Both the Greek and Hebrew words for "angel" mean "messenger". Angels often performed this role in the texts of the Bible, but its authors often give this term another meaning. Angels are the incorporeal helpers of God. They appear as humans with wings and a halo of light around their heads. They are commonly mentioned in Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious texts. Angels have the appearance of a man, “only with wings and dressed in white clothes: God created them from stone”; angels and seraphim - women, cherubs - men or children)<Иваницкий, 1890>.
Good and evil angels, messengers of God or the devil, converge in the decisive battle described in the book of Revelation. Angels can be ordinary people, prophets, inspirers to good deeds, supernatural bearers of all kinds of messages or teachers, and even impersonal forces, like winds, cloud pillars or fire, which led the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. Plague and pestilence are called evil angels. St. Paul calls his illness "the messenger of Satan." Many other phenomena, such as inspiration, sudden impulses, providences, are also attributed to angels.
Invisible and immortal. According to the teachings of the church, angels are sexless invisible spirits, immortal from the day of their creation. There are many angels, which follows from the Old Testament description of God - "the Lord of hosts." They form a hierarchy of angels and archangels of the entire host of heaven. The early church clearly divided nine types, or "ranks," of angels.
Angels served as mediators between God and his people. The Old Testament says that no one could see God and remain alive, so direct communication between the Almighty and a person is often portrayed as communication with an angel. It was the angel who prevented Abraham from sacrificing Isaac. Moses saw an angel in a burning bush, although the voice of God was heard. An angel led the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. From time to time, biblical angels look just like mortals until their true nature is revealed, like the angels who came to Lot before the horrific destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Unnamed spirits. Other angels are mentioned in Scripture, such as a spirit with a fiery sword that blocked Adam's path back to Eden; cherub and seraphim, depicted as thunderclouds and lightning, which recalls the faith of the ancient Jews in the god of thunder; the messenger of God, who miraculously rescued Peter from prison, in addition, the angels who appeared to Isaiah in his vision of the heavenly court: “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne high and exalted, and the edges of His robe filled the whole temple. Seraphim stood around Him; each of them has six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
Hosts of angels appear several times on the pages of the Bible. Thus, a choir of angels announced the birth of Christ. Archangel Michael commanded numerous heavenly hosts in the battle against the forces of evil. The only angels in the Old and New Testaments who have their own names are Michael and Gabriel, who brought the news of the birth of Jesus to Mary. Most of the angels refused to identify themselves, reflecting the popular belief that revealing a spirit's name would diminish its power.
In Christianity, the host of angels is divided into three classes, or hierarchies, and each hierarchy, in turn, is divided into three faces. Here is the most common classification of angelic faces attributed to Dionysius the Areopagite:
The first hierarchy: seraphim, cherubim, thrones. The second hierarchy: dominions, forces, authorities. The third hierarchy: principles, archangels, angels.
seraphim those belonging to the first hierarchy are absorbed in eternal love for the Lord and reverence for Him. They directly surround His throne. Seraphim, as representatives of Divine Love, most often have red wings and sometimes hold lighted candles in their hands.
Cherubim know God and worship Him. They are depicted as representatives of Divine Wisdom in golden yellow and blue tones. Sometimes they have books in their hands.
Thrones uphold the throne of God and express Divine Justice. Often they are depicted in the robes of judges with a rod of power in their hands. It is believed that they receive glory directly from God and bestow it on the second hierarchy.
The second hierarchy consists of dominations, forces and authorities, which are the rulers of the heavenly bodies and the elements. They, in turn, shed on the third hierarchy the light of glory they have received.
dominance they wear crowns, sceptres, and sometimes orbs as symbols of power. They symbolize the power of the Lord.
Forces they hold in their hands white lilies or sometimes red roses, which are symbols of the Passion of the Lord.
Authorities often dressed in the armor of warriors - the winners of evil forces.
Through the third hierarchy, contact is made with the created world and with man, for its representatives are the executors of the will of God. In relation to man, the beginnings control the destinies of peoples, the archangels are heavenly warriors, and the angels are the messengers of God to man. In addition to the listed functions, the host of angels serves as a heavenly choir.
This plan of celestial arrangement served as the basis for the creation and theological substantiation of the structure of the celestial spheres as the basis of the medieval picture of the world. In accordance with this plan, the cherubim and seraphim are responsible for the first push (Primum mobile) and for the sphere of the fixed stars, thrones - for the sphere of Saturn, domination - Jupiter, forces - Mars, authorities - the Sun, the beginning - Venus, archangels - Mercury, angels - the Moon celestial bodies closest to the Earth.
Beginnings are legions of angels protecting religion. They constitute the seventh choir in the hierarchy of Dionysius, following immediately before the archangels. The beginnings give strength to the peoples of the Earth to find and experience their destiny.
It is also believed that they are the guardians of the peoples of the world. The choice of this term, as well as the term "authorities", to designate the ranks of the angels of God is somewhat doubtful, since c. The "Epistle to the Ephesians" refers to "principalities and powers" as "spirits of wickedness in high places", against which Christians must fight ("Ephesians" 6:12).
Among those who are considered "chief" in this rank are Nisrok, the Assyrian deity, who is considered by occult writings to be the main prince - the demon of hell, and Anael - one of the seven angels of creation.
The Bible says, “For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come... can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 8.38). By
classification of Pseudo-Dionysius. the beginnings are part of the third triad along with the archangels and the angels proper. Pseudo-Dionysius says: “The name of the heavenly Authorities means the God-like ability to rule and govern in accordance with the sacred order, befitting the commanding Powers, both to turn completely to the Beginning Beginning, and others, as it is characteristic of the Authorities, to guide Him, imprint in oneself, as far as possible, the image of an inaccurate Beginning and, finally, the ability to express His premier leadership in the well-being of the ruling Forces.. graciously spreads from God to all Hierarchies, is inspired through communication and pours out in the most sacred orderly order.
ARCHANGELS
archangel Michael(Who is like God, Who is equal to God). Leader of the heavenly host. The winner of Satan, holds in his left hand on his chest a green date branch, and in his right hand a spear, on top of which is a white banner with a red cross, in commemoration of the victory of the Cross over the Devil.
Archangel Gabriel (The Fortress of God or the Power of God). One of the highest angels, in the Old and New Testaments, appears as a bearer of joyful gospels. Depicted with candles and a jasper mirror as a sign that the ways of God are not clear until the time, but are comprehended through time by studying the word of God and obedience to the voice of conscience.
Archangel Raphael(Healing of God or Healing of God). The doctor of human ailments, the chief of the guardian angels, is depicted holding a vessel (alavastre) with medical agents (medicine) in his left hand, and a pod in his right hand, that is, a clipped bird feather for anointing wounds.
Archangel Salafiel (Angel of Prayer, Prayer to God). A prayer book that always prays to God for people and arouses people to prayer. He is depicted with his face and eyes bowed (lowered) down, and his hands pressed (folded) in a cross on his chest, as if tenderly praying.
Archangel Uriel(Fire of God or Light of God). As an Angel of light, he enlightens the minds of people with the revelation of truths that are useful to them; as an Angel of Divine Fire, he inflames hearts with love for God and destroys in them impure earthly attachments. He is depicted holding a naked sword in his right hand against his chest, and a fiery flame in his left.
Archangel Yehudiel (Praise God, Glorifier of God). The Archangel of God Yehudiel is depicted holding a golden crown in his right hand, as a reward from God for useful and pious labors to holy people, and in his left hand a scourge of three black ropes with three ends, as a punishment for sinners for laziness to pious labors
Archangel Varahiel (God's blessing). The Holy Archangel Barachiel, the distributor of God's blessings and intercessor, asking for God's good deeds to us: is depicted carrying white roses on his chest on his clothes, as if rewarding, at the command of God, for the prayers, labors and moral behavior of people.
ANGELS
Angels live in the world of the Spirit, the heavenly world, and we live in the world of matter. Naturally, they are drawn to the house. Therefore, if you want the Angels to be comfortable with you, you need to make your world - thoughts, feelings, environment - more like their world. To paraphrase the "Epistle of James" - we can say this: draw near to the Angels and they will draw near to you. (James A:8). Angels feel good surrounded by thoughts of peace and love, and not in an atmosphere of irritation and aggression. You may not be able to get out of your head, say, a rude driver who cut you off on the road in winter. However, it is quite possible to free yourself from irritation by starting to communicate with the angels for at least a few minutes a day. Get rid of irritants first. Turn off the radio and TV, go to a separate room or to your favorite corner of nature; imagine angels (a picture of your favorite angel placed next to it helps) and communicate with them. Just tell the angels about your problems. Talk like you're talking to your best friend. And then listen. Be silent and wait for the thoughts that the angels will send you. And soon your relationship with the angels will turn into an upward spiral; they will help you feel more positive. A positive state will bring you closer to the angels.
