Angelic ranks: description, hierarchy and how different types differ from each other. The ranks of angels - features of the heavenly hierarchy in Orthodoxy and Catholicism

While collecting material for this book, I have discovered several systems of angelic hierarchy. All of these systems, which can be confusing at first, were born in the human imagination. They are often so conservative and so attached to a particular religious system that their original purpose is lost. But can we ignore these labors? Someone spent a lot of time creating them. We do not know what the aspirations and intentions of these people were. But should we actually rewrite the old works anew, replacing the old terms with the "correct" ones from the point of view of modern philosophy?

I thought about these questions for a long time and finally decided to stick with what I already have, but expand my knowledge in the field of magic. In my research, I have suffered a series of defeats. For example, I cannot believe that God created a huge number of angels, whose only task is to "praise the heavenly host." This is akin to creating your own support group. Is God so selfish? Of course not, because selfishness is a purely human trait. Perhaps, in fact, the angels' task is to fill a vessel with positive energy from which all levels of existence can draw.

I was also perplexed that the angels (male, in this case) were so struck by the beauty of the daughters of men that they neglected their duties and indulged in debauchery, dooming themselves to eternal damnation and becoming fallen angels.

This is a great plot for a novel, but it is not suitable for the smooth operation of a universe in which people are the element of chaos, not angels. The fact that some men are unable to control their lust does not mean that male beings of every other species in the universe have the same problems. *

You probably think that none of this helps us understand the hierarchy of angels. But you may be wrong. Understanding our own failures helps us realize that there may be problems in these systems as well. It's good. We can work with that and get closer to more important stuff. First of all, we need to get rid of the feeling that we are not good enough to communicate with the angels.

Remember in Chapter 2 I wrote that angels are here to help us fulfill our destiny? In each chapter of this book, I encourage you to enter the hierarchy of the angelic worlds and try to show you that by interacting with the angels, you can improve your life and find harmony.

The most popular hierarchical system in the West is taken from a book written by Dionysius the Areopagite in the 6th century. For centuries, these angelic orders have performed certain duties and directed the streams of energy subject only to them. Some religions teach that many mortals, having gone through all earthly incarnations, become members of one of the Ten orders of angels. The nine ranks of the angels are divided into three groups, or triads:

Angels of the first triad

Seraphim Cherubim. Thrones

Angels of the second triad

Power of Power Dominions

Angels of the third triad

Beginnings Archangels Angels

Angels of the first triad

The first triad of angels is responsible for the Universe and the manifestation of the divine in it, acting on the highest astral level. Some consider them to be the angels of pure contemplation, but for me contemplation means "sitting back and thinking about different things." Perhaps this means that they are manifesting their energy through pure thought. I like this idea more. These angels have the deepest knowledge about the deity, his inner activities and manifestations. The angels of the first triad are seraphim, cherubim and thrones.

Seraphim

Seraphim are closest to the deity, they protect, guard and glorify him and are considered angels of pure love, light and fire. They provide peace of mind, protect the deity from the penetration of negative energy and help create and carry positive energy through all the ranks of angels and into the physical worlds. They surround the deity in order to ensure his uninterrupted existence and give this energy to us in order to preserve our life. Presumably, above these angels there are four rulers, corresponding to the four winds of the Earth, each of which beats in the air with six wings. The ruler of the seraphim is considered to be Joel, Metatron or Michael. Other angels named in this order are Seraphiel, Uriel, Kemuil, and Nathanael. When studying and working with the Nine ranks of angels, you will see that several angels are assigned to different ranks, moving up and down the heavenly "service ladder" depending on the emergence of the need for them in the Universe. This is especially true of the four archangels (Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel).

Seraphim (beings of pure light) shine so brightly that a mortal can die of fright when he sees a seraphim in all its splendor. Only the Lord, the Mother of God and Michael are able to fully interact with these beings. Some say their faces are like lightning and their clothes are as dazzling as arctic ice. They never stop moving and acting.

People practicing magic can gain access to seraphim because we are great at praying and invoking power. True, one day a friend said to me: “Would you like to rise to the level of these little old women sitting in the farthest rows in the church and discussing their beds? In them more magic than many boastful adepts. " I have no doubt about that.

