THIS week Christians of many traditions have remembered and celebrated the role of the angels in our lives, history and scriptures.

We have especially remembered Gabriel, Michael and Raphael.

So, what is it about angels that we find so fascinating and meaningful? Angels certainly appear in the Christian scriptures as messengers from God. We are told in Luke’s Gospel that Gabriel appears to Zechariah and to Mary, on both occasions to announce unexpected, and surprising, conceptions.

In the Book of Revelation, we hear of Michael overcoming evil and from Apocryphal scriptures we learn about Raphael (Book of Tobit) as the angel of healing, as well as Uriel and others in the Book of Enoch.

Angels are also recognised and valued by people of other faiths as messengers, guardians and creatures close to God. In Islam, the angel Jibreel (Gabriel) is regarded as dictating God’s words of the Holy Quran, while protecting angels are recognised in Judaism, as well as by many Christians, and for Hindus similar figures are there to guide and support.

People of no particular faith often have a sense that there is a spiritual realm which includes angels.

Our core beliefs as Christians are, of course, very precious to us but also, when we have something in common with people of other faiths and none, we can find a point of connection from which understanding and genuine sharing can grow.

Together with seraphim and cherubim, angels remind us that God’s creation extends far beyond our world to a heavenly realm we can only imagine. They remind us that we can be united as diverse beings of one Creator, valuing and practising care for each other, protecting the earth and growing peace in the world, together.

Kathy Pope

Co-ordinator, Churches Together in Cornwall