Barachiel is an archangel named in Orthodox Christian tradition and associated with God’s blessings. The Orthodox Church in America includes him among the archangels commemorated with Michael and the other heavenly powers.
Barachiel in Orthodox tradition
The Orthodox Church in America’s account of the November 8 commemoration describes Barachiel as distributing divine blessings and asking God’s mercy for people. It also describes the white rose on his breast in iconography.
A reflection by Metropolitan Tikhon likewise names Barachiel in the Orthodox archangel tradition. These are sources for that community’s veneration and imagery, rather than evidence that every religion uses the same list.
Barachiel, Barakiel, and Baraqiel
Similar spellings occur in other angelological works, but their functions need to be checked in the cited edition. In Hugo Odeberg’s translation of 3 Enoch, chapter 14:4, the name printed as Baraqiel is assigned to lightning.
In 1 Enoch 6:7, Charles prints Barâqîjâl in the Watcher leader list. These passages should not be combined with the Orthodox description to produce an unsupported biography in which Barachiel has every role and rank found under a similar name.
What can the sources establish?
The Orthodox sources establish Barachiel’s place in their archangel tradition and his association with blessings. The Enochic references show why similarly named figures require comparison. They do not, by themselves, establish a single universal angelic identity or hierarchy.
For a particular number of attendants, planetary assignment, or patronage, an exact textual citation is more useful than a name match in a modern compilation.
Explore related entries
Read about Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel, explore the name index, or consult our sources guide.