Archangel Gabriel: history, his role in Judaism, Islam and Christianity

Gabriel
, Archangel, Archangel and Chief of Officials Celebration in the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel and in the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and other ethereal Heavenly Powers

Archangel Gabriel—whose name describes him as “the man of God” or “the power of God”—said of himself: “I am Gabriel who stands before God” (Luke 1:19).
Tradition sees in him one “of the seven holy Angels who offer the prayers of the saints and ascend before the glory of the Holy One” (Tov. 12:15). Among the seven, he is called second after Michael. An ancient custom firmly assigned him the title of archangel, but the height of his service makes many holy fathers doubt that he belongs to the eighth, penultimate, degree of the heavenly hierarchy, which is what archangels are considered to be. According to St. Andrew of Crete: God commands one of the chief angels to announce the sacrament.
If he was one of the first, then, of course, from the seven spirits who always stand before God; and if from the seven spirits, then from the seraphim. For which of the angels is greater than the seraphim? Who is closer than them to the throne of God? So Gabriel is a seraphim, the highest in this rank [1].

Gabriel is the Heavenly messenger whom God sends to announce to people His plans for the salvation of the human race. The most important of these destinies - the miraculous incarnation of Jesus Christ, who became the God-Man - is also reflected in the name of the archangel, which can be understood as “Man-God” [2]. As a messenger of the wondrous deeds of God, in the liturgical books the Church calls Archangel Gabriel “the minister of miracles.” Some of the many testimonies about Gabriel are included in the Holy Scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments.

Origin story

Archangel Gabriel is one of the supreme angels not only in the Christian tradition, but also among Muslims and Jews. The name Gabriel literally translates as “My strength is the Most High.” In the Orthodox religion, the archangels Gabriel and Michael lead the heavenly army, and therefore both bear the title of Archangel. As a warrior, Gabriel defeated the sea demon Leviathan.

Gabriel appears in biblical stories as a messenger of the Lord, informing people about important events that will happen in the future. He appears to the biblical prophets, as well as to the Virgin Mary, who gave life to Jesus Christ. When Christ prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, Gabriel was there to support the Savior before his ordeal.

The Archangel is considered the patron saint of teachers and musicians. Women who want to have a child turn to this supreme angel in prayer.

When a saint is honored

There are several days of the Archangel Gabriel in Christianity. They are celebrated three times throughout the year:

• In April, on the 8th. This holiday comes immediately after the Annunciation and implies the need to honor the memory of the Lord's messenger.
• In July, on the 26th. Repeated celebration, since this date is characterized by the consecration of the temple of the Archangel Gabriel in Constantinople in the 17th century.
• The cathedral dedicated to the Archangel Michael, the day of remembrance for all archangels - November 21. That’s when the Gavrilovs’ name day is celebrated.

Holy Archangel Gabriel in Judaism

In Jewish tradition, the archangel is called Gabriel. He, along with Michael, Raphael and Uriel, form the central cohort of the Heavenly Host. These angels surround the Throne of the Lord, and each is responsible for one of the cardinal directions. In the minds of Jewish believers, these four guardians are perceived as a single cohesive group, ready to carry out all the instructions of God.

Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel are responsible for all 12 tribes of Israel. Thus, each of them has three tribes in his care. During the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, Gabriel and Michael defended the people of Israel from their persecutors. It is still believed that thanks to Gabriel, the Jewish people gained independence.

Gabriel in Judaism

Archangel Gabriel appears in Judaism as the messenger of death. He appears to the righteous to take their souls and escort them to heaven. To extract souls from the body, Gabriel uses a perfectly straight knife, which allows the operation to be carried out painlessly. But for those who are burdened with grave sins, the demon Samael comes, armed with a jagged knife, and inflicts terrible pain on those who have deviated from God’s laws.