Avdiel. The name Abdiel is first mentioned in the Bible (1st Chronicles), where he is a mere mortal, a resident of Gilead. Further, in historical and religious books, Abdiel (meaning "servant of God") is described as an angel.
The first mention of the angel Abdiel is found in the Book of the Angel Raziel, written in Hebrew in the Middle Ages. However, the most complete description of the deeds of Abdiel is given in John Milton's book "Paradise Lost", which retells the story of Satan's rebellion against God. During this rebellion, Abdiel was the only angel who remained faithful to God and refused to rebel against him.
Satan tried to convince Abdiel that it was he and his followers who were destined to rule in the kingdom of heaven, to which Abdiel objected that God was more powerful, since He created Satan, and not vice versa. Satan said that this is just another lie of the Father of Lies. Abdiel did not believe him, pushed the other rebellious angels aside and hit Satan with a "powerful blow of the sword."
Abdiel is also mentioned in Anatole France's Rise of the Angels, but here he appears under the name Arcade.
Adrammelech("king of fire") is one of two throne angels commonly associated with the angel Asmodeus, and also one of two powerful thrones present in Milton's Paradise Lost. In demonology, he is mentioned as the eighth of the ten main demons and as a great servant of the Order of the Flies, an underground order founded by Beelzebub. In rabbinic literature, it is reported that if Adrammelech is invoked by a spell, he will appear in the form of a mule or peacock.
Adrammelech, who is identified with the Babylonian Anu and the Ammonite Moloch, is mentioned in various sources, such as, for example, the "History of Magic", where he appears in the form of a horse; he is considered to be the god to whom the children of the Sepharavit colony in Samaria are sacrificed, he is mentioned both as an idol of the Assyrians and as a fallen angel defeated in battle by Uriel and Raphael.
Azazel(Aramaic: רמשנאל, Hebrew: עזאזל, Arabic: عزازل) - according to the beliefs of the ancient Jews - the demon of the desert.
The legend about Azazel as one of the fallen angels arose rather late (not earlier than the 3rd century BC) in the Jewish environment, and is recorded, in particular, in the famous apocryphal book of Enoch. In the book of Enoch, Azazel is the leader of the antediluvian giants who rebelled against God. He taught men to fight, and women - the art of deceit, seduced people into godlessness and taught them debauchery. In the end, he was tied, by the command of God, to a desert rock. This is what the apocryphal literature says.
In the Pentateuch and in the Talmudic literature, the name of Azazel is associated with the idea of a common atonement for the sins of the people. This idea was embodied in a special ceremony: two goats were brought; one was destined (by lot) to the "Lord" as a sacrifice, the other - for the remission of sins. The latter was "released" into the desert, and then thrown into the abyss from the cliff. It was he who was called the "scapegoat". In non-Jewish translations, and later in Jewish tradition, the word "Azazel" came to be seen as the name of this goat.
Asmodeus. The name Asmodeus means "creator (or being) of judgment". Initially, Asmodeus is a Persian demon, later Asmodeus entered the scriptures, where he was known as the "fierce devil". Asmodeus (also known as Saturn and Marcolph, or Morolf) is responsible for creating the carousel, music, dance and drama.
In the legends, Asmodeus is considered the father-in-law of the demon Bar-Shalmon. Demonologists claim that in order to summon Asmodeus, it is necessary to bare his head, otherwise he will deceive the caller. Asmodeus also oversees gambling houses.
Belphegor(The God of Revelation) was once an angel in the rank of beginnings - the lower triad in the traditional hierarchy of angels, consisting of nine ranks or ranks. Later, in ancient Moab, he became the god of licentiousness. In hell, Belphegor is a demon of ingenuity, and when summoned, he appears in the guise of a young woman.
Dabbiel(also Dubiel, or Dobiel) is known as the guardian angel of Persia. In ancient times, the fate of each people was determined by the actions of the guardian angel, who represented this people in heaven. The angels fought among themselves in order to win the mercy of God, which will decide the fate of each specific people.
At that time, the guardian angel of Israel, Gabriel, was deprived of the grace of God, because he allowed himself to intervene when the angry Lord wanted to destroy Israel. Gabriel's attempts to stop the Lord were partially successful; although most of Israel was devastated, some noble Jews managed to escape and were taken captive by the Babylonians.
Dabbiel was allowed to take the place of Gabriel in the circle close to the Lord, and he immediately took advantage of this situation. He soon arranged for the Persians to conquer large tracts of territory, and the great expansion of Persia in the period from 500 to 300 IT. BC. was considered the merit of Dabbiel. However, his reign lasted only 21 days, and then Gabriel convinced God to allow him to return to his rightful place, removing the ambitious Dabbiel from there.
Zagzagil- the angel of the "burning bush", who played an important role in the life of Moses. He is the head of the guards of the Fourth Heaven, although it is said that he lives in the Seventh Heaven - in the dwelling of God.
Zadkiel. The name Zadkiel (other spellings: Tzadkiel or Zaidkiel) means "the righteousness of God." Various religious writings describe the appearance of Zadkiel in different ways. Zadkiel is one of the leaders helping Michael when the archangel enters the battle.
It is also said that Zadkiel is one of the two leaders of the Shinanim order (together with Gabriel) and one of the nine "rulers of heaven", as well as one of the seven archangels sitting next to God. Zadkiel is "the angel of benevolence, mercy, memory and the leader of the rank of dominions."
Zophiel("seeker of God") - a spirit called by the prayer of the Master of Arts in Solomon's witchcraft rites. He is also one of the two leaders of Michael. Milton mentions Zophiel in Paradise Lost as informing the heavenly host of the impending attack of the rebellious angels, while in Friedrich Klopstock's The Messiah he is the "harbinger of hell."
The American poet Maria del Occident chose Zophiel as one of the main characters in her poem "Zophiel", inspired by the story contained in the apocryphal Book of Tobit. In this poem, Zophiel is presented as a fallen angel who retains the features of his former virtue and beauty.
Yehoel is considered an intermediary who knows the "unpronounceable name", as well as one of the kings of the presence. He is also considered "the angel holding back Leviathan" and the leader of the rank of seraphim.
He is mentioned in the "Apocalypse of Abraham" as a heavenly choirmaster who accompanies Abraham on his way to Paradise and reveals to him the course of history.
It is also assumed that Yehoel is the former name of Metatron, while the Kabbalistic book "Berith Menuha" calls him the main angel of fire.
Israel("aspiring to God") is usually considered an angel in the rank of heyot - a class of angels surrounding the throne of the Lord. They are usually compared to cherubim and seraphim. According to The Book of the Angel Raziel, Israel ranks sixth among the throne angels.
In the Alexandrian Gnostic Prayer of Joseph, the patriarch Jacob is the archangel Israel, who descended into earthly life from pre-existence. Here Israel is "the angel of God and the chief spirit", while later Israel is presented as the archangel of the will of the Lord and the main tribune among the sons of God. He also calls himself the angel Uriel.
Israel is also mentioned by mystics of the Geonic period (7th-11th century) as a celestial being, whose task is to summon angels to sing of the Lord. The philosopher Philo identifies Israel with the Logos, while Louis Ginsberg, author of The Legends of the Jews, calls him "the personification of Jacob before the Throne of Glory."
Kamail("he who sees God") is traditionally considered the chief in the rank of power and one of the sephirah. Magical teaching says that when he is called by a spell, he appears in the form of a leopard sitting on a rock.
Among the occultists, he is considered the prince of the lower aisles and is often referred to as the ruler of the planet Mars, as well as one of the angels who rule the seven planets. In Kabbalistic teaching, on the contrary, he is considered one of the ten archangels.
Some scholars claim that Kamail was originally the god of war in Druid mythology. Eliphas Levi, in his book A History of Magic (1963), says that he personifies divine justice.
Other sources call him one of the "seven angels standing in the presence of God." Clara Clement, in her book Angels in Art (1898), considers him to be the angel who wrestled with Jacob, as well as the angel who appeared to Jesus during his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Kohabiel("star of God") - a giant angel in folklore, is responsible for the stars and constellations. Considered by some as a holy angel and by some as a fallen one, Kohabiel commands 365,000 lesser spirits. Kohabiel teaches his wards astrology.
Lyla. In Jewish legends, Laila is the angel of the night. She is responsible for conception and is assigned to guard souls in their new birth. As the legend goes, Laila brings the sperm to God, who chooses what type of person should be born and chooses a pre-existing soul to send into the fetus.
An angel guards the mother's womb to make sure the soul has not escaped. Apparently in order to help the soul survive these nine months in the womb, the angel shows her scenes from her future life, but just before birth, the angel gives the baby a flick on the nose, and he forgets everything he learned about the future life. One legend claims that Laila fought on the side of Abraham when he fought the kings; others represent Lila as a demon.
