The orders of angels are an important part of Christian culture. After all, even in heaven there is a strict hierarchy. We will help you understand angelic chinaz in this article.
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The ranks of angels - what are they and why are they needed
The kingdom of God is like any organization. If these words seem blasphemous to you, then think about where people got their structure of society from? God made man in his own image and likeness, which means he handed down the hierarchy to us. Moreover, let us remember that he bears the title Archangel, that is, the commander-in-chief of the heavenly army. This alone can say that the ranks of angels really exist.
Ancient icon Image of St. Michael the Archangel, leader of the heavenly army. Russia XIX century
What are they created for? As in any organization, so in heaven, there must be a chain of command. Without it, disorder and anarchy will reign in the organization. And it was precisely for refusing to obey that he was expelled. And let us remember that each of the angels has its own, so to speak, field of activity. So, without a clear hierarchy, it is simply impossible to establish order in such a structure. In general, the nine angelic ranks were created by God precisely in order to manage the heavenly kingdom as effectively as possible.
The Creator, naturally, is endowed with limitless power and possibilities - how else would he create the whole world? But you should understand that even he sometimes needs to escape from one problem in order to take care of another. Especially real world too fragile to withstand direct divine intervention. Let's not forget, which is the Voice of God. After all, if the Creator turns to a person directly, then he simply will not withstand the power of the true voice and will die. This is why God needs help. Excessive strength imposes its own limitations.
Nine angelic ranks
Yes, this seemingly monolithic organization has its problems. On at least one occasion, a rift was brewing among the angels. But it happened because of, who was able to attract a few rebels to his side. From this we can conclude that the basis of the problems is not the reasonableness of the hierarchy, which no one questions. The problem is that only the Lord himself can be perfect in this world. Even Adam and Eve, his beloved children, succumbed to the temptations of the Serpent. Yes, you can make a discount on the freedom of choice given to them. But if their souls were completely pure, then the flattering speeches of the Enemy would not have had their destructive effect.
If we sum up all of the above, it turns out that there is no hierarchy in Heaven. Everything is like people. But should this be surprising? Unlikely. Any organization is called upon to exclude, so to speak, human factor. In our case - angelic. It doesn’t always work out, but how could it be otherwise? Even such a perfect being as God can have mistakes.
9 angelic ranks of the heavenly hierarchy
About how much Christian religion angelic ranks, we have already said. There are 9 angelic ranks. Now let's get to the bottom of it - what are the ranks of angels and their names? You need to start the story with the fact that the ranks are divided into triads angels. They were created for a reason - each triad unites certain group angels. The first is those who are directly close to the Lord. The second emphasizes the divine basis of the universe and world dominion. The third is those who are directly close to humanity. Let's look at each in more detail.
Angelic ranks in Orthodoxy
The first triad consists of seraphim, cherubim and thrones. . These six-winged creatures live in constant movement. They are often confused with muses, who can also kindle the fire of life in the souls of mortals. But at the same time, seraphim can scorch a person with their heat. Cherubim are guardian angels. They are the ones that guard the tree of life, which appeared after the expulsion of Adam and Eve. The first representatives of the great Mistrust, because before the Expulsion the tree did not need to be protected. Thrones are not part of the interior. They are the third rank of the first triad, they are often called the Mirrors of Wisdom. They reflect divine providence, and with their help, heavenly souls can predict the future.
The second triad includes powers, dominations and powers. The forces are engaged in transferring to mortals a piece of divine power. They help in difficult times to take one’s head, so to speak, and not despair. Dominance - middle rank in angelic hierarchy, personify the craving for freedom and independence, convey to people the desire to remove themselves from inequality. Authorities are the rank that closes the second triad. Some texts, the Gospels, for example, say that authorities can be both helpers of good and minions of evil. Carry out manifestations of divine power in the human world.
The third triad completes the hierarchy ladder. It includes the principles, archangels and angels. The Principles are the angelic rank that governs the human Hierarchies. There is a version that it was with their permission that the monarchs were anointed. Archangels are senior angels who control the angels themselves. As an example, Archangel Michael the Archangel, the chief of the angelic army. Angels are those who are most involved in people's lives. They bring messages from God, they fight in his name, they give him honor and glory.