The saint is present in many world religions

Archangel Gabriel is also mentioned in the texts of books of other religions:

• Jewish - under the name of Gabriel. He and the three archangels were in the role of protectors, guarding the Lord's throne and the four cardinal directions. In prayer texts they are mentioned all together. Gabriel is also tasked with protecting the Jewish people from constant persecution and persecution. He must send prayers to the Lord to free the Jews from captivity and for there to be prosperity throughout the world. Archangel Gabriel, whose photo is offered below, is assigned the mission of being a good angel who takes the souls of the righteous at the time of death. His opposite is Samael, who comes for the souls of sinners and cuts out these souls with a knife with many serrations.
• In Islam - under the name Jibril. Here the archangel is also one of the four spirits close to the Lord and acts as a mediator between God and numerous prophets, among them Muhammad, whom Jibril had to:

– protect in confrontation with non-believers;

– accompany him during his travels;

– bless;

– help if disputes and wars occur;

- convey for 23 years the meaning of the revelation - the Koran.

The archangel is described as a tall man, with his head reaching the clouds. According to legend, he presented the earth to Allah so that he would create Adam and become his protector after being expelled from Paradise. Solomon learned from this archangel that John the Baptist was born, just like father Zacharias, for whom the archangel Gabriel also tried.

Holy Archangel Gabriel in Christianity

According to Christian texts, the Archangel Gabriel occupies one of the leading places in the angelic hierarchy. He is entrusted with a great mission: to reveal Divine knowledge to people and warn about what is about to happen soon. In the Bible, the archangel serves as a mediator between the Creator and mere mortals.

For example, he appears to the prophet Daniel and tells him the date of the coming of the Messiah. Gabriel also informs the righteous Zechariah, whose wife was considered barren, that she will bear him a son, who will later become famous as John the Baptist. To his misfortune, Zechariah showed distrust of this prophecy, for which he was temporarily deprived of the power of speech.

Angel Golden Hair (Archangel Gabriel), Novgorod icon of the 12th century

Finally, Gabriel was sent to Mary, the future mother of Jesus Christ, with the news of the birth of the Son of God. Also, the archangel came to the Virgin Mary shortly before the day of her death to report that she would soon enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Let's sum it up

Archangel Gabriel is an important angel who has a special rank. That is why Christians hopefully turn to this saint for help. It is believed that his requests will definitely be heard by God, since the Lord especially honors this angel.

Mention of the Archangel Gabriel is found not only in Christianity. Judaism and Islam also enjoy the protection of this archangel, but in these faiths he is known by other names.

Prayer to Saint Gabriel has great power. In order to turn to him for help, you need to not think about everyday problems, concentrate on the meaning of the text, and delve into its meaning. Reading the prayer does not require memorization.

Women who want to get pregnant can contact Gabriel. Its help in creating a family, returning love, calming and consoling is also strong. In addition to the owner of this name himself, anyone who wishes good to the man Gabriel can pray, especially if he is still a baby. The celebration of the day of the Archangel Gabriel occurs three times a year.

By opening the soul to the sacraments of Christianity, a person receives faith in eternal life and the hope that the Creator is always with him. The light of his love illuminates the life path of a believer. By studying Christian literature, you can get answers to many everyday questions.

Archangel Gabriel in Islam

Muslims call the archangel Jibril, or Jabrail. In the Islamic tradition, Gabriel is also one of the group of four angels who are especially close to Allah. Jabrail is tasked with being the link between the Almighty and the prophets.

It was Jabrail who patronized the great prophet Muhammad and helped him spread the teachings sent by Allah. In addition, the archangel protected the prophet from the danger posed by the opponents of Islam.

Prophet Muhammad and Jibril (T. Hosemann, 1847)

The Koran says that Gabriel, on behalf of Allah, mined the earth from which Adam was created. After the fall of Adam and the expulsion of people from paradise, the archangel provided them with all kinds of help. Gabriel participated in the salvation of Nuh (known in the Bible as Noah) and his family during the Flood. There are also stories in the Koran about how the archangel conveys knowledge to the prophets. Thus, Suleiman (Solomon) gained his wisdom, Daud (David) learned the art of war, and Yusuf (Joseph) mastered many languages.

Interpreters of Islamic teachings call Gabriel the titles Spirit, Holy Spirit, Faithful Spirit, Servant of Allah. The important role of Gabriel in the acts of the prophet Isa (Jesus) is also emphasized.

How to pray correctly

Before offering holy prayer, you need to remember the basic rules. What points should be observed:

1. You need to think through the text of the petition in advance.
2. Get rid of everything that can distract you while reading the prayer.
3. The prayer test is best said out loud.
4. The request must be repeated day after day.

