching the building of the ark), all of which feats or missions have been credited to other angels. In the view of Louis Ginzberg, the "prince of lights" in The Manual of Discipline, refers to Uriel. In addition, Uriel is said to have disclosed the mysteries of the heavenly arcana to Ezra; interpreted prophecies, and led Abraham out of Ur.

In later Judaism we find Uriel instead of Phanuel" as one of the 4 angels of the presence. The Magus claims that alchemy "which is of divine origin" was brought down to earth by Uriel, and that it was Uriel who gave the cabala to man, although this "key to the mystical interpretation of Scripture" is also said to have been the gift of Metatron.

Legend tells us that Uriel stands at the gate of the Lost Eden with a fiery sword. The Lost Eden is a term describing forgetting to Love God. The fiery sword shows that negative matter (selfish and unpure desires) are destroyed when one truly focuses their love on God. In this legend Uriel reminds humanity to Love God by using the "fire of God" (by using the fiery sword).

Uriel teaches the path of the heart, the fire of pure Love. Without this pure Love and devotion to Spirit, all spiritual study remains an intellectual pursuit, fairy gold. This understanding of true spiritual study is further supported by the tradition that Uriel brought to Earth: Alchemy, the heavenly arcana and was the giver of the Cabala to man.

It is through Noah's devotion and Love of God that Uriel is able to warn him of the flood. Noah's pure love and devotion was the telephone number of Uriel. If Noah had been unable to express divine love and devotion to God, he would have been unable to hear Uriel's warning via the cosmic phone. This is how another attribute associated with Uriel has arisen, the attribute of Divine Vengeance and Judgement. Only if the heart is ignited in devotion to God can one hear Yahweh's call. If one does not hear Yahweh's call, one will perish (get caught in the flood). Without Yahweh's guides and messages, one cannot find the Eternal Light. Uriel is said to have been the interpreter of Ezra's visions which also explains why Uriel means "God is the radiating principle of Light."

Uriel's symbol of an open hand holding a flame depicts a great gift to humanity. It is the flame of Love to ignite the heart in service to God. Uriel holds out the flame of Love towards all souls. The soul by filling with the flame of Love becomes devoted to serving Yahweh's plan. Uriel's flame of Love, the fire of God, the Light of God, purifies emotional and mental understanding transmuting the lower vibrations into frequencies that can assimilate Spiritual Understanding. The planet that Uriel is associated with is Venus, the planet symbolizing love.

Accepted as an archangel by the Church for many centuries, he was finally removed from the records in 745 CE as the Church became increasingly concerned with the prominence the public was placing upon angels.

Uriel rules over Monday and Wednesday and is the alchemy of universal order. He is the Governor of the East and the element of Air. He is the angel of September and may be invoked ritually by those born in that month.

Uriel's candle colors are violet, white and indigo.

Uriel's color energies are violet, white, indigo, blue, silver, and rainbow."


Chamuel  

Is considered along with Gabriel to be one of the comforting angels of Jesus when he was in Gethsemane.  Although considered a chief domination, he is also a member of the order of powers. Some believe Chamuel to be the angel who wrestled with Jacob and damaged Jacob's thigh. 

For more on the Archangel Chamuel please see the following extract reproduced with kind permission from Sarah's Archangels:

"He Who Sees God". Also known as Chamuel, Kemuel, Shemuel, Seraphiel, Camiel, Camiul, Khamael, Camniel, Cancel and Jahoel.

Camael appears as a warrior dressed in a red tunic. He wears green armour plates, an iron helmet and has large green wings.

The Angel of Divine Love and the Patron Angel of all who love God. He is traditionally regarded as chief of the Order of Powers and one of the sefiroth. He is considered to be one of the seven archangels who stand before God and one of the governing angels of the seven planets, specifically ruler of the planet Mars.

A gatekeeper of Heaven, Camael is Chief of twelve-thousand fiery Angels of Destruction, all posted there with Camael at the portals of the sky.

Originally the God of War, Camael personifies divine justice and governs Heavenly singing. He grants Power, Invisibility, and invincibility. Camael is responsible for holding in check Leviathan, the monster of evil who will swallow the souls of sinners on Judgment Day. Camael brings to mankind the gift of Godness, the Holy that exists within all women and men.

