Archangel Uriel is the angel of abundance, of economic and personal miracles. Believers entrust themselves to him to improve their financial and personal lives.
In this article, we will discover who this archangel is, why he is considered the archangel of abundance , and at the end, we will leave you a link to another article in case you want to entrust yourself to him to improve or bring abundance to some aspect of your life.
Who was Archangel Uriel?
According to some religions, such as Judaism, Catholicism, and Coptic Christianity, Archangel Uriel is one of the ruling princes of the Seraphim and Cherubim, one of the angels ruling the sun, and also one of the princes of the Divine Presence and an angel of salvation. He is one of the seven archangels who are to come with the Apocalypse. Interestingly, his name does not appear in the Bible, but he is mentioned in apocryphal texts under various names: Uriel, Nuriel, Uyan, Vretil, Suriel, and others. The angel of starlight, Uriel's name means "fire/light of God . "
In the Book of Adam and Eve, Uriel is identified as the angel who stands at the gates of Eden with a flaming sword to prevent humans from entering the Tree of Life. He is also said to be one of the angels who buried Adam and Abel.
In the Book of Enoch, Uriel is mentioned on several occasions as the angel of the world and the place of the dead, also as the angel of thunder and earthquake.
He is also sometimes identified as Regent of the Sun or Flame of God , Archangel of Salvation over Hell.
The 7 Archangels
Archangels can be found in various religions, from the Bible to Hinduism. The seven Archangels of the Apocalypse are named Michael, Jophiel, Chamuel, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, and Zadkiel. Each one represents and is responsible for a specific role.
- Archangel Michael: Power, strength and faith. He is the one in charge of providing protection and keeping everything in order and balance.
- Archangel Jophiel: the archangel of wisdom. Who makes sure there is inspiration and concentration.
- Archangel Chamuel: that of love, union and pure relationships. Helps with understanding, patience and tolerance with partners.
- Archangel Gabriel: that of purity, that which gives us communication and clarity to transmit what we want to say to the other.
- Archangel Raphael: that of health and physical and spiritual healing.
- Archangel Uriel: the protagonist of this article, the one who brings prosperity and abundance and gives strength in the face of complications.
- Archangel Zadkiel: that of joy, freedom and diplomacy. It helps us turn negative into positive.
Actually, when we talk about the seven archangels of the Apocalypse, the Bible only names three: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. The other four are not named, although it is stated that there are seven. The Book of Revelation recounts the end times and refers to the seven spirits of God who stand before his throne. The others, including Uriel, appear more frequently in apocryphal texts. Of these four, Uriel is the one who stands out the most.
The Archangel Uriel was venerated in antiquity until a specific incident occurred in which a man named Adalbert invoked various angels in his prayers, including Uriel, and was condemned by Pope Zachary in 745 during the Council of Rome. From that moment on, the name of Uriel was forbidden and his images were destroyed. Until then, there had been widespread idolatry of angels, and the Pope intended to make it clear that the teachings of the Church were superior to the worship of angels. Therefore, only the archangels mentioned in the Bible—Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael—were considered permissible.
Different churches and religions interpret the number of archangels according to the texts they consider valid. The Orthodox Church recognizes seven archangels and sometimes even includes an eighth. The Coptic Church also recognizes seven. The Anglican Church recognizes four archangels: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel. The Protestant Church recognizes only three: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
In the Apocalypse of Peter , Uriel would be the Archangel of Repentance, he would be a merciless being and he is the one who would have the key that opens Hell at the end of times.
Iconography and iconology
When we talk about iconography and iconology in art, we're referring to the elements—colors, clothing, animals, etc.—that accompany the figures depicted in a work of art, such as painting. These elements tell us who the person represented is. For example, if we find a crucified man with nails in his hands and feet, we know it's Christ. If, on the other hand, we find a bearded man holding keys, it would be Saint Peter. Or, if, for example, we see a bearded man holding a lightning bolt, it's the god Zeus.
In this ingenious and simple way, art has provided iconography or symbols for the figures it sought to represent, so that anyone could know who they were looking at. It is, in essence, a way for the imagery to reach everyone, regardless of their reading ability.
Iconography of Archangel Uriel
Uriel is usually depicted with an androgynous face and body, meaning it is unclear whether he is male or female. He has wings, signifying his angelic nature, and is accompanied by fire, a flaming sword, or a sun, representing the fire of God. He often carries a book or papyrus scroll as a symbol of his wisdom and is considered the patron of the arts. He has been described as the spirit with the keenest vision in all of heaven.
He is often depicted as the intermediary between man and God. Perhaps one of his most famous representations is in Leonardo da Vinci's "The Virgin of the Rocks."
In this work by Da Vinci, we don't see swords or flames alongside the Archangel, but we do see Saint John the Baptist. Apocryphal texts recount that Uriel helped raise Saint John the Baptist , and for this reason, this saint serves to identify the Archangel and is also the reason the artist decided to include him in his work. The story tells how he saved Saint John the Baptist from the massacre of infants ordered by Herod. He led the child and his mother to Egypt, where he would be reunited with the infant Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. It is precisely this fragment that inspired the Virgin of the Rocks.
Archangels are also commonly depicted in stained-glass windows decorating grand cathedrals and churches. These windows illuminated, and still illuminate, the interior with a celestial glow. Sometimes their names are also included, as we can see in the stained-glass window below.
Stained glass window in the Cathedral of Puebla, Zaragoza
Why ask Archangel Uriel for help?
We should turn to Archangel Uriel when we find ourselves in a time of life where finances, provisions, or good fortune are insufficient and we need them to improve. He is also the one we should call upon when we want to be at peace with ourselves and, therefore, have inner abundance—abundance understood as joy, peace, and confidence. Or we can directly ask him to guide us on the path he deems best for us toward abundance.
To ask for all of this, we can do so by praying a prayer that we can create ourselves or using a pre-made prayer. If you would like to know more about this, you can read the following article: Prayer to Archangel Uriel, the one of financial miracles
