Why the archangel Uriel was erased from official church history by the Pope

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Though often counted among the seven archangels, Uriel occupies a strange space in religious tradition. While revered in esoteric literature and Eastern Orthodoxy, he was officially struck from the Roman Catholic list of venerated angels in 745 AD to curb what the Church feared was becoming dangerous angel worship.

Uriel, whose name translates from Hebrew as 'God is my flame' or 'God is my light,' is a figure of immense complexity. Unlike Michael and Gabriel, who appear in the canonical Hebrew Bible, Uriel is primarily found in apocryphal and apocalyptic texts. He is frequently cast as an instructor of prophets, most notably in the Second Book of Esdras, where he guides Ezra through divine mysteries. In the Book of Enoch, he serves as a celestial witness, warning Noah of the coming flood and acting as a guide for Enoch during his visions of the end times.

The archangel's roles are as varied as the traditions that claim him. He has been identified as a cherub, a seraph, the regent of the sun, and the guardian of the gates of Eden, often depicted wielding a fiery sword. In some Christian apocryphal gospels, he plays a protective role in the life of John the Baptist, while Ethiopian Orthodox iconography famously depicts him holding a chalice filled with the blood of Christ. His association with wisdom is so profound that the University of Oxford’s motto, 'Dominus illuminatio mea,' is a direct Latin translation of his name.

Despite this prestige, Uriel's status has been precarious. In 745 AD, Pope Zachary convened the Council of Rome to address the growing trend of angelolatry. Seeking to limit the veneration of angels to only those named in the recognized Catholic canon—Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael—the Pope officially removed Uriel from the list of angels eligible for public worship. Nevertheless, his influence persisted through the centuries, appearing in the works of John Milton, who called him the 'sharpest sighted spirit of all in Heaven,' and Ralph Waldo Emerson, who used the figure to symbolize his own poetic theories.

Today, Uriel remains a patron of the arts and sciences in Eastern Orthodox tradition and is recognized as the fourth archangel in Anglicanism. From his role as a 'demon-like judge' in modern fiction to his historical identity as an angel of thunder and earthquake, Uriel continues to bridge the gap between ancient apocalyptic literature and the modern imagination, remaining a persistent, if unofficial, presence in the hierarchy of heaven.

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