These are all the angelic orders that exist in the Christian religion. In different interpretations they may be different quantities, from 9 to 11. But the most reliable is the one mentioned in the works of Dionysius by the Areopagite. They were written at the end of the 5th or early 6th century. This is a whole collection of research texts, the purpose of which was to bring clarity to the lives of celestial beings. The theologian asked himself difficult questions and tried to answer them as clearly as possible. He did it. The key to such success was the researcher’s spirituality and most powerful force thoughts. He read many texts just to satisfy his and our curiosity. We can say that the theologian simply summarized everything that had been written before him. And this is true, but partially. Even such a seemingly simple job required titanic efforts.
Angelic ranks in Orthodoxy
Between Orthodox and Catholic there is a difference in culture. She also touched upon the roles assigned to the angelic ranks. Yes, if you look in general, the differences will not be striking. Still, even if they are different confessions, they are of the same religion. How are the angelic ranks different in Orthodoxy?
All 9 angelic orders are depicted in “The Assumption” by Francesco Botticini.
Firstly - in Orthodox religion no triads. There are degrees here. There are also three of them, and they are called - Higher, Middle, Lower. They differ from each other in their “distance” from the divine throne. This in no way means that God loves the Lower degree less than the Higher. Of course not. It’s just that if the first is in direct contact with people, doing the will of God, then mortals almost never see the second.
The next big difference is the degree of personalization. In Orthodoxy, individual angelic personalities appear more often. They are given honor as intercessors and guardians. In Catholicism this happens much less often. Although here, like Catholics, there are 9 angels, 9 ranks of angels. Both faiths used the same texts, and minor differences can be attributed to different interpretations. , for example, reflect wisdom rather than guardianship. They have the highest spiritual wisdom and can use it. For the good, of course, by telling his fellow men how best to carry out this or that command of the Lord.
Let us dwell on the last degree, the lower angelic rank, their description and meaning. In Orthodoxy they are given the most attention, because they are more often shown to people. Some higher archangels are given names such as Michael, Gabriel, Raphael. Ordinary angels communicate most closely with people, even becoming personal guardians and intercessors. take custody of every mortal, instructing and helping him, pushing him along the path of God's Plan, the so-called Great Plan.
What is the hierarchy of angels in Christianity? There are seraphim, cherubim, archangels... And who is next to whom in terms of seniority?
The basis for the creation of church teaching about angels is the book “On the Heavenly Hierarchy” written in the 5th century by Dionysius the Areopagite, better known in the 6th century edition. The nine angelic ranks are divided into three triads, each of which has some peculiarity.
First triad– seraphim, cherubim and thrones – characterized by immediate proximity to God;
Second triad– strength, domination and power – emphasizes the divine basis of the universe and world dominion;
Third triad– beginnings, archangels and angels themselves – are characterized by close proximity to humans.
Dionysius summarized what had been accumulated before him. Seraphim, cherubim, powers and angels are already mentioned in the Old Testament; in the New Testament dominions, principalities, thrones, powers and archangels appear.
According to the classification of Gregory the Theologian (IV century), the angelic hierarchy consists of angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, principles, powers, radiances, ascensions and understandings.
According to their position in the hierarchy, the nine angelic ranks are arranged as follows:
First hierarchy
Seraphim
Cherubim
Thrones
Second hierarchy
Dominations
Third hierarchy
Archangels
1. Seraphim
Seraphim are angels of love, light and fire. They take up the most high position in the hierarchy of ranks and serve God, taking care of his throne. Seraphim express their love for God by constantly singing psalms of praise.
2. Cherubim
The word "cherub" means "fullness of knowledge" or "outpouring of wisdom." This choir has the power to know and contemplate God and the ability to understand and communicate divine knowledge to others.
3. Thrones
The term "thrones" or "many-eyed" refers to their proximity to the throne of God. This is the closest rank to God: they receive both their divine perfection and consciousness directly from Him.
4. Dominations
Holy dominions are endowed with sufficient power to rise above and free themselves from earthly desires and aspirations. Their duty is to distribute the responsibilities of the angels.
5. Powers
The forces known as "brilliant or radiant" are angels of miracles, help, blessings that appear during battles in the name of faith.