By following these rules and carrying sincere faith, a person will be able to get what he wants. However, his desire should not harm another.

Honoring the protector of the human race

Believers belonging to the Orthodox faith have always especially revered two angels - Gabriel and Michael. In this worship Michael took first place, but Gabriel was given very significant honors.

Archangels Michael and Gabriel

One of the sacred places on the planet where Gabriel is especially respected is the city of Nazareth. Here the archangel, according to legend, appeared to the Virgin Mary to announce her future son, who is now known to the world as Jesus Christ. In honor of this event, called the Annunciation in the Christian tradition, a temple was erected in Nazareth in honor of the Archangel Gabriel.

Temple in honor of the Archangel Gabriel, Nazareth

Russian Orthodox tradition believed that the Archangel Gabriel was the protector of Kyiv, as described in the Ipatiev Chronicle. Prince Yaroslav the Wise in 1037 ordered the construction of a church where believers could worship the Mother of God and the Archangel Gabriel.

Memory: March 26 / April 8, July 13 / 26, November 8 / 21

Orthodox believers celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation on March 25 according to the old style, that is, on April 7 according to the new style. On this day, the Archangel Gabriel conveyed to Mary the news of the future birth of Christ. Archangel Memorial Day is celebrated the next day, that is, April 8 (March 26, old style).

On July 26 (July 13, old style), the holiday in honor of Gabriel is celebrated for the second time in the year. These days, believers attend church and praise the Archangel Gabriel, as well as his brothers - Michael and Raphael.

A number of folk signs are associated with these holidays:

• if there is frost on April 8, then spring will not be too warm and will drag on for a long time;
• if on April 8 the leaves bloomed on the bird cherry tree, then early planting of potatoes is ahead;
• if it rains on July 26, then the year will be lean;
• if the weather is hot and clear on July 26, then the autumn will be dry and the harvest will be rich.

These days it was customary to make wishes. It was believed that they would definitely come true. After all, then Gabriel descends to earth and wanders among people, listening to their thoughts.

On November 21 (November 8, old style), believers celebrate a holiday called the Council of the Archangel Michael and other Ethereal Powers. On this day it is also recommended to thank Gabriel.

Apocryphal evidence

Much is written about Gabriel in the first book of Enoch, where he is presented as “Gabriel, one of the holy angels, who was placed over the serpents, and over paradise, and over the cherubim” (1 Enoch 20). He stands before the throne of God and gives praise to the Lord of glory. His special ministry is prayer for those living on earth: he “asks and prays for those living on earth and entreats the spirits in the name of the Lord” (Ibid., 40). Among the highest angels, he leads the heavenly army: “... and the third appointed over all the forces is Gabriel” (Ibid.). He plays a special role in punishing fallen angels. First, God sends him to destroy the offspring of rebellious angels who united with wives and gave birth to giants (Ibid., 10). Then, together with the archangels Michael, Raphael and Phanuel, he punishes the fallen angels themselves who deceived people (Ibid., 54).

In the “War of the Sons of Light against the Sons of Darkness” scroll from the Dead Sea Scrolls, Gabriel is one of four names (along with Michael, Sariel and Raphael) written on the shields of the “sons of light” (1QM IX 15, 16).

In the Targum on the book of psalms, Gabriel is called “the great of Zion.” According to the Targum on the books of Chronicles, Gabriel is the angel whom the Lord sent, through the prayer of King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, to destroy the commanders of the Assyrian army besieging Jerusalem (2 Chron. 32, 21).

Prayers to Archangel Gabriel

Many believers turn to Archangel Gabriel for support and offer prayers to him. Traditionally, they pray to the angel before going to bed and ask him for forgiveness and intercession before the Lord.

These prayers are also resorted to in difficult life situations, when the situation seems hopeless. If your soul is restless and there is a feeling of impending disaster, then turning to the great angel can smooth out the situation, or even avert misfortune altogether.

Read the prayer and listen to the voice of your heart, and you will certainly receive an answer on how to find a way out of this situation. You will receive support from above. Gabriel will strengthen your spirit, give you the strength to withstand circumstances, and help you fight back against hostile forces.

Prayer will also help in getting rid of illnesses, restoring harmony and peace in the family, and will provide protection to your family and friends. Girls often turn to Gabriel to find a loving husband. And married women ask the angel for a happy conception.