Camael gives power in interpersonal relationships and self-discipline, but the most impressive trait of this Archangel is his knowledge of Karma. Camael can show you how to make up for bad karma and how to purify yourself in this incarnation. He acts as a judge and can, on your behalf, make sure justice is served. He will only help, however, if he feels you are honest.

Legend tells of Moses destroying the archangel Camael when this great hierarch tried to prevent the Lawgiver from receiving the Torah at the hand of God.

Chamuel is considered, along side of Gabriel, to be one of the angels who strengthened and comforted Jesus on Gethsemane.

Clara Clement in her 1898 book "Angels in Art" regards Camael as the angel who wrestled with Jacob and also as the angel who appeared to Jesus during his agony in the garden of Gethsemane."


Jophiel  

Is accredited for his role in driving Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden after they ate the forbidden fruit. Should this be the case then Jophiel also gains the honor of being the first angel mentioned in the Bible.  Jophiel is a cherubim,  

"He is last left guarding the Tree of Life with a flaming sword to prevent the return of man."

For more on the Archangel Jophiel please see the following extract reproduced with kind permission from Sarah's Archangels:

"Also called Iophiel and Zophiel, his name means "Beauty of God". Archangel of the Third Ray, Jophiel is the Angel of Paradise and the Patron Angel of Artists. Archangel of Illumination, he teaches the outer consciousness the Power of Light within oneself, stirs the feelings, through Radiation of Illumination, into aspiration for spiritual things. He helps in absorbing information, studying for and passing tests, dissolution of ignorance, pride, and narrow-mindedness, and exposure of wrongdoing in governments and corporations. Jophiel helps in fighting pollution, cleaning up our planet and brings to mankind the gift of Beauty. Jophiel is said in Jewish lore to be a special friend to the angel Metatron, and is one of the chiefs of the choir of Cherubim. He is a ruling prince of the Order of Thrones and the first World Teacher for our world.

It was the Archangel Jophiel who drove Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, after they ate the fruit of the forbidden tree. If this is the case, Jophiel receives also the honor of being the first angel to be mentioned in the Bible. In such a role, he is last left guarding the Tree of Life with a flaming sword to prevent the return of man.

Jophiel is preceptor angel to the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham and Japhet."


Zadkiel  

Is believed by some to be chief, considered an angel of mercy he belongs to the ranks of the dominions.  Zadkiel is the patron angel of all who forgive as well as the angel of freedom mercy and benevolence.

"It is he who holds back the hand of Abraham to prevent the patriarch from sacrificing his son, and because of this is usually shown holding a dagger. Also, Zadkiel is one of two standard bearers (along with Zophiel) who follow directly behind Michael as the head archangel enters battle."  

For more on the Archangel Zadkiel please see the following extract reproduced with kind permission from Sarah's Archangels:

"Angel of Freedom, benevolence, mercy, and the Patron Angel of all who forgive.

Belonging to the ranks of the dominations, and considered by some to be chief, Zadkiel is considered an angel of mercy. It is he who holds back the hand of Abraham to prevent the patriarch from sacrificing his son, and because of this is usually shown holding a dagger. Also, Zadkiel is one of two standard bearers (along with Zophiel) who follow directly behind Michael as the head archangel enters battle."


Raguel  

Has the honor of ensuring the good behavior of the other angels. He is of the principalities and needs to be vigilant.  

"Raguel is also mentioned as being an angel of ice and snow, calling forth other angels during the Final Judgment to deal with the unpure."

For more on the Archangel Raguel please see the following extract reproduced with kind permission from Sarah's Archangels:

"(Raguil, Rasuil, Rufael, Suryan, Akrasiel -"Friend of God")

One of the 7 Archangels listed in the Enoch writings. Of the order of Principalities, Raguel is an angel of earth, a guard of the 2nd (or 4th) Heaven, and watching over the good behavior of his fellow angels. He "takes vengeance on the world of luminaries," which is interpreted to mean that, for cause, he brings other angels to account.

Raguel is also mentioned as being an angel of ice and snow, calling forth other angels during the Final Judgment to deal with the unpure.