The main duties of these angels are to perform miracles on Earth.
They are allowed to interfere in everything that concerns physical laws on earth, but they are also responsible for enforcing these laws. By this rank, the fifth in the Hierarchy of Angels, humanity is given valor as well as mercy.
6. Authorities
Authorities are on the same level as dominions and powers, and are endowed with power and intelligence second only to God's. They provide balance to the universe.
7. Beginnings
The principles are legions of angels protecting religion. They constitute the seventh choir in the Dionysian hierarchy, immediately preceding the archangels. The beginnings give strength to the peoples of the Earth to find and survive their destiny. They are also believed to be the guardians of the peoples of the world.
8. Archangels
Archangels is the word Greek origin and is translated as “angel leaders”, “senior angels”. According to the Christian celestial hierarchy, they rank directly above the angels. Religious tradition has seven archangels. The main one here is Michael the Archangel - the leader of the armies of angels and people in their universal battle with Satan. Michael's weapon is a flaming sword.
9. Angels
Both the Greek and Hebrew words for "angel" mean "messenger." Angels are God's incorporeal helpers. They appear as people with wings and a halo of light around their heads.
Good and evil angels, messengers of God or the devil, converge in a decisive battle described in the book of Revelation. There may be angels ordinary people, prophets, inspiring good deeds, supernatural bearers of all kinds of messages or mentors, and even impersonal forces, like the winds, cloud pillars or fire that guided the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. Plague and pestilence are called evil angels. Many other phenomena, such as inspiration, sudden impulses, providences, are also attributed to angels.
According to the teachings of the church, angels are genderless invisible spirits, immortal from the day of their creation. There are many angels, which follows from the Old Testament description of God - “Lord of hosts.” They form a hierarchy of angels and archangels of the entire heavenly army.
Angels served as intermediaries between God and his people. IN Old Testament it is said that no one could see God and remain alive, so direct communication between the Almighty and man is often depicted as communication with an angel.
Having created people in His image and likeness, the Lord introduced into their lives many elements inherent Heavenly Kingdom. One of them is the hierarchy inherent in both human society, and to the world of angels ─ ethereal forces, surrounding the Throne of God. The position of each of them depends on the significance of the mission he performs. Our article will discuss how many angelic ranks there are in the Christian religion, and what are the characteristics of each of them.
Messenger of God
Before starting a conversation about the angelic ranks and tracing the differences between them, we should dwell on who the angels are and what their role is in the existing world order. This very word, which came to us from Greek language, translated as “messenger” or “messenger”.
In all Abrahamic religions, that is, those that recognize the union concluded by Patriarch Abraham with God, and this is Christianity, Islam and Judaism, the angel is presented as an incorporeal being, but at the same time possessing reason, will and consciously choosing the path of serving God. IN fine arts A tradition has developed of giving angels the appearance of anthropoform (human-looking) creatures endowed with wings.
Angels and Demons
According to the Holy Scriptures, angels were created by God even before He created visible world, and carried only a good beginning. But later, some of them, filled with pride, fell away from their Creator and were cast out of Heaven for this. Those who, remembering their true purpose, remained faithful to the Lord (they are usually called “bright angels” in contrast to demons ─ “angels of darkness”), became His faithful servants. In each of these opposing groups there is a certain hierarchy of angelic ranks.
Teachings of an unknown theologian
The correspondence of ethereal forces to one or another level of the hierarchical ladder leading to the Throne of God has been the subject of study by many outstanding theologians of past centuries. In Christianity, it is customary to distribute the ranks of angels in accordance with the classification, the author of which was an unknown theologian who lived at the turn of the 5th and 6th centuries and went down in history under the name of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. So unusual name he received due to the fact that for a long time his works were erroneously attributed to the Greek philosopher and thinker of the 1st century, Dionysius the Areopagite, who, according to legend, was a disciple of the Apostle Paul.
From the system proposed by Pseudo-Dionysius, which the author based on the texts of the Holy Scriptures, it follows that the entire world of light spirits is divided into three groups, or triads, each of which, in turn, consists of three specific types of disembodied servants of God. The angelic ranks are distributed by the author in a strict hierarchy, illustrating the meaning of each of them.