Lucifer. The name Lucifer ("light-giver") refers to the planet Venus, the brightest object in the sky besides the Sun and Moon when it appears as the morning star. Lucifer was erroneously equated with the fallen angel Satan, misinterpreting a passage of Scripture that actually refers to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, who in his glory and pomp imagined himself equal to God (Book of Isaiah 14:12): "How you fell from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn!"
As the brightness of the morning star (Lucifer) surpasses the light of all other stars, so the greatness of the king of Babylon surpasses the glory of all Eastern monarchs. The Babylonians and Assyrians called the morning star, respectively, Belit, or Istar. Others have suggested that the phrase "son of the dawn" may refer to the crescent moon. And finally, others claim that this is nothing but the planet Jupiter.
The Devil acquired the name Lucifer after the early Christian theologians Tertullian and St. Augustine identified him with a shooting star from a passage in Isaiah. This association arose among them because the Devil had previously been a great archangel who rebelled against God and was expelled from heaven.
The legend of the rebellion and expulsion of Lucifer, as presented by Jewish and Christian writers, depicts Lucifer as the main one in the heavenly hierarchy, as outstanding in beauty, strength and wisdom among all other creatures. It was to this "anointed cherub" that power over the earth was given over time; and even after his fall and expulsion from his old kingdom, he seems to have retained some of his former power and supreme title. According to the writings of the rabbis and church fathers, his sin was pride, which was a manifestation of complete selfishness and pure malice, since he loved himself above all others and never forgave ignorance, mistakes, passions or weak will.
According to other versions, his audacity went so far that he even tried to ascend the Great Throne. In the mysteries of the Middle Ages, Lucifer, as the ruler of heaven, sits next to Eternity. As soon as the Lord rises from his throne, Lucifer, puffed up with pride, sits on it. The outraged Archangel Michael attacks him with a weapon and finally drives him out of heaven and plunges him into a dark and gloomy dwelling, now destined for him forever. The name of this archangel while he was in heaven was Lucifer; when he hit the ground, they began to call him Satan. The angels who joined this rebellion were also expelled from heaven and became demons, of which Lucifer is the king.
Lucifer is mentioned as a day star by Ezekiel, in his prediction of the coming fall of the king of Tyre. Here Lucifer is an angel, sparkling with diamonds, walking in the garden of Eden, among the "fiery stones".
Lucifer may have been the subject of an earlier story about how the morning star tried to take the place of the Sun but was defeated. This story arose because the morning star is the last to disappear from the sky, giving way to the rising of the Sun. It has also been suggested that the story is just another version of Adam's expulsion from Paradise.
Mammon. In folklore, Mammon is a fallen angel who lives in hell as an angel of avarice, personifying greed and greed. AT<Потерянном Рае>John Milton depicts Mammon always looking down at the golden pavement of paradise instead of looking up at God. When, after a heavenly war, Mammon is sent to hell, it is he who finds the precious metal underground, from which the demons built their capital - the city of Pandemonium. In the Bible, Mammon is very hostile to God. The word "mammon" comes from Christ's command in his sermon: "No one can serve two masters: for either he will hate one and love the other; or he will be zealous for one, and not take care of the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (wealth) "
Metatron- represents the supreme angel of death, to whom God gives instructions daily as to which souls to take on that day. Metatron conveys these instructions to his subordinates - Gabriel and Samael.
It is also believed that he is responsible for ensuring that there is enough food in the world. In the Talmud and the Targum, Metatron is the link between God and humanity. Among the various missions and deeds attributed to him, there is such that it is as if he stopped the hand of Abraham at the moment when he was ready to sacrifice Isaac. Of course, this mission is attributed primarily to the Angel of the Lord, and also to Michael, Zadkiel or Tadhiel.
It is believed that Metatron lives in the seventh heaven and is the tallest angel, with the exception of Anafiel. The Zohar describes its size as "equal in breadth to the whole world." This is how Adam's size was described in rabbinic literature before his fall.
Metatron is the first, and he is the last, of the ten archangels of the Briatic world. If we talk about seniority, then in fact Metatron is the youngest angel in the heavenly kingdom. Various roles were attributed to him: the king of angels, the prince of the divine face or presence, the heavenly chancellor, the angel of the Covenant, the chief among the ministering angels and the helper of Yahweh.
Nuriel("fire") - a thunderstorm angel with hail, according to Jewish legend, who met Moses in the second heaven. Nuriel manifests himself in the form of an eagle taking off from the slope of Chesed ("kindness"). He is united in one group with Michael, Shamshil, Seraphil and other great angels and is characterized as a "charming power".
In the Zohar, Nuriel is depicted as an angel ruling over the constellation Virgo. According to the descriptions, his height is three hundred parasangs (about 1200 miles), and in his retinue there are 50 myriads (500 thousand) of angels. Only the Rerelims, the Watchers, Af and Gemah, and the highest celestial hierarch named Metatron surpass him in stature.
Nuriel is mentioned in the writings of the Gnostics as one of the seven subordinates of Jehuel, the prince of fire. In Judaic Amulets, Shrir writes that Nuriel's name can be seen engraved on Eastern amulets.
Raguel. The name Raguel (variant spellings: Ragiel, Rasuil) means "friend of God." In the Book of Enoch, Raguel is an archangel tasked with ensuring that the behavior of other angels is always respectable. He is also the guardian angel of the earth and the second heaven, and it was he who brought Enoch to heaven.
In Gnosticism, Raguel stands on the same level as Telesis, another high-ranking angel. Despite his high position, for some inexplicable reason, in 745 AD. Raguel was rejected by the Roman church (along with several other high-ranking angels, including Uriel). Pope Zacharias called Raguel a demon "pretending to be a saint."
Generally speaking, Raguel occupies a more prestigious position, and in the book of Revelations of John the Theologian, his role as God's helper is described as follows: "And He will send the angel Raguid with the words: go and blow a trumpet for the angels of cold and ice and snow, and wrap those who on the left, with everything you can."
Raziel. Raziel is called the "secret of the Lord" and the "angel of riddles". According to legend, Raziel gave this book to Adam, and then envious angels stole it from him and threw it into the ocean. Then God allegedly ordered Rahab, the angel of the deep sea, to get this book and return it to Adam.
The book came first to Enoch, and then to Noah, who allegedly learned from it how to build an ark. Later, King Solomon learned magic from her.
Sariel(also known by several Other names, including Suriel, Zerahil, and Sarakel) is one of the original seven archangels. His name means "power of God" and he is responsible for the fate of angels who violate the sacred rites of God. Although Sariel usually appears as a holy angel, he is sometimes referred to as having fallen from God's grace.
Sariel is considered the prince of being, like Metatron, and also the angel of health, like Raphael. He is called "Sariel the Trumpeter" and "Sariel the Angel of Death" in the Falash Anthology.
Sariel's name appears in Gnostic amulets; he is listed among the seven angels in the ophitic septenary system of primitive forces (Origen, "Contra Celsum" 6, 30). It is also known that when Sariel is invoked, he appears in the form of a bull. According to Kabbalah, Sariel is one of the seven angels who rule the Earth.
in Sariel is associated with the sky and is responsible for the zodiac sign Aries ("ram"); he also informs the others about the Moon's trajectory. (This was once considered secret knowledge that could not be shared.) According to Davidson, in the occult teaching Sariel is one of the nine angels of the summer equinox and protects from the evil eye.
Sariel also appears in the recently found "Dead Sea Scrolls" as the name on the shields of the "third Tower", also known as the "sons of Light", (There were only four "towers" - each separate group of soldiers).
Uzziel("the power of God") is usually considered a fallen angel, one of those who married the daughters of the earth and had giants from them. He is also called the fifth of the ten wicked sefir.
According to the Book of the Angel Raziel, Uziel is one of the seven angels at the throne of the Lord and one of the nine overseeing the four winds, he is ranked among the forces, and is also called one of Gabriel's "lieutenants" during Satan's rebellion.
Uriel, whose name means "fire of God", is one of the leading angels in non-canonical writings. He is called differently: seraphim, cherub, "regent of the sun", "flame of God", angel of presence, ruler of Tartarus (hell), archangel of salvation and, in later writings, Fanu-il ("face of God"). The name Uriel could come from the name of the prophet Uriah. In the apocrypha and writings of the occultists, Uriel is equated with Nuriel, Urian, Jeremiel, Vretil, Sariel, Puruel, Phanuel, Jehoel and Israfil.
He is often identified with a cherub "standing at the gates of Eden with a fiery sword", or with an angel "watching thunder and terror" ("First Book of Enoch"). In the Apocalypse of St. Peter, he appears as the Angel of Repentance, portrayed as ruthless as any demon.
In the "Book of Adam and Eve" Uriel is considered a spirit (that is, one of the cherubs) from chapter 3 of Genesis. He was also identified with one of the angels who helped bury Adam and Abel in Paradise, and with a dark angel who fought with Jacob in Peniel. Other sources depict him as the winner of the troops of Sen-Cherib, as well as the messenger of God who warned Noah of the approaching flood.
