Wednesday 29 September 2010

Enoch and the Arch Angels




Years ago when I was reading the New Testament I found it interesting that there were items noted that could only be referenced to the book of Enoch. Now I searched online for this book since it was not in my Jerusalem bible. What I found was Jewish mysticism, but I decided that it should be relevant since there is reference by Paul, Peter, John and the early church fathers in their writings. Significant to today's feast of the Archangels the book of Enoch lists seven Archangels who stand in the presence of God: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Raguel, Lucifer and Remiel. Today's feast is not for 7 but 3. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ONLY RECOGNIZES THREE ARCHANGELS: So we bless you Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel.

Wikipedia identifies several lists of seven Archangels throughout History. The three noted above remain the same but the other names vary.


In the late 5th to early 6th century, Pseudo-Dionysius gives them as Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Chamuel, Jophiel, and Zadkiel.

The earliest Christian mention is by Pope Saint Gregory I who lists them as Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel (or Anael), Simiel (or Samael), Oriphiel and Zachariel. A later reference to seven archangels would appear 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, Oriel, Raphael, Ananiel, Marmoniel, who hold the clouds in your hands"[1]
[edit] Archangels in current church traditions

The Eastern Orthodoxy tradition venerates Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jegudiel, and Barachiel.

Another Catholic variation lists them corresponding to the days of the week as: St Michael (Sunday), St Gabriel (Monday), St Raphael (Tuesday), St Uriel (Wednesday), St Sealtiel (or sometimes Metatron) (Thursday), St Jegudiel, (Friday), and St Barachiel (Saturday).

Four important archangels also display periodic spiritual activity over the seasons: Spring is Raphael, Summer - Uriel, Autumn - Michael and Winter is Gabriel.

In the Coptic Orthodox tradition the seven archangels are named as Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Suriel, Zadakiel, Sarathiel and Aniel.

3 comments:

  1. Who's the one gettin tossed in the hole?

    ReplyDelete
  2. lucifer if u have brains

    ReplyDelete
  3. Why are people so mean, we have to learn on the things we don't know. love is the key for all things why the put down . Be patient for the that don't know, you were there at a time.

    ReplyDelete