His work, on which many outstanding theologians of subsequent centuries relied, was called the “Treatise on the Heavenly Hierarchy,” and the system proposed in it became known as the “Nine Orders of Angels.” On the basis of the system proposed in it, today the entire hierarchy of angelic ranks is built in Orthodoxy, as well as in most Western directions of Christianity. For almost one and a half millennia it remains dominant.
Higher ranks of ethereal forces
According to this teaching, the highest level of the nine ranks of angels is occupied by spirits called seraphim, cherubim and thrones. The seraphim are considered to be the closest of them to God. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah likens them to fiery figures, which explains the origin of this word, translated from Hebrew as “fiery.”
The seraphim, who constitute the highest rank of angels, are followed by the cherubim. They are the main intercessors of the human race before God and prayer books for the salvation of the souls of the departed. That is why they have a name translated from Hebrew as “intercessor.” Sacred tradition tells of them as the guardians of the Heavenly Book of Knowledge, possessing such extensive information about everything in the world that the human mind cannot contain it. Their most important property is the ability to help people on the path of gaining knowledge and vision of God.
Heavenly support of earthly rulers
And finally, another angelic rank included in the highest triad - thrones. The name of the group of these disembodied spirits comes from the fact that it was they who were given the grace of God to support earthly rulers and help them carry out just judgment over their people. In addition, the peculiarity of the thrones is that the Creator was pleased to embed in them the knowledge of the paths along which human society is destined to move and develop.
It is generally accepted that thrones never interfere in human conflicts, but at the same time they are close to us, helping us gain spiritual insight and be filled with love for God. All representatives of the first highest triad are capable of entering into direct communication with a person.
Bearers of wisdom and creators of good endeavors
The middle triad is opened by the angelic rank ─ dominion. This, according to the classification of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, is the fourth rank of angels. They embody the freedom that underlies the life of the entire visible world and is proof of their boundless and sincere love for the Creator. Dominions, like thrones, are in constant interaction with earthly rulers, giving them wisdom and directing their thoughts only to good endeavors.
In addition, these servants of God help people overcome the impulses of passion that overwhelm them and fight the temptations of the flesh, not allowing it to dominate the spirit. Dominions got their name due to the fact that they are entrusted with the control of all other angels, whose position on the hierarchical ladder is lower.
Executors of the Creator's will
The next stage of the middle triad is occupied by forces. From the treatise of Pseudo-Dionysius it is known that this category consists of angels, gifted with an indestructible divine fortress and capable of fulfilling the will of their Creator in the blink of an eye. They are the conductors of God’s grace, given to people through their prayers and petitions.
All the miracles that the Lord shows to his children occur with their direct participation. Being conductors of divine energy, the powers bring pious Christians deliverance from ailments and the fulfillment of their deepest desires. They also help the chosen sons of God to see the future. Important feature strength is the ability to strengthen a person’s spirit, give him courage and ease grief. Thanks to the angels standing on this ─ fifth hierarchical level, people cope with their life problems and overcome adversity.
Fighters against dark forces
They complete the middle triad of power. They are entrusted with an extremely important mission - to keep the keys to the dungeon in which the devil is imprisoned, and to put obstacles in the way of his countless army. They protect the human race from demonic obsessions and help fight temptations sent by the enemy of the human race.
Without ceasing the fight against the fallen angels, who are the embodiment of evil, the authorities at the same time protect pious people, confirming them in virtue and filling their hearts with love for God. They are entrusted with the responsibility of driving away bad thoughts from them, strengthening them in good intentions, and escorting those who have succeeded in serving God after death to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Patrons of nations and kingdoms
On lowest level of the hierarchical ladder of angelic ranks are the last three categories of disembodied spirits, the eldest of which are the beginnings. They represent an invincible legion of defenders of the faith. The principles received their name due to the mission entrusted to them to lead the remaining two categories of angels and direct their labors to fulfill the will of God.
In addition, principles have another important purpose - to manage the construction of hierarchies among people. It is believed that none other than the beginnings invisibly anoint earthly monarchs to the kingdom and bless rulers of other ranks. In this regard, it is generally accepted that the Lord sends an angel of this category to each people, called to protect them from troubles and shocks. The basis for such a judgment may be the words of the Old Testament prophet Daniel about the angels of the Judean and Persian kingdoms, making sure that the rulers anointed by them were zealous not for personal wealth, but for increasing the glory of God.