According to Louis Ginsberg, Uriel represents the "prince of light". In addition, Uriel revealed heavenly secrets to Ezra, translated sermons, and brought Abraham out of Ur. In later Judaism, he is considered one of the four angels of presence. He is also the "angel of September" and can be invoked if the ritual is performed by those born in this month.
It is believed that Uriel brought the divine discipline of alchemy to earth, and that he gave man the Kabbalah, although other scholars argue that this key to the mystical interpretation of Scripture was a gift from Metatron. Milton describes Uriel as "the regent of the Sun" and "the most keen spirit in heaven".
Dryden, in The State of Innocence, writes that Uriel descends from heaven in a chariot drawn by white horses. In 745 AD, Uriel was rejected by the church council in Rome, but he has now become Saint Uriel, and his symbol is an open hand holding a flame.
He is identified with the "evil angel" who attacked Moses because he did not bother to observe the traditional rite of circumcision in relation to his son Gershom, although the book "Zohar" (1, 93c) ascribes the same role to Gabriel: "Gabriel descended to earth in the form of a fiery flame in the form of a burning serpent> with the intention of destroying Moses "for this sin."
Uriel is also considered the angel of vengeance, depicted by Proudhon in the painting "Divine Vengeance and Justice", located in the Louvre. Compared to other archangels, Uriel is very rarely represented in artwork. As a commentator on prophecy, he is usually depicted with a book, or papyrus scroll, in his hand.
In Milton's Ontology, Cosmogony, and Physics (1957), Walter Currie writes that Uriel "gives the impression of a devout, but not too receptive, physicist with a bent towards atomistic philosophy." In The Second Book of the Oracle of the Sibylline, he is described as one of the "immortal angels of the immortal God", who on the Day of Judgment: "will break the monstrous latches of the indestructible gates of Hades and plunge them to the ground, and bring to judgment all the suffering, and the ghosts of the ancient Titans and giants, and all who were swallowed up by the Flood... and they will all stand before the Lord and his throne."
In the scene of Jacob's struggle with the dark angel, a mysterious merger of these two creatures takes place, and Uriel says: "I descended to earth to settle among people and by name they will call me Jacob." It is believed that some patriarchs turned into angels (for example, Enoch allegedly turned into Metatron). The transformation of an angel into a man is noted only once - in the case of Uriel.
Hadraniel(or Hadarniel), which means "the greatness of God", is an angel assigned to guard the second gate in heaven. It is over 60 myriad parasangs (approximately 2.1 million miles) tall and is quite a terrifying sight.
When Moses appeared in heaven to receive the Torah from God, he was speechless at the sight of Hadraniel. Hadraniel believed that Moses should not receive the Torah and made him weep in fear until God appeared and reprimanded him.
Hadraniel quickly corrected himself and began to patronize Moses. This help turned out to be very useful, because (according to the "Zogar" legend), "when Hadraniel announces the will of the Lord, his voice penetrates through 200,000 vaults of heaven." According to the Revelation of Moses, "with every word, 12,000 lightning bolts come out of his (Hadraniel's) mouth."
In Gnosticism, Hadraniel is only one of the seven subordinates of Yehuel, the "king of fire" (King, p. 15). In the Zohar I (550) Hadraniel tells Adam that he (Adam) has the "Book of the Angel Raziel", which contains secret information unknown even to the angels.
To the begining
God immediately created various kinds of angelic forces. The difference between them in nature was not the result of different degrees of "cooling" of the Angels in love, as Origen taught. Dionysius the Areopagite brought into the system the church doctrine of the nine angelic ranks. He writes that the Heavenly World has a hierarchical structure, since not all angelic ranks equally accept divine enlightenment. The lower ranks receive enlightenment from the higher ones. The angelic world is a single whole and, at the same time, a ladder. All Angels to a certain extent participate in the Divine and the Light communicated from Him, but the degrees of their knowledge and perfection are not the same.
The angelic hierarchy consists of three triads. The first, the highest, is - Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. All of them are in the closest and immediate proximity to God, "as if on the threshold of the Divine", at the very Trinity sanctuary. They have access to direct and immediate knowledge of the Divine mysteries. They live in inexpressible illumination, contemplate God in a bright light.
six-winged seraphim(Heb. - flaming, fiery), which are mentioned only by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 6:2), burn with love for God and incite others to it.
Cherubim(Heb. - chariots) - spiritual creatures that the prophet Ezekiel saw in the images of a man, an ox, a lion and an eagle (Ezek. 1). These symbols mean that the Cherubim combine the qualities of intelligence, obedience, strength and speed. Cherubim stand before the throne of God (Rev. 4:6-7). They are the spiritual vehicle of the Supreme (Ezekiel 1:10) so God is called sitting on cherubs (1 Sam. 4:4).
The cherub guarded the entrance to paradise (Gen. 3:24). Images of two Cherubim overshadowed the Ark of the Covenant, the place of the direct presence of God (Ex. 25:18-20). The king of Tire, symbolizing, according to the holy fathers, Satan, is called the overshadowing cherub (Ezekiel 28:14), which indicates his initial closeness to God.
The many-eyed Cherubim, according to Dionysius the Areopagite, shine with the light of knowledge of God. They send down wisdom and enlightenment for knowledge of God to the lower ranks. They are "rivers of wisdom" and "places of God's rest"; hence some of the Cherubim are called " Thrones", since God Himself rests on them not sensually, but spiritually, with a special abundance of grace.
The middle hierarchy is: Dominions, Powers and Powers.
dominance (Col. 1:16) rule over the successive ranks of Angels. They instruct earthly rulers appointed by God in wise management. They teach to control feelings, to tame sinful lusts, to enslave the flesh to the spirit, to overcome temptations. Forces (1 Pet. 3:22) they work miracles and send down the grace of wonderworking and clairvoyance to the saints of God. They help people in carrying out labors, strengthen them in patience, bestow spiritual strength and courage. Authorities (1 Pet. 3:22; Col. 1:16) have the power to tame the power of the devil. They repel demonic temptations from us, protect ascetics, help them in the fight against evil thoughts. They also have power over the forces of nature, such as wind and fire. (Rev. 8:7).
The lower hierarchy includes: Principles, Archangels and Angels.
Beginnings (Col. 1:16) they rule over the lower Angels, directing their activity towards the fulfillment of Divine commands. They are entrusted with managing the universe, protecting countries, peoples and tribes. They teach earthly authorities to fulfill their duties not for the sake of profits and personal glory, but in everything to seek the glory of God and the benefit of others.
Archangels (1 Thess. 4:16) proclaim great and glorious things. They reveal the secrets of faith, prophecy and the will of God to people, that is, they are the conductors of Revelation.
Angels (1 Pet. 3:22) closest to people. They proclaim the intentions of God, instruct in the virtues and a holy life. They protect the faithful, keep us from falling, raise the fallen.
Saint Dionysius the Areopagite is aware of the imperfection of such a systematization. He writes: “How many ranks of celestial beings, what they are and how they perform the secrets of the hierarchy, only God knows exactly, the Culprit of their hierarchy; they themselves also know their own powers, their own light, their sacred and supreme rank and file. And we can be told about this as much as God has revealed to us through them, as those who know themselves.”
Blessed Augustine argues in a similar way: “What there are Thrones, Dominions, Principles and Powers in the heavenly abodes, I unshakably believe, and that they differ from each other, I undoubtedly contain; but what they are and how they differ from each other, I do not know.
Some holy fathers believe that the listed nine ranks do not cover all the existing angelic ranks, there are others that will open only in the Future Age (Eph. 1:21).
The well-known Orthodox theologian, Archpriest John Meyendorff, believes that for the Christian tradition, the hierarchical structure of the angelic world proposed by Dionysius the Areopagite presents great inconvenience. “Old Testament angelology is complex and does not fit into the hierarchy of Dionysius. So, Seraphim in the book of the prophet Isaiah is a direct messenger of God (in the system of Dionysius, Seraphim would have to use the underlying hierarchy). The Church honors the Archangel Michael as the head of the heavenly host (in the Epistle of the Apostle Jude he fights Satan), however, in the system of Dionysius, the archangel rank is one of the lowest in the heavenly hierarchy. This was noticed by the holy fathers, so they accepted the hierarchy of Dionysius with reservations. Thus, St. Gregory Palamas claims that the Incarnation of Christ violated the original order: in violation of all hierarchical ranks, God sent the Archangel Gabriel, that is, one of the lower Angels, to announce to the Virgin Mary the good news of the Incarnation. Reflecting the same thought, the hymns of the feasts of the Ascension and the Assumption proclaim that the Angels were surprised that the human nature of Christ and the Mother of God "ascends from earth to heaven" completely independently of the angelic hierarchy.
