Angel Gabriel | |
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Detail of Gabriel from Pinturicchio's The Annunciation (1501)
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Archangel, Angel of Revelation | |
Venerated in |
Christianity Islam Judaism |
Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
Feast | September 29 with angels Michael and Raphael in Modern Catholic Church (post-1969); March 24 in Western Rite Orthodoxy (and General Roman Calendar before 1969); November 8 in Eastern Orthodox Church; and November 21 in Eastern Orthodox Church using the old style or Julian calendar. |
Attributes | Archangel; Clothed in blue or white garments; Carrying a lily, a trumpet, a shining lantern, a branch from Paradise, a scroll, and a scepter. |
Patronage | Telecommunication Workers, Radio Broadcasters, Messengers, Postal Workers, Clerics, Diplomats, Stamp Collectors,Portugal, Santander, Cebu, ambassadors |
In the Abrahamic religions, Gabriel (Hebrew: גַּבְרִיאֵל Gavri'el "God is my strength", Biblical Greek: Γαβριήλ, Gabriel; Amharic, Geez and Tigrinya: ገብርኤል, Arabic: جبريل or جبرائيل Jibril or Jibra'il) is an angel who typically serves as God's messenger.
Gabriel is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. In the Old Testament, he appears to the prophet Daniel, explaining Daniel's visions (Daniel 8:15–26, 9:21–27). In the Gospel of Luke, Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and the Virgin Mary, foretelling the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, respectively (Luke 1:11–38). In the Book of Daniel, he is referred to as "the man Gabriel", while in the Gospel of Luke, Gabriel is referred to as "an angel of the Lord" (Luke 1:11). Gabriel is not called an archangel in the Bible, but is so called in Intertestamental period sources like the Book of Enoch. In the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches, the archangels Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel are also referred to as saints. In Islam, Gabriel is considered an archangel whom God is believed to have sent with revelation to various prophets, including Muhammad. The 96th chapter of the Quran, The Clot, is believed by Muslims to have been the first chapter revealed by Gabriel to Muhammad.