Since the archangel in the Bible acts as a mediator between God and people, it is believed that he is able to give inspiration to people in creative professions: poets, writers, composers, artists.

Below are the texts of prayers with which you can contact the archangel.

Troparion to the Archangel Gabriel, tone 4

Heavenly armies of the Archangel, we always pray to you, unworthy, and with your prayers protect us with the shelter of the krill of your immaterial glory, preserving us, who fall diligently and cry out: deliver us from troubles, like the commander of the Highest Powers.

Kontakion to Archangel Gabriel, tone 2

In Heaven in vain God's glory and on earth from on high bestowing grace, chief of the Angels, wise Gabriel, servant of God's glory and champion of Divine peace, save, keep those who cry out to you: be a helper yourself, and no one else against us.

First prayer to Archangel Gabriel

Oh, holy great Archangel Gabriel, standing before the Throne of God and illuminated by the illumination of the Divine Light, and enlightened by the knowledge of the incomprehensible mysteries of His eternal wisdom! I earnestly pray to you, guide me to repentance from evil deeds and to strengthen my faith, strengthen and protect my soul from seductive temptations, and beg our Creator for the forgiveness of my sins. Oh, holy great Gabriel the Archangel! Do not despise me, a sinner, who prays to you for help and your intercession in this world and in the future, but an ever-present helper to me, may I unceasingly glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the power and your intercession forever and ever. Amen.

Second prayer to Archangel Gabriel

O holy Archangel Gabriel! We earnestly pray to you, instruct us, servant of God (name), to repentance from evil deeds and to confirmation in our faith, strengthen and protect our souls from seductive temptations and beg our Creator for the remission of our sins. O holy great Gabriel the Archangel! Do not despise us, sinners, who pray to you for help and your intercession, in this world and in the future, but an ever-present helper to us, may we continually glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the power and your intercession forever and ever.

Prayer three to Archangel Gabriel

O, holy Archangel of God Gabriel, ever standing before the Throne of the Most High, joyful evangelist and zealous helper of our salvation! With the mercy characteristic of you, accept this song of praise brought to you from us unworthy. Correct our prayers, and bring incense to the Heavenly Altar like incense; illumine our minds with the light of knowledge of the mysteries of our saving faith; inflame our hearts with love for Christ our Savior, turn and strengthen our desires to the saving path of His Gospel commandments; May we live quietly and piously in this time for the glory of God, and in the future may we not be deprived of the eternal Kingdom of God, which we may receive through the grace of Christ our God, through the intercession of His Most Pure Mother, the Immaculate Virgin Mary, and through your powerful prayers to the Lord God for us, and yes Let us glorify with you and the other incorporeal forces of heaven and all the saints the One in the Trinity, glorified God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

What does it help with according to the Orthodox tradition?

Archangel Gabriel is asked for help and protection:

• in case of demonic obsessions, sinful thoughts;
• from sorcerers and psychics;
• from evil slander and slander;
• in diseases, including mental illnesses.

In addition, unmarried people ask for a successful marriage, and married people ask for an early and easy pregnancy, successful childbirth, and protection of babies from illnesses. Adoptive parents also flock to the Archangel with their worries.

Also, due to his “specialization,” Gabriel is revered as the protector of representatives of professions related to creativity and education - teachers, musicians, writers, etc.

Icons dedicated to the Archangel Gabriel

Being one of the main helpers of the Lord, Archangel Gabriel could not be ignored by icon painters. On many icons, Gabriel is depicted as a man or a beautiful-faced youth. A halo is visible above his head, emitting divine light, and behind his back are angelic wings.

You can often find an image of an archangel holding in his hands a lily or a branch from the Garden of Eden. He may also have a wand, a spherical mirror, or a lamp with a candle inside in his hands. On icons, the angel’s head is often tied with a ribbon, the ends of which rise upward - this suggests that all of Gabriel’s attention is directed to Heaven, to the throne of God. In Orthodox churches, it is customary to put his face on the northern side of the iconostasis. On the coat of arms of the Russian Empire, Gabriel is depicted as a defender with a shield.

The plots of the icons, as a rule, tell about the main mission of the archangel, who conveys important messages to people from the Almighty. Often on icons you can see the archangels Gabriel and Michael together.