So, it should be borne in mind that the classification of the Heavenly Powers of Dionysius the Areopagite is rather arbitrary and schematic, it is unable to satisfactorily explain some of the facts of Revelation and the phenomena of spiritual life. For example, if we strictly follow the scheme of Dionysius, then our communication with God is possible only through Angels. However, in the Holy Scriptures there are any number of examples of people communicating with God without the mediation of Angels.
Archangels
In the canonical books of the Bible, only two names of the Archangels are mentioned:
1) Michael(from Heb. - “who is like God”; Dan. 10:13; Jude 1:9) - Archangel of the incorporeal Forces.
2) Gabriel(from Heb. - "man of God"; Dan. 8:16; Luke 1:19) - a servant of the Divine fortress and a messenger of the mysteries of God.
Four names appear in non-canonical books:
3) Raphael(from Heb. - "God's help"; Tov. 3:16) - a healer of ailments.
4) Uriel(from Heb. - “the fire of God”; 3 Ezra 4: 1) - a servant of Divine love, kindling love for God in hearts and enlightening with the light of God-knowledge.
5) Selaphiel(from Heb. - “prayer to God”) - a minister of prayer, teaching prayer.
6) Jeremiel(from Heb. - "the height of God"; 3 Ezra. 4:36).
In addition, pious tradition speaks of two more Archangels:
7) Yehudiel(from Heb. - “Praise of God”) - an assistant in labor and an advocate for rewards for those who work for the glory of God.
8) Barahiel(from Heb. - "God's blessing") - a servant of God's blessings.
There is an opinion that seven of them are coming to the throne of God. In this sense, the following words from the Revelation of John the Theologian are interpreted: Grace to you and peace from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne” (Rev. 1:4). This is, of course, a rather arbitrary interpretation. The exact meaning of this text is hidden from us.
There are prayers with petitions to each of the Archangels according to their ministry.
1. Holy Archangel Michael, conqueror, conquer my passions.
2. Holy Archangel Gabriel, messenger of God, announce to me the hour of death.
3. Holy Archangel Raphael, healer, heal me from mental and physical illness.
4. Holy Archangel Uriel, enlightener, enlighten my feelings of soul and body.
5. Holy Archangel Yehudiel, glorifier, glorify me with good deeds.
6. Holy Archangel Selaphiel, prayer book, pray to God for me, a sinner.
7. Holy Archangel Varahiel, bless me, a sinner, spend my whole life in spiritual salvation.
8. Holy Angel of God, my Guardian, save my sinful soul.
9. O my Most Holy Lady Theotokos, all the Heavenly Powers of the holy Angels and Archangels and all the saints, have mercy on me, help me in this life, in the outcome of my soul and in the Future Age. Amen
In Christianity, the host of angels is divided into three classes, or hierarchies, and each hierarchy, in turn, is divided into three faces. Here is the most common classification of angelic faces, which is attributed to Dionysius the Areopagite:
The first hierarchy: seraphim, cherubim, thrones. The second hierarchy: dominions, forces, authorities. The third hierarchy: principles, archangels, angels.
seraphim those belonging to the first hierarchy are absorbed in eternal love for the Lord and reverence for Him. They directly surround His throne. Seraphim, as representatives of Divine Love, most often have red wings and sometimes hold lighted candles in their hands. Cherubim know God and worship Him. They are depicted as representatives of Divine Wisdom in golden yellow and blue tones. Sometimes they have books in their hands. Thrones uphold the throne of God and express Divine Justice. Often they are depicted in the robes of judges with a rod of power in their hands. It is believed that they receive glory directly from God and bestow it on the second hierarchy.
The second hierarchy consists of dominations, forces and authorities, which are the rulers of the heavenly bodies and the elements. They, in turn, shed on the third hierarchy the light of glory they have received. dominance they wear crowns, sceptres, and sometimes orbs as symbols of power. They symbolize the power of the Lord. Forces they hold in their hands white lilies or sometimes red roses, which are symbols of the Passion of the Lord. Authorities often dressed in the armor of warriors - the winners of evil forces.
Through the third hierarchy, contact is made with the created world and with man, for its representatives are the executors of the will of God. In relation to a person start rule the destinies of peoples, archangels are heavenly warriors, and angels- Messengers of God to man. In addition to the listed functions, the host of angels serves as a heavenly choir.
This plan of celestial arrangement served as the basis for the creation and theological substantiation of the structure of the celestial spheres as the basis of the medieval picture of the world. According to this plan, the cherubim and seraphim are responsible for the first push ( Primum mobile) and for the sphere of fixed stars, thrones - for the sphere of Saturn, domination - Jupiter, forces - Mars, authorities - the Sun, the beginning - Venus, archangels - Mercury, angels - the Moon, the celestial bodies closest to the Earth.
ARCHANGELS
archangel Michael (Who is like God, Who is equal to God). Leader of the heavenly host. The winner of Satan, holds in his left hand on his chest a green date branch, and in his right hand a spear, on top of which is a white banner with a red cross, in commemoration of the victory of the Cross over the Devil.
Archangel Gabriel (The Fortress of God or the Power of God). One of the highest angels, in the Old and New Testaments, appears as a bearer of joyful gospels. Depicted with candles and a jasper mirror as a sign that the ways of God are not clear until the time, but are comprehended through time by studying the word of God and obedience to the voice of conscience.
Archangel Raphael (Healing of God or Healing of God). The doctor of human ailments, the chief of the guardian angels, is depicted holding a vessel (alavastre) with medical agents (medicine) in his left hand, and a pod, that is, a clipped bird feather for anointing wounds, in his right hand.
Archangel Salafiel (Angel of Prayer, Prayer to God). A prayer book that always prays to God for people and arouses people to prayer. He is depicted with his face and eyes bowed (lowered) down, and his hands pressed (folded) in a cross on his chest, as if tenderly praying.
Archangel Uriel (Fire of God or Light of God). As an Angel of light, he enlightens the minds of people with the revelation of truths that are useful to them; as an Angel of Divine Fire, he inflames hearts with love for God and destroys in them impure earthly attachments. He is depicted holding a naked sword in his right hand against his chest, and a fiery flame in his left.
Archangel Yehudiel (Praise God, Praise God). The Archangel of God Yehudiel is depicted holding a golden crown in his right hand, as a reward from God for useful and pious labors to holy people, and in his left hand a scourge of three black ropes with three ends, as a punishment for sinners for laziness to pious labors
Archangel Varahiel (God's blessing). The Holy Archangel Barachiel, the distributor of God's blessings and intercessor, asking for God's good deeds to us: is depicted carrying white roses on his chest on his clothes, as if rewarding, at the command of God, for the prayers, labors and moral behavior of people.
The basis for the creation of the church doctrine about angels is the writtenin the 5th century, the book of Dionysius the Areopagite "On the Heavenly Hierarchy" (Greek "Περί της ουρανίας", Latin "De caelesti hierarchia"), better known in the edition of the VI century. The nine angelic ranks are divided into three triads, each of which has a particular feature.
First triad – seraphim, cherubim and thrones - characterized by close proximity to God;
Second triad – strength, domination and power - emphasizes the divine basis of the universe and world domination;
Third triad – beginnings, archangels and angels proper - characterized by close proximity to man.
Dionysius summarized what had been accumulated before him. Seraphim, cherubim, powers and angels are already mentioned in the Old Testament; dominions, principalities, thrones, powers, and archangels appear in the New Testament.
According to the classification of Gregory the Theologian (4th century)the angelic hierarchy consists of angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities, forces, radiances, ascensions and understandings.
According to their position in the hierarchy, the ranks are arranged as follows:
seraphim - the first
cherubs - the second
thrones - third
domination - the fourth
strength - fifth
power - sixth
beginning - seventh
archangels - eighth
angels are the ninth.
Jewish hierarchical constructions differ from Christian ones, since they appeal only to the first part of the Bible - the Old Testament (Tanakh). One source lists ten ranks of angels, starting with the highest: 1. hayot; 2. ofanim; 3. arelim; 4. hashmalim; 5. seraphim; 6. malakim, actually "angels"; 7. elohim; 8. bene Elohim ("sons of God"); 9. cherubs; 10. ishim.
In "Maseket Azilut" ten angelic ranks are given in a different order:1. seraphim led by Shemuel or Yekhoel; 2. Opanim, led by Raphael and Ophaniel; 3. Cherubim, led by Cherubiel; 4. Shinanim, over whom Tzedekiel and Gabriel are placed; 5. tarshishim, whose chiefs are Tarshish and Sabriel; 6. we are with Cephaniel at the head; 7. Hashmalim, whose leader is called Hashmal; 8. malakim, led by Uzziel; 9. Bene Elohim, led by Hofniel; 10. Arelim, led by Michael himself.
