Ahura Mazda also distinguished from himself six more Amesha Spentas, who, along with Spenta Mainyu, aided in the creation of the physical universe. To maintain equilibrium, Ahura Mazda engaged in the first act of creation, distinguishing his Holy Spirit Spenta Mainyu, the Archangel of righteousness. The Avesta explains the origin and nature of archangels or Amesha Spentas.
They individually inhabit immortal bodies that operate in the physical world to protect, guide, and inspire humanity and the spirit world. The Amesha Spentas ( Avestan: Aməša Spəṇta, meaning "immortal holiness") of Zoroastrianism are likened to archangels. See also: Amesha Spenta and ZoroastrianismĪn increasing number of experts in anthropology, theology and philosophy, believe that Zoroastrianism contains the earliest distillation of prehistoric belief in angels. In Zoroastrianism, sacred texts allude to the six great Amesha Spenta (literally "Bounteous/Holy Immortals") of Ahura Mazda. Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael are always mentioned the other archangels vary, but most commonly include Uriel, who is mentioned in 2 Esdras. Some branches of the faiths mentioned have identified a group of seven Archangels, but the named angels vary, depending on the source. Jewish literature, such as the Book of Enoch, also mentions Metatron as an archangel, called the "highest of the angels", though the acceptance of this angel is not canonical in all branches of the faith. The named archangels in Islam are Jibrael, Mikael, Israfil, and Azrael. Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael are venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast on September 29 (between 19, March 24 for Gabriel and October 24 for Raphael), and in the Eastern Orthodox Church on November 8 (if the Julian calendar is used, this corresponds to November 21 in the Gregorian). Raphael-mentioned in the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit-is also recognized as a chief angel in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Some Protestants consider Michael to be the only archangel. Michael and Gabriel are recognized as archangels in Judaism, Islam, and by most Christians.
The four archangels, mosaics at St John's Church, Warminster
0 kommentar(er)
