BARACHIEL

Real Name: Barachiel

Identity/Class: Angel

Occupation: Archangel, guardian of the East Wind, prince of Raquia (see comments)

Group Membership: Angels of Heaven (specifically the Seraphim subclass of angels)

Affiliations: Angels of Heaven, Metatron (Enoch), the Seraphim

Enemies: Beleth, Necrodamus

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Barakiel, Baraqiel, Barbiel, Barchiel, Barquiel, "the Lightning of God"

Base of Operations: Presumably Heaven

First Appearance: The Book of Enoch text (estimated to be around the 2nd century - see comments);
    (adapted into Marvel Comics) Spirits of Vengeance I#2 (January, 2018)

Powers/Abilities: As an angel, Barachiel was an immortal being who revived upon physical death. He also possessed feathery wings capable of flight.

In battle, Barachiel often carried a fiery sword.

He was able to be harmed and even apparently killed by bullets fashioned from the Biblical silver paid to Judas to betray Jesus Christ.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6'2")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 170 lbs.)
Eyes: White (no visible irises)
Hair: Light brown

History:
(Third Book of Enoch 14:4) - Barachiel was an archangel of Heaven, appointed over lightning. As the mystic Enoch experienced a vision of Heaven, he encountered many angels including Barachiel.

(Third Book of Enoch 17:3) - As Enoch ascended into the form of the angel Metatron, he again encountered Barachiel, who was then prince of Raquia.

(Spirits of Vengeance I#2 (fb) - BTS) - Barachiel actively participated in the timeless war between Heaven and Hell. At some point in the modern era, Barachiel was captured by Necrodamus and hung upside down in an old abandoned factory/barn in Gethsemane Flats.

(Spirits of Vengeance I#2) - Necrodamus met with the demon Beleth in Gethsemane Flats and Necrodamus led Beleth into the factory/barn housing the barely alive Barachiel and his angelic compatriots. Remarking that he had a weapon designed to end the war between the two realms, Necrodamus pulled out a gun and pointed it at Barachiel, who goaded Necrodamus to shoot, muttering that the universe would just spit him back out again. Necrodamus replied by suggesting they put the gun to the test and he shot Barachiel and his allies several times, apparently killing the angels.

Comments: Created by Victor Gischler and David Baldeon.

    BIG thanks to Prime Eternal for stepping up with the Book of Enoch information and additions to the profile!

    It should be noted that very few angels were definitively named in the Bible - just Michael and Gabriel (the "Angel of Death" was later given the moniker of Azrael but it's not original to the Bible). However, various traditions have identified all manner of other angels. Barachiel falls into that camp. Barachiel originates from the Third Book of Enoch, a text which was apparently originally written in Hebrew. The earliest copies are from the 5th century but the text itself claimed to be from the 2nd century. Although all of the Enoch texts are considered apocryphal by the worldwide church, that didn't stop Barachiel from picking up a bit of fame.

    In mysticism, Barachiel is the angelic ruler of the planet Jupiter and patron of the signs Scorpio and Pisces, and he is the angel of the Ninth Mansion of the Moon (a system which incorporates angels and zodiac signs into the cycles of the moon). During the Ninth Mansion (supposedly), harvest and travelers are hindered and there is discord between humans.

    The Third Book of Enoch also refers to Barachiel as the ruler of Raquia, alias Second Heaven. This seems to be the same concept as that of firmament, which is referenced in Genesis as the dome surrounding Earth during its creation. The firmament is also a popular source of pseudoreligious speculation. --Prime Eternal

Profile by Proto-Man and Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Barachiel should be distinguished from:

• any other "Barachiel" characters
  

Appearances:
Spirits of Vengeance I#2 (January, 2018) - Victor Gischler (writer), David Baldeon (art), Chris Robinson (editor)

First posted: 11/19/2022
Last updated: 11/19/2022

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!

Back to Characters