The word "seraphim" means "fervor." In other words, these angels work with overwhelming divine love and compassion. You can't just walk up to a seraphim on the astral level and say, "How are you?" Mortals meet with them by invitation only. I don’t mean to say that seraphim do not interact with humans at all. You can turn to them and demand their help in magical actions, but you are unlikely to ever see them. If your guardian angel belongs to the seraphim, you may be involved in some kind of change in the world or human consciousness at the moment when you need their inspiration, divine love and power to complete your mission.

In another mythology, phoenixes were angels of the highest order, along with seraphim and cherubim. They turned into elements of the sun and became associated with certain planets. They each had twelve wings and were depicted as birds with bright red plumage.

Communicate magically with seraphim when you want to create energy to solve problems on a human or planetary scale. They listen to group rituals. To summon the seraphim, light a white candle for the deity and a bright red for the seraphim.

Cherubim

Cherubim are the keepers of light and stars. They also create and conduct positive energy from the deity, and their form is perfect. They are supposed to glow more strongly than all other angels. These creatures are Assyrian or Akkadian in origin, and their name means "promoting reconciliation." They are powerful spirits of knowledge and boundless love. It is interesting that in human consciousness they exist as half-humans, half-animals. The ancient statues, which were placed in front of the entrance to the temples to protect the holy land, represent them from human faces and the bodies of bulls or lions. Initially, they were not angels at all, but over time they fought their way into the heavenly hierarchy. Could it be an ancient race that now functions not on the physical but on the astral level? Mortals view cherubim as a "beauty and beast" hybrid. Cherubim oversee all galaxies, collecting and distributing energy where needed, and guarding temples of every religion, from architectural masterpieces to squalid huts.

Cherubim can also act as personal guardians, fighting with fiery swords when necessary. Sometimes cherubim are depicted in a more frightening form with four faces and four wings, this must be their mystical representation, associating cherubim with the four winds. They are both sacred animals and the deity's chariots. Their names are Ofhaniel, Rikbiil, Herubiel, Raphael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Zophiel. It is difficult to imagine why in art these strong angels turned into dwarfs with baby faces. I prefer to stick to the concept of creatures with lion faces and human bodies. You can, of course, represent them by others.

In magic, when you seek protection, wisdom, and knowledge, look to the cherubim. Many Egyptian deities, especially Sekhmet, Byet and Anubis, may have been cherubim.

Some archaeologists believe that the famous Sphinx (a giant sculpture with the head of a man and the body of a lion) may not refer to Egyptian culture, but to the culture of an as yet undiscovered Civilization that existed before the Egyptian. To summon the cherubim, light a white candle for the deity and a blue one for the cherub.

Thrones

Thrones are assigned to planets, so most of the planetary angels mentioned in this book belong to the category of thrones. They create, conduct and collect positive energy in and out. Thrones are called "many-eyed" and represent something like divine private investigators, as well as teachers of obedience. The name "thrones" comes from the idea that all the power of a deity rests on their strong shoulders. Justice and the administration of justice are very important to them. They can illuminate injustice with their fire and send healing energy to any victim. Again, the question is who leads whom. The prince of thrones must be Orifiel, Zadkiel or Zafkiel. Other names are given - Razzil and Jophiel. Thrones are very interested in mortal affairs, although they can channel energy through your guardian angel rather than interacting directly with you.

In magic, summon thrones to help mend relationships with groups of people or between two individuals. Turn to thrones if you are in search of resilience, as well as for any issues related to planets or planetary energies... To summon the thrones, light a white candle for the deity and a green one for the thrones.

Angels of the second triad

The angels of the second triad (dominance, strength, power) control certain planets and those angels who perform the tasks assigned to them. They themselves obey the angels of the first triad. The angels of the second triad deal with the cosmos and the relationships in it. Some scholars-theologians argue that the angels of the second triad do not care about mortals at all and are too busy “cosmically; mi ”problems; but I don't believe their communication system is so bad that prayers and human energy emissions are lost. I also don't believe in their arrogance and arrogance but in their attitude towards people.

Domination

Dominions play the role of divine leaders, whose efforts are aimed at uniting the material and the spiritual without losing control. They wear symbols of authority such as the scepter and orb. The prince of this rank is considered Khashmal or Zadkiel. Interestingly, Dominion is also the name of the oldest angel. Other angels who are also called the princes of the dominions are Muriel and Zachariel.