The world of angels and archangels
And finally, the representatives of the last two groups who are closest to people are the archangels and angels. The word archangel translated from Greek means “great messenger.” In most cases, it is through his prophecies that people learn the will of the Creator. An example is the good news brought by the Archangel Gabriel to the Most Pure Virgin Mary. Archangels sometimes become the watchful guards of the Lord. In this regard, it is enough to recall the Archangel Michael, who blocked the entrance to Eden with a flaming sword.
The lowest ranks of the heavenly hierarchy are angels. They can also be called the disembodied spirits closest to people, helping in Everyday life. The Holy Church teaches that at baptism, the Lord sends a special guardian angel to each person, protecting him throughout his subsequent life from spiritual falls, and if they occur, guiding him on the path of repentance, regardless of the severity of the sins committed.
Depending on how rich a person’s spiritual world is, how strong his faith in God is and what his purpose in life is, he may be under the tutelage of not one angel, but several, or even have direct communication with the archangels. It is important to remember that the enemy of the human race does not cease to tempt people and turn them away from serving the Creator, therefore angels and archangels, until the end of time, will be next to those in whose hearts the fire of faith burns, and protect them from the attacks of dark forces.
Thrones, Seraphim and Cherubim are the main angelic ranks. Their representatives occupy dominant positions in the heavenly hierarchy. Find out what they are responsible for and what functions they perform.
Thrones, Seraphim and Cherubim in various sources
The angelic hierarchy is known to theologians from various sources. This is Old and New Testament, Holy Scripture, as well as the revelations of monks and priests who lived in different times. Thrones, Seraphim and Cherubim are also mentioned in the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. It’s interesting, but in Dante’s immortal work the angelic hierarchy is described in the same way as in modern theological publications.
Assumption of the Virgin, Francesco Botticini
Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones take first place in Christian hierarchy angelic beings. These are the names of the ranks, the first rank is Seraphim, the second is Cherubim, the third is Thrones. All three ranks belong to the first sphere of the heavenly hierarchy, of which there are three. In each sphere there are three orders of angels.
Angels of the highest rank are rarely depicted humanoid creatures. Their iconographic images are quite capable of seriously surprising most believers. A clear hierarchy of angels is found only in the Christian tradition. The Koran practically does not touch on this topic, so Islam does not pay much attention to the types of Allah's helpers. In Judaism and Kabbalah, there are several versions of the hierarchy of divine essences, and they all differ significantly from each other.
Dionysius the Areopagite wrote that a person cannot know for sure what the hierarchy of heavenly powers is. In his opinion, only what God wanted to reveal is known. Perhaps only part of the structure of heavenly divine power and the apparatus of governing our world is available to us.
Highest angel Metatron - place in the hierarchy
Metatron and Aura
According to legend, the angel Metatron occupies the main position among all other heavenly entities. He judges other angels, and also sits on the same throne that God has. However, according to the legends, the throne became the cause of a quarrel between God and Metatron and the subsequent punishment of the angel.
Metatron does not belong to the ranks of the first sphere - Seraphim, Cherubim or Thrones. According to legend, he was once an ordinary righteous man. God took him to heaven alive and turned him into a perfect being - the archangel Metatron. Archangels occupy eighth place out of nine among the angelic ranks. However, despite this, he is closer to God than the higher ranks.
However, according to some legends, God expelled Metatron. Other angels did not want to recognize the main thing ordinary person. In addition, the situation with two thrones, which gave rise to rumors of dual power in heaven, became the reason for the expulsion of Metatron. However, not all legends describe his exile. According to some of them, he forever remained an archangel close to God, despite the punishment he suffered. Accordingly, the angel of the highest rank is Metatron, the only one of his kind.
The highest angelic rank - Seraphim
Seraphim are the highest rank of angels. These are the angels who are closest to God other than Metatron. According to the book of the prophet Isaiah, they appeared before people in the guise of six-winged creatures. They covered their faces with the first pair of wings, and the body with the second. They need the last two wings in order to fly.