The names of the elder angels (archangels) vary in different sources. Traditionally, the highest rank is attributed to Michael, Gabriel and Raphael - three angels named by name in biblical books; the fourth is usually added to them by Uriel, found in the non-canonical 3 Book of Ezra. There is a common notion that there are seven higher angels (associated with the magical properties of the number 7), attempts to list them by name have been made since the time of 1 Enoch, but there are too large discrepancies. We confine ourselves to listing the "magnificent seven" adopted in the Orthodox tradition: these are Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Salafiel, Yehudiel, Barachiel, Jeremiel, headed by the eighth - Michael.
Judaic tradition also assigns an extremely high position to the archangel Metatron, who in earthly life was the patriarch Enoch, but in heaven he turned into an angel. He is the vizier of the heavenly court and almost the deputy of God Himself.
1. Seraphim
Seraphim are angels of love, light and fire. They occupy the highest position in the hierarchy of ranks and serve God, taking care of his throne. Seraphim express their love for God by constantly singing laudatory psalms.
In Hebrew tradition, the endless singing of the seraphim is known as"trisagion" - Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh (“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord of the Powers of Heaven, the whole earth is full of his radiance”), which is considered a song of creation and celebration. Being the closest creatures to God, seraphim are also considered "fiery" because they are enveloped in the flames of eternal love.
According to the medieval mystic Jan van Ruysbrok, the three orders of seraphim, cherubs and thrones never take part in human conflicts, but are with us when we peacefully contemplate God and experience constant love in our hearts. They generate divine love in people.
St. John the Evangelist on the island of Patmos had a vision of angels: Gabriel, Metatron, Kemuel and Nathaniel among the seraphim.
Isaiah is the only prophet who mentions seraphim in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) when he talks about his vision of fiery angels over the Throne of the Lord: "Each had six wings: two covered the face, two covered the legs, and two were used for flight."
Another mention of the seraphim can be considered the book of Numbers (21:6), where a reference is made to "fiery serpents". According to the "Second Book of Enoch" (apocryphal), seraphim have six wings, four heads and faces.
Lucifer stepped out of the rank of seraphim. In fact, the Fallen Prince was considered an angel who overshadowed everyone else until he lost God's Grace.
seraphim – In Judaic and Christian mythologyangels, especially close to God.The prophet Isaiah describes them this way: “In the year of the death of King Uzziah, I saw the Lord sitting on a high throne, and the edges of His robe filled the whole temple. Seraphim stood around Him; each of them had six wings: with two each one covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And they called to each other and said: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts! The whole earth is full of His glory / ”(Is. 6. 1-3). According to the classification of Pseudo-Dionysius, together with the cherubim and the thrones, the seraphim belong to the first triad: “... the most holy Thrones, the many-eyed and many-winged Orders, called in the language of the Jews Cherubim and Seraphim, according to the explanation of Holy Scripture, are in the greater and most immediate before the others
closeness to God ... as for the name of the Seraphim, it clearly shows their unceasing and everlasting desire for the Divine, their ardor and speed, their ardent, constant, unrelenting and unswerving swiftness, also their ability to really elevate the lower to the heavenly, excite and inflame them to like heat: it also means ability, scorching and burning. thereby purify them – always open. their inextinguishable, constantly identical, light-like and enlightening power. banishing and uchichtozhayuschayu all obscuration.
2. Cherubim
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
Term "thrones", or "many-eyed", indicates their proximity to the throne of God.This is the rank closest to God: they receive both their divine perfection and consciousness directly from Him.
Pseudo-Dionysius reports:
“So, it is right that the highest beings are consecrated to the first of the heavenly Hierarchies, since it has the highest rank, especially because to it, as the closest to God, the first Theophany and consecrations originally belong, And they are called burning Thrones and an outpouring of wisdom.
heavenly Minds, because these names express their God-like properties ... The name of the highest Thrones means that they
completely free from any earthly attachment and, constantly rising above the valley, peacefully strive for the mountain, with all their might
immobile and firmly attached to the truly Highest being,
accepting His Divine suggestion in complete dispassion and immateriality; also means that they wear God and slavishly carry out His divine commands.
4. Dominions
The holy dominions are endowed with sufficient power to rise above and free from earthly desires and aspirations.Their duty is to distribute the duties of the angels.
According to Pseudo-Dionysius, “the significant name of the holy Dominions ... means some non-servile and free from any low attachment to the earthly exaltation to the heavenly, not in any way shaken by any violent attraction to dissimilar to them, but the dominion is constant in its freedom, standing higher any humiliating slavery, alien to any humiliation, removed from any inequality to itself, constantly striving for true Mastery and, as far as possible, holyly transforming both itself and everything subordinate to it into a perfect likeness to Him, not clinging to anything that accidentally exists, but always wholly turning to the true-existent and incessantly partaking of the sovereign God-likeness ”
5. Forces
The powers known as "brilliant or shining" are the angels of miracles, help, blessings that appear during battles in the name of faith.It is believed that David received the support of the Forces for the battle with Goliath.
The powers are also the angels from whom Abraham received his power when God told him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. The main duties of these angels are to work miracles on Earth.
They are allowed to interfere with everything that concerns the 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.
Pseudo-Dionysius says: “The name of the holy Powers means some powerful and irresistible courage, communicated to them as far as possible, reflected in all their God-like actions in order to remove from themselves everything that could reduce and weaken the Divine illuminations bestowed by them, strongly striving for imitation of God, not remaining idle from laziness, but steadfastly looking at the highest and all-strengthening Power and, as far as possible, according to its own forces, is made in Her image, completely turned to Her as the source of Forces and God-like descending to the lower forces to impart power to them.
6. Authorities
Powers 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.
According to the Gospels, the authorities can be both good forces and minions of evil. Among the nine angelic ranks, the authorities close the second triad, which, in addition to them, also includes dominions and powers. As Pseudo-Dionysius says, “the name of the holy Authorities signifies equal to the Divine Dominions and Forces, slender and capable of receiving Divine illuminations, the Chin and the device of a worldly spiritual dominion, which does not autocratically use the granted domineering powers for evil, but freely and decently to the Divine as itself ascending who brings others holy to Him and, as much as possible, becomes like the Source and Giver of all power and portrays Him ... in a completely true use of his sovereign power.
7. Beginnings
The beginnings are legions of angels protecting religion.They constitute the seventh choir in the hierarchy of Dionysius, following directly before the archangels. The beginnings give strength to the peoples of the Earth to find and experience their destiny.
It is also believed that they are the guardians of the peoples of the world. The choice of this term, as well as the term "authorities", to designate the ranks of the angels of God is somewhat doubtful, since c. In the Epistle to the Ephesians, “principalities and authorities” are called “spirits of wickedness in high places,” against whom Christians must fight (“Ephesians 6:12”).
Among those who are considered "chief" in this rank are Nisrok, an Assyrian deity who is considered by occult writings to be the main prince - a demon of hell, and Anael - one of the seven angels of creation.
The Bible says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, neither angels nor
Beginnings, no Powers, no present, no future... can separate us
from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 8:38). By
classification of Pseudo-Dionysius. beginnings are part of the third triad
along with the archangels and the angels themselves. Pseudo-Dionysius says:
“The name of the heavenly Authorities means the God-like ability to rule and govern in accordance with the sacred order, befitting the commanding Forces, both to turn to the Beginning without Beginning, and others, as it is characteristic of the Authorities, to guide Him, imprint in oneself, as far as possible, the image of the inaccurate Beginning, etc. finally, the ability to express His premier leadership in the well-being of the ruling Forces .., the Announcement rank of the Principalities, Archangels and Angels alternately rules over the human Hierarchies, so that in order there is an ascent and conversion to God, communion and unity with Him, which also from God graciously extends to all Hierarchies, is inspired through communication and pours out in the most sacred harmonious order.
8. Archangels
Archangels - The word is of Greek origin and is translated as “angel chiefs”, “senior angels”.The term "Archangels" appears for the first time in the Greek-language Jewish literature of the pre-Christian time (Greek edition of the "Book of Enoch" 20, 7) as a transfer of expressions like ("great prince") in the application to Michael of the Old Testament texts (Dan. 12, 1); then this term is taken up by New Testament authors (Jude 9; 1 Thess. 4:16) and later Christian literature. According to the Christian heavenly hierarchy, they rank directly above the angels. Religious tradition has seven archangels. The chief here is Michael the Archangel (Greek, “supreme commander”) - the leader of the armies of angels and people in their universal battle with Satan. Michael's weapon is a flaming sword.
Archangel Gabriel - best known for his participation in the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary about the birth of Jesus Christ. As a messenger of the innermost secrets of the world, he is depicted with a flowering branch, with a mirror (reflection is also a way of knowing), and sometimes with a candle inside the lamp - the same symbol of a hidden mystery.
Archangel Raphael - known as a heavenly healer and comforter of the afflicted.
Less frequently, four other archangels are mentioned.
Uriel - this is a heavenly fire, the patron of those who have devoted themselves to the sciences and arts.
Salafiel - the name of the supreme minister, with whom prayer inspiration is associated. On the icons he is painted in a prayerful pose, with his arms folded crosswise on his chest.
