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Is St Uriel a Biblical Archangel?
There are three angels who are identified by name in the Sacred Scriptures. St Michael is Prince of the Heavenly Host. Michael means “Who is like God?” St Gabriel is the Messenger of God who announed the Incarnation of Christ to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Gabriel means “Mighty Man of God.” The third is found in the deutrocanonical book of Tobit and his name is St Raphael. Raphael means “Healing of God.” Tradition has it that he is the angel who stirs up the waters of the healing pool in St John’s Gospel.
John 5:4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
But there is a fourth who is not mentioned by name. However, 1 Enoch, 4 Esdras, and the Apocalypse of St Peter mention the fourth angel as St Uriel. Uriel means “fire of God,” and tradition associates him with the “angel of fire” in the book of Revelation.
Revelation 14:18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.”
Given that both St Gregory the Great and Dionysius list Uriel as an Archangel, it seems that St Uriel does have a place in the Christian tradition. Perhaps it is he who is the “angel who had charge of the fire” in the canonical Apocalypse of St John.
For more information see the Wikipedia article: Uriel the Archangel.
There are three angels who are identified by name in the Sacred Scriptures. St Michael is Prince of the Heavenly Host. Michael means “Who is like God?” St Gabriel is the Messenger of God who announed the Incarnation of Christ to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Gabriel means “Mighty Man of God.” The third is found in the deutrocanonical book of Tobit and his name is St Raphael. Raphael means “Healing of God.” Tradition has it that he is the angel who stirs up the waters of the healing pool in St John’s Gospel.
John 5:4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
But there is a fourth who is not mentioned by name. However, 1 Enoch, 4 Esdras, and the Apocalypse of St Peter mention the fourth angel as St Uriel. Uriel means “fire of God,” and tradition associates him with the “angel of fire” in the book of Revelation.
Revelation 14:18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.”
Given that both St Gregory the Great and Dionysius list Uriel as an Archangel, it seems that St Uriel does have a place in the Christian tradition. Perhaps it is he who is the “angel who had charge of the fire” in the canonical Apocalypse of St John.
For more information see the Wikipedia article: Uriel the Archangel.
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