According to Enoch, one of the Seraphim calls himself Seraphiel. He has the head of an eagle. Such a bright light emanates from this divine being that even other angels are unable to discern its appearance. Perhaps the other Seraphim covered their faces and bodies only so as not to blind people with their holiness.
Six-winged seraph. Mosaic of the cathedral of the Nea Moni monastery on the island. Chios.
The icons depict representatives of the highest angelic order with open faces. Two of their wings are raised up, two support the Seraphim in the air, and with two they cover their bodies from the eyes of people. According to the canon, these are angels who stand around God or support his throne. The predominant color on their icons is fiery, fiery, red.
Dionysius the Areopagite claims that the nature of the Seraphim is similar to fire, a fiery love for purity and holiness. They are in constant motion around the divine. Their calling is to illuminate with their light and scorch with their heat, to elevate and liken lower beings to themselves.
Representatives of the highest rank in the angelic hierarchy praised God and told people about his holiness and the need for faith and observance of Christian commandments. They worship God and serve human needs. But the main function of the Seraphim is to carry out the purposes of God on earth. They contribute to their embodiment by giving orders to lower ranks of angels, as well as directly influencing people.
Cherubim - the second highest angelic rank
Cherubim occupy second place in the angelic hierarchy, after Seraphim. According to the Book of Genesis, one of them guards the entrance to Eden with a fiery sword. He was appointed to the position of guard after the exile of Adam and Eve. Israel's King David describes the cherubim as God's vehicle. It is unknown whether they were harnessed to his chariot or carried God in some other way, since the surviving saying of David does not reveal this secret:
... sat on the cherubs and flew.
In the Old Testament there is also a frequent epithet describing God - “seated on cherubim.” According to legend, when Pharaoh was persecuting the Jews, God took Cherubim from one of the wheels of his throne and flew on it to save the chosen people. In addition, there is another function of these representatives of one of the highest angelic ranks. Near the throne of God and in the world of people they sing, glorifying him. According to the apocrypha, they are busy chanting together with phoenixes and seraphim.
As one of the highest angels, Cherubim are carriers of divine wisdom. They spread knowledge about God among people, guide them on the right path and help them develop the qualities necessary for a God-fearing person. Cherubim are also dedicated to enhancing the education of other divine entities when necessary.
According to Jewish beliefs, Cherubim were created on the third day of Creation. However, according to Jewish legends, they became the first living creatures to inhabit the deserted world. According to the Talmud, the first creatures were man, bull, eagle and lion. They stayed for some time near the throne of God. Ezekiel later advised him to replace the bull with a cherub so that the bull would not be a living reminder of the times when the Jews worshiped the Golden Calf.
Detailed text description appearance Cherubs don't exist. However, they were repeatedly depicted in icons and sculpture. Only their faces and wings are visible to people's eyes. Unlike Seraphim, Cherubim never hide their faces. According to the prophecies of Ezekiel, they do not have the same face. Moreover, one of them is human, and the second is lion. Earlier texts describe the Cherubim as beings with four faces, and sometimes even appearing in the form of winged bulls. The structure of their faces, different from human ones, is also noted. Medicine calls such defects in people cherubism.
The Talmud mentions that statues of Cherubim stood only in the very first temple. When the pagans saw them during its destruction, they began to mock the believers, calling them worshipers of statues. Therefore, Cherubim were not depicted in the form of sculptures in the future. They could only be seen in the wall paintings of temples.
According to Jewish traditions, during sleep the human body tells the soul about everything that has been done during the day. The soul transmits information to the spirit, he - to the angel, the angel - to the archangel, the archangel - to the Cherubim, and the Cherubim tells everything to the Seraphim, and the Seraphim reports to God. Accordingly, the Seraphim are the direct superiors of the Cherubim, their intermediaries in communication with God. Kabbalah says that the chief among the Cherubim is an angel who bears the name Cherubiel.
Mural “Cherub” of the Church of Martin the Confessor in Alekseevskaya Novaya Sloboda (Moscow).
The Midrash says that it is not the Cherub who bears God, but God who bears him. It does not contain anything material; God sits on the Cherub, observing what is happening in the world. The same source gives two names for the Cherubim - Tetragrammaton and Elohim. According to legend, these are parts true name God.