In the era of early Christianity, the archangel was depicted a little differently. For example, in the catacombs of Priscilla in Rome (this historical monument dates back to the 2nd–4th centuries), drawings were discovered in which Gabriel does not have the usual halo and does not have wings.

The Mystery of the End of Times

Archangel Gabriel.
Giotto. Fragment of the fresco “Annunciation”, 1306. Scrovegni Chapel, Padua The Archangel Gabriel was first mentioned in the Old Testament, in the book of the prophet Daniel, which tells about the time of the Babylonian kingdom.

God shows the prophet a strange vision in which a goat and a ram are fighting. Daniel does not understand the vision. Then the Lord sends an angel to Daniel: “And he came to the place where I stood, and when he came, I was horrified and fell on my face; and he said to me: “Know, son of man, that the vision refers to the end of time!” (Dan. 8:17). “I lay unconscious with my face on the ground; - writes the prophet. “But he touched me and put me in my place” (Dan. 8:18).

Gabriel amazes the prophet not only with the depth of his prophecy, but also with his appearance. According to the expression of Blessed Jerome of Stridon, an interpreter of the book of the prophet Daniel, at this moment the prophet lies on the ground “with his head bowed like a four-legged creature” from fear.

But Gabriel, touching Daniel, brings him to his senses and explains the essence of what is happening. The vision warns, on the one hand, about the imminent accession of the treacherous king (Antiochus Epiphanes, according to St. Ephraim the Syrian), who will come at the end of the Old Testament, on the other hand, about the Antichrist, who will come at the end of the New Testament: “When the apostates fulfill the measure of their iniquities, an arrogant and skillful king will rise up in deceit; and his strength will be strengthened, although not by his strength, and he will produce amazing devastation and succeed in acting and destroying the mighty and the people of the saints, and with his understanding and deceit will prosper in his hand, and he will be exalted in his heart, and in the midst of the world He will destroy many, and will rise up against the Lord of lords, but he will be crushed—not by hand” (Dan. 8:23-25).

Daniel writes down this revelation, but then, by his own admission, he “exhausts” and falls ill for several days. He admits that this vision is beyond the measure of his understanding (Dan. 8:27).

This phenomenon emphasizes the archangel’s enlightenment with Divine knowledge and the ignorance of man. According to the thought of Blessed Jerome of Stridon, Gabriel teaches Daniel a lesson in humility: the prophets often saw angels, but so that they “do not imagine themselves as having angelic nature or dignity, they are reminded of their frailty and they are called sons of men, so that they know that they People".

The second appearance of Gabriel occurs after the fall of Babylon. Daniel serves the Persian-Median kings as faithfully as he previously served the Babylonian kings. The prophet is worried about only one thing - the fate of Israel in captivity. Daniel begins to pray “in fasting and sackcloth and ashes” (Dan.9:3) and God, having heard this prayer, sends him an angel to teach and admonish him. It turns out to be Archangel Gabriel again.

He reveals to the prophet the secret of the “seventy weeks” (the time of the coming of the Messiah), which will pass “from the time the commandment goes out to restore Jerusalem” (Dan. 9:25). Gabriel also tells about the sad fate of Jerusalem. According to the Archangel, in it “sacrifice and oblation will cease, and the abomination that makes desolate will be on the wing of the sanctuary” (Dan. 9:26).

This time the prophet no longer falls to the ground in fear. He humbly writes down prophecies that we know will be fulfilled at their appointed time. The decree on the restoration of Jerusalem is issued in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes (in 457 BC), and Christ is born exactly “seventy weeks” (that is, 490 years) after the prophecy. And Jerusalem and the temple, after the uprising of the Jews, were destroyed by the legionaries of Caesar Vespasian in 70 AD.

Thus, in the Old Testament, Gabriel appears to Daniel as a messenger of secrets of both the near and distant future. The Archangel evokes fear and trembling in Daniel, helping him to feel humility before the face of God.

The image of an angel in culture

It is not surprising that such a significant angel as Gabriel became a character in fine art. Famous painters and sculptors dedicated their works to him. His appearance is present on church frescoes, icons, paintings and bas-reliefs.