Archangel Yehudiel - blesses the ascetics, protects them from the forces of evil. In his right hand he has a golden crown as a symbol of blessing, in his left - a scourge that drives away enemies.
Barahiel - the role of the distributor of the highest blessings was assigned to ordinary workers, especially farmers. He is depicted with pink flowers.
The Old Testament tradition also speaks of the seven heavenly archangels. Their ancient Iranian parallel is the seven good spirits of Amesha Spenta("immortal saints") finds a correspondence with the mythology of the Vedas.This points to the Indo-European origins of the doctrine of the seven archangels, which in turn correlates with the most ancient ideas of people about the septenary structures of being, both divine and earthly.
9. Angels
Both Greek and Hebrew words expressing the concept"angel" means "messenger". Angels often performed this role in the texts of the Bible, but its authors often give this term another meaning. Angels are the incorporeal helpers of God. They appear as humans with wings and a halo of light around their heads. They are commonly mentioned in Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious texts. Angels have the appearance of a man, “only with wings and dressed in white clothes: God created them from stone”; angels and seraphim - women, cherubs - men or children)<Иваницкий, 1890>.
Good and evil angels, messengers of God or the devil, converge in the decisive battle described in the book of Revelation. Angels can be ordinary people, prophets, inspirers to good deeds, supernatural bearers of all kinds of messages or teachers, and even impersonal forces, like winds, cloud pillars or fire, which led the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. Plague and pestilence are called evil angels. St. Paul calls his illness "the messenger of Satan." Many other phenomena, such as inspiration, sudden impulses, providences, are also attributed to angels.
Invisible and immortal. According to the teachings of the church, angels are sexless invisible spirits, immortal from the day of their creation. There are many angels, which follows from the Old Testament description of God - "the Lord of hosts." They form a hierarchy of angels and archangels of the entire host of heaven. The early church clearly divided nine types, or "ranks," of angels.
Angels served as mediators between God and his people. The Old Testament says that no one could see God and stay alive, so direct communication between the Almighty and a person is often portrayed as communication with an angel. It was the angel who prevented Abraham from sacrificing Isaac. Moses saw an angel in a burning bush, although the voice of God was heard. An angel led the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. From time to time, biblical angels look just like mortals until their true nature is revealed, like the angels who came to Lot before the horrific destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Unnamed spirits. Other angels are mentioned in Scripture, such as a spirit with a fiery sword that blocked Adam's path back to Eden; cherub and seraphim, depicted as thunderclouds and lightning, which recalls the faith of the ancient Jews in the god of thunder; the messenger of God, who miraculously rescued Peter from prison, in addition, the angels who appeared to Isaiah in his vision of the heavenly court: “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne high and exalted, and the edges of His robe filled the whole temple. Seraphim stood around Him; each of them has six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
Hosts of angels appear several times on the pages of the Bible. Thus, a choir of angels announced the birth of Christ. Archangel Michael commanded numerous heavenly hosts in the battle against the forces of evil. The only angels in the Old and New Testaments who have their own names are Michael and Gabriel, who brought the news of the birth of Jesus to Mary. Most of the angels refused to identify themselves, reflecting the popular belief that revealing a spirit's name would diminish its power.
Hierarchy of angels
The basis for the creation of the church doctrine about angels is the book of Dionysius the Areopagite “On the Heavenly Hierarchy” written in the 5th century (Greek “Περί της ουρανίας”, Latin “De caelesti hierarchia”), better known in the edition of the 6th century. The nine angelic ranks are divided into three triads, each of which has a particular feature.
The first triad - seraphim, cherubim and thrones - is characterized by immediate proximity to God;
The second triad - strength, domination and power - emphasizes the divine basis of the universe and world domination;
The third triad - beginnings, archangels and angels proper - is characterized by close proximity to man.
Dionysius summarized what had been accumulated before him. Seraphim, cherubim, powers and angels are already mentioned in the Old Testament; dominions, principalities, thrones, powers, and archangels appear in the New Testament.
According to the classification of Gregory the Theologian (4th century), the angelic hierarchy consists of angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, heads, forces, radiances, ascensions and understandings.
According to their position in the hierarchy, the ranks are arranged as follows:
Seraphim - the first
cherubs - second
thrones - third
domination - fourth
strength - fifth
power - sixth
start - seventh
archangels - eighth
angels are the ninth.
Jewish hierarchical constructions differ from Christian ones, since they appeal only to the first part of the Bible - the Old Testament (Tanakh). One source lists ten ranks of angels, starting with the highest: 1) hayot; 2) ofanim; 3) arelim; 4) hashmalim; 5) seraphim; 6) malakim, actually "angels"; 7) elohim; 8) Bene Elohim (“sons of God”); 9) cherubs; 10) ishim.
In "Maseket Azilut" ten angelic ranks are given in a different order: 1) seraphim headed by Shemuel or Yekhoel; 2) Opanim, led by Raphael and Ophaniel; 3) cherubim, led by Kerubiel; 4) Shinanim, over whom Tzedekiel and Gabriel are placed; 5) tarshishim, whose chiefs are Tarshish and Sabriel; 6) ishim with Cephaniel at the head; 7) Hashmalim, whose leader is called Hashmal; 8) malakim, led by Uzziel; 9) Bene Elohim, headed by Hofniel; 10) Arelim, led by Michael himself.
The names of the elder angels (archangels) vary in different sources. Traditionally, the highest rank is attributed to Michael, Gabriel and Raphael - three angels named by name in biblical books; the fourth is usually added to them by Uriel, found in the non-canonical 3 Book of Ezra. There is a common notion that there are seven higher angels (associated with the magical properties of the number 7), attempts to list them by name have been made since the time of 1 Enoch, but there are too large discrepancies. We confine ourselves to listing the "magnificent seven" adopted in the Orthodox tradition: these are Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Salafiel, Yehudiel, Barachiel, Jeremiel, headed by the eighth - Michael.
Judaic tradition also assigns an extremely high position to the archangel Metatron, who in earthly life was the patriarch Enoch, but in heaven he turned into an angel. He is the vizier of the heavenly court and almost the deputy of God Himself.
Nine angelic ranks
First hierarchy: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones.
Second Hierarchy: Dominions, Forces, Powers.
Third Hierarchy: Principles, Archangels, Angels.
1. Seraphim
Seraphim are angels of love, light and fire. They occupy the highest position in the hierarchy of ranks and serve God, taking care of his throne. Seraphim express their love for God by constantly singing laudatory psalms.
In the Hebrew tradition, the endless singing of the seraphim is known as "trisagion" - Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh ("Holy, Holy, Holy Lord of the Forces of Heaven, the whole earth is full of his radiance"), which is considered a song of creation and celebration. Being the closest creatures to God, the seraphim are also considered "fiery", since they are enveloped in the flames of eternal love.
According to the medieval mystic Jan van Ruysbrok, the three orders of seraphim, cherubs and thrones never take part in human conflicts, but are with us when we peacefully contemplate God and experience constant love in our hearts. They generate divine love in people.
St. John the Evangelist on the island of Patmos had a vision of angels: Gabriel, Metatron, Kemuel and Nathaniel among the seraphim.
Isaiah is the only prophet who mentions seraphim in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) when he talks about his vision of fiery angels over the Throne of the Lord: "Each had six wings: two covered the face, two covered the legs, and two were used for flight."
Another mention of seraphim can be considered the book of Numbers (21:6), where a reference is made to "fiery serpents". According to the "Second Book of Enoch" (apocryphal), seraphim have six wings, four heads and faces.
Lucifer stepped out of the rank of seraphim. In fact, the Fallen Prince was considered an angel who overshadowed everyone else until he lost God's Grace.
Seraphim - In Jewish and Christian mythology, angels, especially close to God. The prophet Isaiah describes them this way: “In the year of the death of King Uzziah, I saw the Lord sitting on a high throne, and the edges of His robe filled the whole temple. Seraphim stood around Him; each of them had six wings: with two each one covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And they called to each other and said: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts! The whole earth is full of His glory / ”(Is. 6. 1-3). According to the classification of Pseudo-Dionysius, together with the cherubim and the thrones, the seraphim belong to the first triad: "... the most holy Thrones, the many-eyed and many-winged Orders, called in the language of the Jews Cherubim and Seraphim, according to the explanation of Holy Scripture, are in the greater and most immediate before the others
closeness to God ... as for the name of the Seraphim, it clearly shows their unceasing and everlasting desire for the Divine, their ardor and speed, their ardent, constant, unrelenting and unswerving swiftness, also their ability to really elevate the lower to the heavenly, excite and inflame them to similar heat: it also means ability, scorching and burning. thereby clean them - always open. their inextinguishable, constantly identical, light-like and enlightening power. banishing and uchichtozhayuschayu all obscuration.
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" indicates their proximity to the throne of God. This is the rank closest to God: they receive both their divine perfection and consciousness directly from Him.