In the Christian tradition, Cherubim are considered angels singing in honor of the Lord, as well as bearers of his intelligence and wisdom. According to biblical descriptions, they have twelve wings. Astrologers associate the number of Cherubim wings with the number of Zodiac signs. In addition, there is a connection with the number of hours in half of the earth’s day.
Later, John Chrysostom wrote that Cherubim consist entirely of eyes - their entire body is covered with them. Perhaps that is why they hide it under their wings. John Chrysostom saw in such a structure a symbol of wisdom. According to him, through the Cherubim God's mind looks at the world. Some theologians, for example, Thomas Aquinas and Theodore the Studite, call the Cherubim representatives of the highest angelic power. In their opinion, they occupy first place in the divine hierarchy, and Seraphim - second. In Orthodox worship there is special prayer, which is called the Cherubic song.
What place do Thrones occupy in the heavenly hierarchy?
By Holy Scripture, Thrones have this name for a reason. God sits on them from time to time, pronouncing His Judgment. According to some legends, the Thrones also serve as a vehicle for God, which is why they are sometimes called God-bearing.
Image of thrones on a fresco of the Church of St. John the Baptist in Kratovo, Macedonia.
Representatives of this angelic order serve as the throne of the Lord. They occupy third place among the angelic ranks, subordinate to the Seraphim and Cherubim. All other angelic ranks are subordinate to the Thrones and higher angels.
Thrones perform not only the functions of transport and the divine throne. With their help, God carries out his judgment on angels and people. Thrones also deal with human courts, helping rulers, judges, leaders who carry out their duties on different levels, on various scales.
The thrones are depicted as wheels of fire with eyes on the rims. They have four wings. Initially, Cherubim were depicted in this form, but later their appearance became closer to the Seraphim, and wheels of fire were their attributes for some time. At the same time, the true appearance of the Thrones was revealed to people. In Jewish culture, the third rank is called the Wheels, or Ophanim.
In general, there are three ranks of the first sphere of the divine hierarchy. These are the Seraphim closest to God and the Cherubim and Thrones subordinate to them. Each of these divine entities fulfills their roles to help God rule the world.
In general, the life of any person is determined by the subtle world, having a huge influence on it. In ancient times, everyone knew that it was the subtle world that determined the physical plane. On this moment Few people remember this and want to think in this direction. And this is a very important aspect of life, because there are beings who help us in life, and there are those who try to lead us astray and sometimes even destroy us.
To see all 9 ranks of angels, you should pay attention to Botticini’s “Assumption”. There are three triads of angels on it. Before creating our world, visible and physical, God created heavenly, spiritual forces and called them angels. It was they who began to play a mediating role between the Creator and people. The literal translation of this word from Hebrew sounds like “messenger”, from Greek - “messenger”.
Angels are called ethereal beings who have higher intelligence, free will and great power. According to information from the Old and New Testaments, in the Angelic Hierarchy there are certain angelic ranks, the so-called steps. Most Jewish and Christian theologians were engaged in creating a unified classification of these ranks. At the moment, the most widespread angelic hierarchy is Dionysius the Areopagite, which was created in the fifth century and called the “nine ranks of Angels.”
Nine ranks
From this system it follows that there are three triads. The first, or highest, included the Seraphim and Cherubim, as well as the Thrones. The middle triad includes the angelic orders of Dominion, Strength and Authority. And in the lowest caste of ranks are the Principalities, Archangels and Angels.
Seraphim
It is believed that the six-winged Seraphim are closest to God. It is the Seraphim who can be called those who occupy the highest angelic rank. It is written about them in the Bible that the prophet Isaiah witnessed their arrival. He compared them to fiery figures, so the translation of this word from Hebrew means “Flaming.”
Cherubim
It is this caste that follows the Seraphim in the angelic hierarchy. Their main purpose is to intercede for the human race and pray for souls before God. In addition, it is believed that they serve as a memory and are guards of the Heavenly Book of Knowledge. The knowledge of the Cherubim extends to everything that a created being can know. Translated from Hebrew, cherub means intercessor.
