Archangel Uriel: The Forgotten Guardian of Paradise

According to the writings of the theologian Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite (5th–6th centuries CE), the celestial hierarchy is divided into three choirs: the first includes seraphim, cherubim, and thrones; the second, dominions, virtues, and powers; and the third, principalities, archangels, and angels.

Although the Catholic Church only recognizes the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, numerous archangels are venerated in popular Catholic beliefs and other religious traditions, each attributed different roles.

One of these apocryphal archangels is Uriel, who is considered the fourth in the hierarchy of archangels, after Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. His name means ‘Light of God’, which is why it holds a flame in his hand as an iconographic attribute.

Uriel is mentioned in the Book of Enoch, a text that, despite not being part of the biblical canon, has had a significant influence on Christian religiosity.

According to beliefs, Uriel was the one who expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Paradise and is responsible for guarding its entrance.

This archangel is also known as the bearer of the purifying fire in the Apocalypse.

Due to his association with divine justice, Uriel is also often depicted holding a flaming sword.

Its image often features androgynous traits, reflecting the belief that angels are genderless beings with a purely spiritual nature.

The images of archangels, both those authorized by the Church and apocryphal ones, had a catechetical and protective function in colonial churches.

In the context of Nueva Granada, the angelic series of the Church of Sopó stands out, as well as the one surrounding the presbytery and crypt of the former Temple of Santa Clara, to which this painting belongs.