Archangles are referred to in both Bible and the Qur'an, as well as in many Jewish, Christian and Islamic apocryphal texts. They belong to the Nine Orders of Angels as the eighth group. Below archangels are the "ordinary" angels.
Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and Uriel are the four archangels who are mentioned most often in Christian, Hebrew, Kabbalistic and Islamic traditions. However, the actual number of archangels differs in these various religions. For instance, Christian tradition holds that there are seven archangels although only Raphael, Gabriel and Michael are named in the Bible.
Artists have usually depicted archangels as male figures. Nonetheless, since no evidence of gender extending to archangels, the male bias in representation is just cultural.
Michael
In Hebrew "Michael" means "one who is like God". He is the most prominent archangel in Hebrew, Christian and Islamic tradition, and is considered to be the leader of the Host of Heaven. They defended heaven against the forces of evil in The Book of Revelations of St John the Divine. Michael is the protection archangel who defends people and he is the patron of policemen.
God has created Michael, put him in charge of nature, rain, thunder, snow wind, lightnings and clouds, and placed a complete creation of angels under his command. Michael is believed to hold the keys of Heaven's Gate and decide whether the soul goes into heaven or purgatory. The role of the old guardian angel of Israel is often attributed to Michael.
Michael is believed to have appeared to Moses as the fire in the burning bush, and to have rescued Daniel from the lions' den. Together with Gabriel, he was the one the Prophet Mohammad used to send for in connection to important matters concerning human beings.
Michael is the angel of mercy, repentance and righteousness. September 29th, Michael mass, is the day of celebration for the glory of Michael.
Gabriel
The name Gabriel stands for "Man of God" or "God Has Shown Himself Mightily". As a warrior, Gabriel will fight the last great battle with Leviathan, symbol of chaos, at the end of time. It is believed that Gabriel selects the souls to be given birth and spends nine months with them, informing them of all they need to know on Earth, and finally silences the child before birth by pressing his finger on the child's lips.
Gabriel is one of the four archangels of Islam as the angel of revelations, and it is said that he dictated Qur'an to Muhammad. In Christian beliefs he announced the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. He will blow the horn announcing the second coming of Christ and is also the trumpeter who will sound the Last Judgement. In Hebrew literature, he guards the left side of people while they sleep. He sits on the left side of Yahweh, Jehovah, God of the Jewish people.
Gabriel is the archangel of revelation, resurrection, annunciation, heavenly mercy, truth and hope. He brings news and heralds the revealing of answers. He is the patron of communications and postal workers.
Raphael
Raphael, meaning "God has healed" or "God heals", is an angel of healing. This identity was given to him due to a biblical story where he is claimed to have healed the earth after it was defiled by the sins of the fallen angels. He is in charge of protecting the young, the innocent and travelers.
In the Bible he appears in the Book of Tobit. He accompanies a young Tobiah on the journey to a city of Rages, helps him find a wife and secure the debt he came to collect. Raphael also heals Tobit from his blindness. According to Talmud, he is one of the three angels who visited Abraham after his circumscision.
Raphael is the angel of prayer, love, joy, providence, healing, light, science, and knowledge. He is associated with spring and rebirth.
Uriel
"Uriel" means "Fire of God", "Flame of God", "Light of God" and even "Sun of God". Uriel is often referred to as the Great Archangel of Earth, and his influence is most felt during the summer. He is the archangel of salvation.
Uriel is said to have warned Noah of the impending deluge, to have helped bury Adam and Abel in Paradise, to have interpreted prophecies and to have led Abraham out of Ur. Legend has it that Uriel stands at the gate of Lost Eden holding a fiery sword. In the legend he reminds humanity to love God by using the "fire of God", that is, the fiery sword.
Uriel is the ruler of magic, devotion, astrology, enlightement, insights and sudden changes, aka "The Winds of Change". He helps turn one's worst disappointments into one's greatest blessings.
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