One of the most famous statues dedicated to Gabriel once adorned the hall of Westminster Abbey. Currently, this sculptural masterpiece can be seen in the Royal Architectural Museum in London.

The famous artist Leonardo da Vinci depicted Gabriel in the canvas “The Annunciation”. The angel, kneeling, with a majestic gesture blesses the future mother of Jesus Christ. The painting was painted in 1475 and is now in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

"The Annunciation", Leonardo da Vinci

Film adaptations

Currently, filmmakers often turn to the image of the archangel. But it should be borne in mind that in most cases directors do not follow the biblical canons, and therefore their interpretation is very rarely related to the original. As a rule, Hollywood stories about Gabriel are free fantasies, seasoned with a desire to shock the viewer.

• One of the earliest film images was seen in the 1976 Italian film “The Second Tragic Fantozzi.” The hero communicates with an angel while delirious.
• In the mystical trilogy "Prophecy", which was released between 1995 and 2000, the archangel is presented as a misanthrope who takes revenge on people for being endowed with a soul.
• In the film “Van Helsing” (2004), the main character is named Gabriel Van Helsing and sees his mission in exterminating vampires and other evil spirits. Once the archangel was sent by God to fight Dracula, but then he forgot his divine origin and began to consider himself an ordinary person.
• The film Constantine (2005) tells the story of an exorcist who comes into conflict with Mammon, the son of Lucifer, who wants to create hell on Earth. Fighting on the side of Mammon is the half-blood angel Gabriel, played by actress Tilda Swinton. Of course, this creature has nothing in common with the biblical image of an archangel.
• The American TV series Supernatural, which tells the story of two brothers who fight the forces of evil, has very high ratings. Gabriel in this series does not serve the Lord, but behaves like a mystical prankster, plotting intrigues for the main characters and his brother angels. At the same time, he still stands on the side of Light, not Darkness.
• In the 2007 Australian film “Angel of Light,” Gabriel is the main character whose mission is to overthrow the power of the devil established on Earth and restore the balance of the universe.
• In the film "Legion" (2010), Gabriel serves as the executor of the will of God, who decided to destroy humanity for its sins by organizing the Apocalypse. Mikhail is trying to stop these plans in order to save people.
• The Dominion series shows the confrontation between Michael, who acts as a protector of people, and Gabriel, who sees in humanity the source of evil and the reason for the disappearance of God.

Obviously, it is impossible to get a correct idea about angels from films and TV series, so anyone who wants to know the truth about Gabriel should better turn to canonical sources.

Angels are the army of Heaven

The Holy Scripture says: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). Theologians understand by heaven, among other things, the invisible spiritual world or Angels. In the Bible, Angels, from the book of Genesis to the Apocalypse, are presented as forces acting at the command of God and protecting pious people with their cover at His command.

Angels are the army of Heaven and therefore the Gospel says about them: “And suddenly a large army of heaven appeared with the angel, glorifying God and crying: glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:13 13-14 ).

“Angel of Rublev” (miniature of the Khitrovo Gospel). Angels are the messengers of God, they proclaim to people the commandments of the Lord

The main task of Angels is to proclaim God's commands to people. That is why they are called Angels, that is, messengers. There are countless angels and the human mind is not able to count them.

Saint Dionysius the Areopagite, a disciple of the holy Apostle Paul, divides the Angels into nine ranks, and divides the nine ranks of Angels into three hierarchies - each with three ranks - the highest, middle and lowest.

Angels

this is the lowest rank in the Heavenly hierarchy, therefore the closest to people

The first, highest hierarchy, closest to the Holy Trinity, is: Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. Second, middle - Power, Dominance and Strength. The third represents the Principalities, Archangels and Angels.

Angels in the Heavenly hierarchy are lower than all ranks and closest to people. That is why stories about them can often be found in the Holy Scriptures.

Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and other ethereal Heavenly Powers (Novgorod icon, late 15th century). Archangels are those messengers of God who bring great news

Archangels are great evangelists who bring great news. They reveal prophecies, enable people to know the will of God, strengthen faith in people, reveal its sacraments, etc. So, for example, each person has his own guardian angel.

Over all nine Heavenly ranks of Angels, Archangel Michael was appointed by God as the official and leader, as a faithful servant of God. All the names of the Archangels are indicated in the Holy Scriptures and each of them has a special ministry before God.