**RAG (from RAGUEL) was responsible with sentencing or bringing to justice those who broke the laws. In ancient Babylonian "RAGUMU" was the suit brought against the defendant. Similarly in Hungarian "RAGA-lom" is the suit against the defendant. The "lom" is just a suffix of abstract concepts. In Sumerian the RIG word, which is the source of RAGUEL, simply meant to talk or speech, with which a case is typically presented to a council. Similarly REGE in Hungarian is a story given in speech like sing song fashion, like a saga. It is also related to the qualities of the voice (rikkan,rekedt). In old Hungarian the REGOS were the bards who sang or told stories of heroes and religion. The council of elders, and the subject of knowledge they represented in Sumerian is called TAN, just as in Hungarian and several other Ural-Altaian languages, including even Japanese. The decision which they brought forward, based on deliberation by a judge, is called BAR in Sumerian as it is in Hungarian BIRO=judge. The word is also found in a close eastern relative of the Hungarian language, the Chuvash, as BAR. The word was also adopted into English, through the influence of the Huns. Even the remnant of the early Akkadian-Babylonian word for lawyer UGIDU is found in modern Hungarian Ugyved."

**The Legends of the Garden of Eden and The Angels - Alfred Hamori

Copyright 1995, Alfred Hamori, all rights reserved


Remiel  

Has two main responsibilities.  Firstly he is the angel that acts as the guide for souls of the faithful after being weighed by Michael at the last trump. Such a role such a role leads to the assumption that Ramiel is a power. 

Secondly Remiel is the angel, "responsible for true divine visions, and is said to be the angel to give such a vision to Baruch before destroying Baruch's enemies, the armies of Sennacherib.  Although not mentioned specifically as such," 


Sariel  

Is believed to be an angel of knowledge who works along side of Raguel.  He is a seraph whose role is to decide the fate of angels which stray from God's path. He is also one of the leaders in Heaven's armies and his name is written upon the shields of one of the fighting forces.


Raziel

Is a cherubim and ranked as the special patron to the first human.  He like sariel is also an angel of knowledge.  He is the giver of divine mysteries. 

"It is he who lead to the writing of the book of Enoch and is also the author of the tome from which Noah learns to build the ark. This is not to be confused with Raphael, who is the angel to give Raziel's tome to Noah, but did not write it himself."

For more on the Archangel Raziel please see the following extract reproduced with kind permission from Sarah's Archangels:

"This angel is the the legendary author of The Book of the Angel Raziel --"wherein all celestial and earthly knowledge is set down." The Book of the Angel Raziel is reputed to contain the 1,500 keys to the mysteries of the universe. Unfortunately, they are written in a language so arcane and impossible to decifer (without presumably the aid of Raziel himself) that not even the greatest angels of heaven are able to figure it out. Raziel is also ranked as the special patron to the first human.

Raziel, called the angel of mysteries, is the possessor of a staggering amount of information on all matters secret, arcane, and mysterious; his knowledge stems from the fact that he stands at the curtain separating God from the rest of Creation and hears and notes everything that is said around His throne. He supposedly wrote it all down, and because of his pity for the plight of Adam and Eve, gave the book to Adam that he might better understand God. This did not go over well with some of the other angels, and they stole the book from Adam and threw it into the sea. God, instead of punishing Raziel, retrieved the book and returned it to Adam. The book later passed to Enoch, who would become the angel Metatron. He also the author of the tome from which Noah learns to build the ark. This is not to be confused with Raphael, who is the angel to give Raziel's tome to Noah, but did not write it himself.

His head is surrounded by a glowing yellow aura. He wears a robe of gray material that seems to swirl as if made of liquid. Raziel appears quite tall and has large sky-blue wings. He is the ruler of the planet Neptune.

Raziel is one of the cherubim, the guardian of originality and the realm of pure ideas. He is knowledgeable in several mystical arts and can explain the truth behind many occult truths in the universe. One of the most interesting things Raziel can give you is an understanding of the energy currents in the magickal universe and how to manipulate them to various ends."

See also: Angels, Angel Magic, Angelolatry, Angelology, Angelophany, Celestial, Celestial Bodies, Celestial Hierarchy, Celestial Light, Dionysius the Areopagite, Fallen HostGrigori.

Sources: Information and inspiration for this topic and all quotes unless otherwise stated taken from the The House of Rites Website. Please see also Sarah's Archangels where the extracts about many of the archangels were reproduced with kind permission from the author of the Sarah's Archangels website.


Sarah's Archangels 

The House of Rites Website 



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