Archangel in the context of "Michael (archangel)"

In the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), Gabriel (/ˈɡeɪbriəl/ GAY-bree-əl) is an archangel with the power to announce God's will to mankind, as the messenger of God. He is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and the Quran.

In the Book of Daniel, Gabriel appears to the prophet Daniel to explain his visions. The archangel also appears in the Book of Enoch and other ancient Jewish writings not preserved in Hebrew. Alongside the archangel Michael, Gabriel is described as the guardian angel of the Israelites, defending them against the angels of the other peoples.

The Feast of the Annunciation (Greek: Ο Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου, romanized: O Evangelismós tis Theotókou, lit. 'the Annunciation of the Mother of God') commemorates the visit of the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, during which he informed her that she would be the mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is celebrated on 25 March; however, if 25 March falls either in Holy Week or in Easter Week, the feast is postponed to the Monday after the Second Sunday of Easter.

Other names for the feast include the Solemnity of the Annunciation, Lady Day, Feast of the Incarnation (Festum incarnationis), and Conceptio Christi (Christ's Conception).

Chalking the door is a Christian Epiphanytide tradition used to bless one's home. It is normatively in the pattern of four crosses positioned in between the traditional initials of the three wise men, which are surrounded by the first two and last two digits of the current year (e.g. 20 ✝ C ✝ M ✝ B ✝ 25). The practice of chalking the door originated in medieval Europe, though it has spread throughout worldwide Christendom.

In the Western liturgical year, Lady Day is the common name in some English-speaking and Scandinavian countries of the Feast of the Annunciation, celebrated on 25 March to commemorate the annunciation of the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she would bear Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Uriel /ˈʊəriəl/, Auriel (Hebrew: אוּרִיאֵל ʾŪrīʾēl, "El/God is my Flame"; Greek: Οὐριήλ Oúriḗl; Coptic: ⲟⲩⲣⲓⲏⲗ Ouriēl; Italian: Uriele; Geʽez and Amharic: ዑራኤል ʿUraʾēl or ዑርኤል ʿUriʾēl) or Oriel (Hebrew: אוֹרִיאֵל ʾÓrīʾēl, "El/God is my Light") is the name of one of the archangels who is mentioned in Rabbinic tradition and in certain Christian traditions.

He is well known in the Russian Orthodox tradition and in folk Catholicism (in both of which he is considered to be one of the seven major archangels) and recognised in Anglicanism as the fourth archangel. He is also well known in European esoteric medieval literature. Uriel is also known as a master of knowledge and the archangel of wisdom.