Archangels are called warriors and guardians of God. In the Old Testament, they supported the throne of the Lord, and according to the New Testament, the archangels accompanied Jesus Christ in all the main events of his life - from the Annunciation to the Resurrection.
Who are the archangels
There is a whole parascience about angels - angelology. The word "angel" in translation from Greek means a messenger. These are disembodied companions and messengers of God. Early Christian iconography of angels dates back to the depiction of the winged guards of the royal palaces of Assyria and Babylonia.
Gregory the Theologian in the 4th century proposed a different classification, and Cyril of Jerusalem, calling the same ranks as Pseudo-Dionysius, but in a slightly different order.
Angels have their own hierarchy, which was established in the 5th century in the treatise "Divine Names" by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. Angelic gradation includes 3 faces, 3 ranks each. Archangels, together with thrones and angels, occupy the third, lowest hierarchical level.
In another, more ancient book of Enoch, a different classification is given and how many archangels exist. There are 7 archangels in total, leading the myriads of angels (heavenly hosts). They are also called archangels.
The word "archangel" is translated from Greek as "the main or supreme messenger." They make a connection between God and people; lead the heavenly army into battle against the hellish hordes; guided by guardian angels. According to some scholars, the archangels correspond to the 7 amshaspands of the ancient Persians and the 7 planetary spirits of the Babylonians.
How many archangels are given names
Michael is the only angel mentioned in the Bible as an archangel.
Each of the 7 archangels has its own mission and name. The Roman Catholic Church venerates the archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael more than others. Michael is considered the most significant of them. He is the prince of his rank, who protects the church from the powers of darkness. Gabriel is the guardian of paradise and the leader over the spirits that help people. Raphael is considered the ruler of a person's thoughts and his healer.
Archangel Uriel rules over the heavenly bodies. Shamuel punishes the world of the luminaries. Jophil is the ruler over the spirits that lead people into sin. Ezekiel watches the resurrection from the dead.
As heavenly messengers and protectors of the Church on earth, the archangels had their own attributes. In Christian art, they were depicted in the guise of young handsome strong men with folded wings behind their backs holding swords and spheres - symbols of heavenly warriors.
The angel of mercy Gabriel is often depicted holding a lily or scepter in his hand. The defender of soldiers and believers, Michael, as a rule, is dressed in rich clothes and holds a sword in his hand. Guardian Angel Raphael - with a wanderer's staff and a fish or a dish. Uriel carried a scroll or book. Shamuel held a goblet or wand, Jophil held a fiery sword, and Ezekiel held a sacred knife.
