gels. Michael (whose names means "like unto God") is the captain-general of the host of heaven, protector of the Hebrew nation, conqueror of the hosts of hell, lord and guardian of souls, and patron saint and prince of the church Militant. Gabriel ("God is my strength") is the guardian of the Blessed Virgin, the bearer of important messages, the angel of the Annunciation, and the preceptor of the patriarch Joseph. Raphael ("the medicine of God") is the chief of guardian angels and the conductor of the young Tobias. Uriel ("the light of God") is the strong companion, the regent of the sun, and the teacher of Esdras. Chamuel ("one who sees God") is thought to be the one who wrestled with Jacob and who appeared to Christ during his agony in the garden, though others believe this was Gabriel. Jophiel ("the beauty of God") is the guardian of the tree of knowledge and the one who drove Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden he is also the protector of those who seek truth, the preceptor of the sons of Noah, and the enemy of all those who pursue vain knowledge. Zadkiel ("the righteousness of God") is said by some to be the one who stayed the hand of Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, while others believe this was done by Michael. The attributes of Michael are the sword and scales. For Gabriel it is the lily. For Raphael, it is the staff and gourd of the pilgrim. For Uriel it is a roll and a book. For Chameul it is a cup and a staff. For Jophiel it is a flaming sword. For Zadkiel it is the sacrificial knife. When they are represented merely as Archangels and not in their distinctive characters, they are seen in complete armor, holding their swords with points upwards, and sometimes with trumpets (Clement, 1891, 14-16).
Consider how the iconography of Michael i
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