Barachiel
Barachiel | |
|---|---|
 Archangel Barachiel Scattering FlowersbyBartolomé Román,17th century. | |
| Archangel | |
| Venerated in | Judaism,Eastern Catholic Churches,Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Feast | 8 November |
| Attributes | Rose, rose petals |
Barachiel(Hebrew:בַּרַכְאֵלBaraḵʾēl,"God has blessed" ),[1]also known asBarakel,is one of theArchangelsinJudaism,as well asByzantine CatholicandEastern Orthodoxtradition. He is the Archangel of Blessings.
In theThird Book of Enoch,he is described as one of the angelic princes, with a myriad of some 496,000 ministering angels attending him. He is described in theAlmadel of Solomonas one of the chief angels of the first and fourth chora.[2]In Jewish tradition, he is often associated with blessings, the planetJupiter,and theSephirahofChesed.[3]
Iconography
[edit]
Iniconography,Barachiel is sometimes shown holding a whiteroseagainst the chest, or with rose petals scattered on the clothing, particularly the cloak.[4]The scattering of rose petals was to symbolize or represent God's sweet blessings showering down on people. Barachiel is also depicted holding a bread basket or a staff, both of which symbolize the blessings of children that God bestows on parents.[5][better source needed]
Patronage
[edit]Barachiel's responsibilities are as varied as the blessings for which the archangel is named. Barachiel is also the chief of theguardian angelsand it is written that Barachiel may be prayed to for all the benefits which the guardian angel is thought to confer if one is not praying to the guardian angel directly, but as an intercession. He is seen as an official saint in Byzantine Catholic and Eastern Orthodox tradition, in particular a patron of family and married life.[5]He is also seen as the angel assigned by God to watch over converts (also called "adopted children of God" ) to assist them in their lives.[6]He is also invoked as the special guardian of those born on Saturday.[7]
Barachiel is also traditionally associated with the month of February and theZodiacalsignPisces.[8]He is also sometimes described as being the ruler of the planetJupiterand the zodiacal signScorpio.[2]
Literature
[edit]The Third Book of Enoch describes Archangel Barachiel as one of the Princes of the Host, who is appointed over the second heaven which is in the height of (Merom) Raqia. He and the other Holy Princes are also said to be accompanied by 496,000 myriads of Ministering Angels.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Strong's Hebrew Concordance - 1292. Barakel".
- ^abDavidson, Gustav.A Dictionary of Angels, including the Fallen Angels.New York: The Free Press, 1967,ISBN9780029070505
- ^Kaplan, Aryeh (1997).Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation in Theory and Practice(2nd Revised ed.). Weiser Books. p. 168.ISBN9781568215037.
- ^Roeder, Helen (1956).Saints and Their Attributes.Chicago:H. Regnery Co.LCCN56013630.
- ^ab"Archangel Barachiel, Angel of Blessings".Archived fromthe originalon 2014-07-10.Retrieved2014-08-24.
- ^"Finding the Way to the Heart: The Holy Archangels- Prayers Asking for Their Protection".19 December 2010.
- ^Prayer to Saint Barachiel the Archangel - Patron of Those Born on Saturday,retrieved2023-05-08
- ^Sisung, Kelle S., editor.Angels A to Z.New York: Gale Research, Inc. 1996.ISBN0-7876-0489-5.
- ^"Full text of" Hebrew book of Enoch (Enoch 3), Chapter. XVII ".
External links
[edit]- "The heavenly host and our modern life".Transfiguration of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Church.Archivedfrom the original on 14 December 2005.RetrievedDecember 22,2005.
- "The rational heavenly powers".Transfiguration of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Church.RetrievedDecember 22,2005.
- "Angel Names".Archived fromthe originalon 2006-12-06.