Archangels are high-ranking celestial messengers or chief angels found in various religious traditions, most notably Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. The exact number and names vary depending on whether you look at standard biblical texts, ancient Jewish apocrypha like the Book of Enoch, or Eastern Orthodox and Catholic traditions. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

The Core Archangels in Scripture

• Michael: Leader of the heavenly armies and protector of God’s people, whose name means “Who is like God?”
• Gabriel: The celestial messenger known for delivering major divine announcements, such as to Mary and Daniel, meaning “God’s power” or “Strength of God”.
• Raphael: Associated with healing and guidance, featured in the Book of Tobit, meaning “God heals”. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

The Extended Seven Archangels

Many traditions (including Eastern Orthodoxy and ancient texts like the Book of Enoch) expand the core group to seven archangels: [1, 2, 3, 4]

• Uriel: The angel of light, wisdom, and repentance.
• Raguel: The angel of justice and fairness.
• Selaphiel (or Salafiel): Patron of prayer and worship.
• Barachiel: The angel of blessings and guidance.