Pseudo-Dionysius reports:
“So, it is right that the highest beings are consecrated to the first of the heavenly Hierarchies, since it has the highest rank, especially because to it, as the closest to God, the first Theophany and consecrations originally belong, And they are called burning Thrones and an outpouring of wisdom.
heavenly Minds, because these names express their God-like properties ... The name of the highest Thrones means that they
completely free from any earthly attachment and, constantly rising above the valley, peacefully strive for the mountain, with all their might
immobile and firmly attached to the truly Highest being,
accepting His Divine suggestion in complete dispassion and immateriality; also means that they wear God and slavishly carry out His divine commands.
4. Dominions
The holy dominions are endowed with sufficient power to rise above and free from earthly desires and aspirations. Their duty is to distribute the duties of the angels.
According to Pseudo-Dionysius, “the significant name of the holy Dominions ... means some non-servile and free from any low attachment to the earthly exaltation to the heavenly, not in any way shaken by any violent attraction to dissimilar to them, but the dominion is constant in its freedom, standing above all humiliating slavery, alien to all humiliation, removed from all inequality to itself, constantly striving for true Mastery and, as much as possible, holyly transforming both itself and everything subordinate to it into a perfect likeness to Him, not clinging to anything that accidentally exists , but always fully turning to the true-existing and incessantly partaking of the sovereign God-likeness ”
5. Forces
The powers known as "brilliant or shining" are the angels of miracles, help, blessings that appear during battles in the name of faith. It is believed that David received the support of the Forces for the battle with Goliath.
The powers are also the angels from whom Abraham received his power when God told him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. The main duties of these angels are to work miracles on Earth.
They are allowed to interfere with everything that concerns the 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.
Pseudo-Dionysius says: “The name of the holy Powers means some powerful and irresistible courage, communicated to them as far as possible, reflected in all their God-like actions in order to remove from themselves everything that could reduce and weaken the Divine illuminations bestowed by them, strongly striving for imitation of God, not remaining idle from laziness, but steadfastly looking at the highest and all-strengthening Power and, as far as possible, according to its own forces, is made in Her image, completely turned to Her as the source of Forces and God-like descending to the lower forces to impart power to them.
6. Authorities
Powers 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.
According to the Gospels, the authorities can be both good forces and minions of evil. Among the nine angelic ranks, the authorities close the second triad, which, in addition to them, also includes dominions and powers. As Pseudo-Dionysius says, “the name of the holy Authorities signifies equal to the Divine Dominions and Forces, slender and capable of receiving Divine illuminations, the Chin and the device of the worldly spiritual dominion, which does not autocratically use the domineering powers bestowed for evil, but freely and decently to the Divine as ascending itself. who brings others holy to Him and, as much as possible, becomes like the Source and Giver of all power and depicts Him ... in a completely true use of his sovereign power.
7. Beginnings
The beginnings are legions of angels protecting religion. They constitute the seventh choir in the hierarchy of Dionysius, following directly before the archangels. The beginnings give strength to the peoples of the Earth to find and experience their destiny.
It is also believed that they are the guardians of the peoples of the world. The choice of this term, as well as the term "authorities", to designate the ranks of the angels of God is somewhat doubtful, since c. The "Epistle to the Ephesians" refers to "principalities and powers" as "spirits of wickedness in high places", against which Christians must fight ("Ephesians" 6:12).
Among those who are considered "chief" in this rank are Nisrok, the Assyrian deity, who is considered by occult writings to be the main prince - the demon of hell, and Anael - one of the seven angels of creation.
The Bible says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, neither angels nor
Beginnings, no Powers, no present, no future... can separate us
from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 8:38). By
classification of Pseudo-Dionysius. beginnings are part of the third triad
along with the archangels and the angels themselves. Pseudo-Dionysius says:
The name of the heavenly Authorities means the God-like ability to rule and govern in accordance with the sacred order, befitting the commanding Forces, both to turn to the Beginning without Beginning, and others, as it is characteristic of the Authorities, to guide Him, to imprint in oneself, as far as possible, the image of the inaccurate Beginning, etc. finally, the ability to express His premier leadership in the well-being of the ruling Forces .., the Announcement rank of the Principalities, Archangels and Angels alternately rules over the human Hierarchies, so that in order there is an ascent and conversion to God, communion and unity with Him, which also from God graciously extends to all Hierarchies, is inspired through communication and pours out in the most sacred orderly order.
8. Archangels
Archangels - The word is of Greek origin and is translated as "angel chiefs", "senior angels". The term "Archangels" appears for the first time in the Greek-language Jewish literature of the pre-Christian time (Greek edition of the "Book of Enoch" 20, 7) as a transfer of expressions like ("great prince") in the application to Michael of the Old Testament texts (Dan. 12, 1); then this term is taken up by New Testament authors (Jude 9; 1 Thess. 4:16) and later Christian literature. According to the Christian heavenly hierarchy, they rank directly above the angels. Religious tradition has seven archangels. The chief here is Michael the Archangel (Greek: "supreme commander") - the leader of the armies of angels and people in their universal battle with Satan. Michael's weapon is a flaming sword.
Archangel Gabriel is best known for his participation in the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary about the birth of Jesus Christ. As a messenger of the innermost secrets of the world, he is depicted with a flowering branch, with a mirror (reflection is also a way of knowing), and sometimes with a candle inside the lamp - the same symbol of a hidden mystery.
Archangel Raphael is known as a heavenly healer and comforter of the afflicted.
Less frequently, four other archangels are mentioned.
Uriel is a heavenly fire, the patron of those who have devoted themselves to the sciences and arts.
Salafiel is the name of the supreme minister, with whom prayer inspiration is associated. On the icons he is painted in a prayerful pose, with his arms folded crosswise on his chest.
Archangel Yehudiel blesses the ascetics, protects them from the forces of evil. In his right hand he has a golden crown as a symbol of blessing, in his left - a scourge that drives away enemies.
Barahiel was assigned the role of a distributor of the highest blessings to ordinary workers, primarily farmers. He is depicted with pink flowers.
The Old Testament tradition also speaks of the seven heavenly archangels. Their ancient Iranian parallel - the seven good spirits of Amesha Spenta ("immortal saints") finds a correspondence with the mythology of the Vedas. This points to the Indo-European origins of the doctrine of the seven archangels, which in turn correlates with the most ancient ideas of people about the septenary structures of being, both divine and earthly.
9. Angels
Both the Greek and Hebrew words for "angel" mean "messenger". Angels often performed this role in the texts of the Bible, but its authors often give this term another meaning. Angels are the incorporeal helpers of God. They appear as humans with wings and a halo of light around their heads. They are commonly mentioned in Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious texts. Angels have the appearance of a man, “only with wings and dressed in white clothes: God created them from stone”; angels and seraphim are women, cherubim are men or children)<Иваницкий, 1890>.
Good and evil angels, messengers of God or the devil, converge in the decisive battle described in the book of Revelation. Angels can be ordinary people, prophets, inspirers to good deeds, supernatural bearers of all kinds of messages or teachers, and even impersonal forces, like winds, cloud pillars or fire, which led the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. Plague and pestilence are called evil angels. St. Paul calls his illness "the messenger of Satan." Many other phenomena, such as inspiration, sudden impulses, providences, are also attributed to angels.
Invisible and immortal. According to the teachings of the church, angels are sexless invisible spirits, immortal from the day of their creation. There are many angels, which follows from the Old Testament description of God - "the Lord of hosts." They form a hierarchy of angels and archangels of the entire host of heaven. The early church clearly divided nine types, or "ranks," of angels.
Angels served as mediators between God and his people. The Old Testament says that no one could see God and stay alive, so direct communication between the Almighty and a person is often portrayed as communication with an angel. It was the angel who prevented Abraham from sacrificing Isaac. Moses saw an angel in a burning bush, although the voice of God was heard. An angel led the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. From time to time, biblical angels look just like mortals until their true nature is revealed, like the angels who came to Lot before the horrific destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Unnamed spirits. Other angels are mentioned in Scripture, such as a spirit with a fiery sword that blocked Adam's path back to Eden; cherub and seraphim, depicted as thunderclouds and lightning, which recalls the faith of the ancient Jews in the god of thunder; the messenger of God, who miraculously rescued Peter from prison, in addition, the angels who appeared to Isaiah in his vision of the heavenly court: “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne high and exalted, and the edges of His robe filled the whole temple. Seraphim stood around Him; each of them has six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
Hosts of angels appear several times on the pages of the Bible. Thus, a choir of angels announced the birth of Christ. Archangel Michael commanded numerous heavenly hosts in the battle against the forces of evil. The only angels in the Old and New Testaments who have their own names are Michael and Gabriel, who brought the news of the birth of Jesus to Mary. Most of the angels refused to identify themselves, reflecting the popular belief that revealing a spirit's name would diminish its power.