In their power are the mysteries of God and the depth of his wisdom. It is believed that this particular caste of angels is the most enlightened among all. It is their responsibility to open up in man the knowledge and vision of God. Seraphim and Cherubim, along with the third representatives of the first triad, interact with people.
Thrones
Their position is before the seated God. They are called God-bearing, but not in the literal sense of the word, but because of the goodness within them and because they faithfully serve the Son of God. In addition, evolutionary information is hidden in them. Basically, it is they who carry out God's justice and help earthly authorities judge their people fairly.
According to the medieval mystic Jan van Ruijsbroeck, representatives of the highest triad under no circumstances interfere in human conflicts. But at the same time, they are close to people in moments of insight, love for God and knowledge of the world. It is believed that they are capable of bringing the highest love into the hearts of people.
Dominations
The angelic ranks of the second triad begin with the Dominions. The fifth rank of angels, the Dominions, have free will, which ensures the daily functioning of the Universe. In addition, they control the angels who are lower in the hierarchy. Because they are completely free, their love for the Creator is impartial and sincere. It is they who give strength to earthly rulers and managers so that they act wisely and fairly when owning lands and governing people. In addition, they are able to teach how to control feelings, protecting them from unnecessary impulses of passion and lust, and enslaving the flesh to the spirit, so that it is possible to control one’s will and not succumb to temptations of various kinds.
Powers
This caste of angels is filled with Divine strength; they have the power to carry out the instant will of God, showing his strength and power. They are the ones who work God’s miracles and are able to give a person grace, with the help of which he can see what is coming or heal earthly diseases.
They are able to strengthen a person’s patience, remove his sorrow, strengthen his spirit and give him courage so that he can cope with all life’s hardships and problems.
Authorities
The Authority's responsibilities include maintaining the keys to the Devil's cage and restraining his hierarchy. They are able to tame demons, repel attacks on the human race, and deliver from demonic temptation. It is also their responsibility to approve good people for their spiritual exploits and labors, their protection and preservation of their right to the kingdom of God. They are the ones who help drive away all evil thoughts, passions and lust, and also ward off a person’s enemies and help defeat the Devil within themselves. If we consider the personal level, then the mission of these angels is to help a person during the battle of good and evil. And when a person dies, they accompany his soul and help him not to go astray.
Beginnings
These include entire legions of angels whose purpose is to protect religion. Their name is due to the fact that they guide the lower angelic ranks, it is they who help them to do actions pleasing to God. In addition, their mission is to rule the universe and protect everything that God has created. According to some reports, every nation and every ruler has its own angel, called upon to protect it from evil. The Prophet Daniel said that the Angels of the Persian and Judean kingdoms ensure that all rulers who are enthroned do not strive for enrichment and glory, but to spread and increase the glory of God, so that they benefit their people by serving their needs.
Archangels
The Archangel is the great evangelist. Its main mission is the discovery of prophecies, understanding and knowledge of the will of the Creator. They receive this knowledge from higher ranks in order to convey it to lower ranks, who will subsequently convey it to people. According to Saint Gregory Dvoeslov, the purpose of angels is to strengthen faith in man and discover its sacraments. The archangels, whose names can be found in the Bible, are the ones most known to man.
Angels
This is the lowest rank in the hierarchy of heaven and the closest creature to humans. They guide people on the path, help them in everyday life not to leave their path. Every believer has his own guardian angel. They support every virtuous person from falling, they try to raise everyone who has fallen spiritually, no matter how sinful he is. They are always ready to help a person, the main thing is that he himself desires this help.
It is believed that a person receives his Guardian Angel after the rite of Baptism. He is obliged to protect his subordinate from misfortunes, troubles and help him throughout his life. If a person is threatened dark forces, you need to pray to the Guardian Angel, and he will help fight them. It is believed that depending on a person’s mission on earth, he may be associated with not one, but several angels. Depending on how a person lives and how spiritually developed he is, not only lower ranks, but also Archangels, whose names most people know, can work with him. It is worth remembering that Satan will not stop and will always tempt people, so Angels will always be next to them in difficult moments. Only by living according to the laws of God and developing spiritually can one learn all the mysteries of religion. This is, in principle, all the information that relates to the ranks of Heaven.
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