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 |
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), in the Abrahamic religions, is an angel who typically serves as God's messenger.
In the Jewish scriptures, Gabriel appears to the prophet Daniel, to explain his visions (Daniel 8:15–26, 9:21–27). Gabriel the archangel is also a character in other ancient Jewish writings such as the Book of Enoch.
In the Christian New Testament in the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah and the Virgin Mary, foretelling the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, respectively (Luke 1:11–38). In many Christian traditions including Anglican, Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic, Gabriel is also referred to as a saint.
In Islam, Gabriel is an archangel whom God 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.