Archangels
Archangels are a higher order of
Angel — the word 'Archangel' is derived from the Greek words arkhi ('chief') and angelos ('messenger').
Archangels are usually pretty dramatic — this is Michael slaying Lucifer in a real "clash of the Titans."
Some Archangels have played key roles in the stories of the major religions: Gabriel, for instance, was responsible for telling Mary she was pregnant with Jesus, as well as dictating the
Koran to Mohammed.
There are Archangels associated with the
Tree of Life, the planets of
western astrology, the
four worlds and the
four directions.
While
Angels can be thought of as taking care of the needs of individual people, plants, places, etc., Archangels have a wider remit. For example, Raphael is the Archangel of healing, but would not be concerned with an individual healer — that is the job of the healer's own guardian Angel.
Archangels are part of a hierarchy of celestial beings, with Angels closest to earth, and the
Cherubim, and
Seraphim above them in that order.
Related sites
Soul School∞
Related Topics
Angels
Cherubim
Kabballah
Seraphim
Tree of Life