In magic, all questions of leadership fall under the control of dominions. They embody the law of cause and effect and precision in work. Dominions endow a person with the gift of a "born leader" and make sure that his subordinates are healthy and happy. They disapprove of corrupt governments, politicians, church and political leaders who put personal interests above public interests. If you want to attain divine wisdom, look to the dominions. They are excellent mediators and arbiters. If you are starting an important project or something stalled in current affairs, turn to dominance. Light a white candle for a deity and a pink one for a dominance to summon dominions.

Forces

The forces are tracing the history of mankind. The angels of birth and death belong to this family. They organize the world's religions and send divine energy to support them. positive aspects... Their main task is to regulate chaos. Some theologians believe that the powers were created before other angelic orders. They are seen as divine warriors who act not through fear and hatred, but through all-encompassing love. Forces are angels of warning; they will warn you if someone is going to harm you. This warning can come in different ways: as a sensation, a dream, or a snippet of conversation. This means that you must learn to listen to what the angels tell you. They work through a person's sixth sense, forcing us to listen to them. There is still a dispute about who is in charge of this rank. According to some sources, this is Ertosi, according to others Sammail and Kamail. Gabriel and Verhiel also belong to the angels of this order.

In magic, they are considered warrior angels and you should turn to them when you are in trouble. The forces can ferret out any secret plans, the execution of which will harm someone. These angels will protect your Home, property, children, or any group of people who call for their protection. To invoke the forces, light a white candle for the deity and a yellow one for the forces.

Authorities

The main job of the authorities is to move spiritual energy to the level of the earth and the collective human consciousness. Known as the Miracle Angels, they are distinguished by their courtesy and courage. In the planetary system of the Egyptians and alchemists, Pi-Re was the head of government. Among the ruling princes of this degree are Michael, Raphael, Varviel, Haniel, Gamaliel, Tarshish, Peliel, Sabriel, Uzziel.
The authorities are especially supportive of those who try to achieve more than others expect of them. They love the adventurous and the lucky. positive people who are trying to enlighten and educate others and lead them to achieve harmony.

Authorities are the spirits of movement, work and direction of elemental natural energies that damage our planet. Earth, air, weather and planetary disasters related to the elements are under the auspices of the authorities. These are the angels of nature. When you work with elemental magic, it is the authorities who listen to you and help you. When you are in trouble or working for healing, reach out to the authorities. When you are sick or afraid, call on the authorities. To summon the authorities, light a white candle for the deity and an orange one for the authorities.

Angels of the third triad

The angels of the third triad have very complex connections with human affairs; they are considered the angels of the Earth. They are constantly intertwined with our lives and eagerly listen to what is happening with people. The third triad includes beginnings, archangels and those who are simply called angels.

Beginnings

The beginnings are the guardians of large structures such as continents, countries, cities, and large human organizations (such as the UN). They are driving global reform. You'll find them in boardrooms and brokerage offices, even swimming pools — wherever people gather in groups for study, decision-making, or just for fun. They also create and transmit positive energies from the physical to the divine and vice versa. Patrons of religion and politics, they watch over the leaders of humanity to help them make fair decisions. The main ruling angels this degree - Rekuil, Anail, Kerviil and Nisrok. According to Egyptian beliefs, the ruler among them is Surot.

With the help of magic, you can summon these angels in case of discrimination, destruction of animals or (God forbid!) Genocide, violation of laws by those who manage anything - from a country to a company, or if you do not have enough strength to make the necessary decisions regarding large groups of people. Human rights and economic reforms are the top priority to start. To invoke the beginnings, light a white candle for the deity and a red one for the beginnings.

Archangels

This is a rather strange group. They are often attributed to one of the other triads or to another order. They love communication with mortals, although they can not always afford it. These are the "special forces" of the angelic worlds, accustomed to dealing with different strata of society - from rulers to newborns. They also create and transmit energy in both directions. Chapter 2 and other sections of this book discuss the use of archangels in magic.
To summon the archangels, refer to chapter 4.

Angels

Angels are beings assigned to a specific personality. They are often referred to as guardian angels. They deal with matters of human and physical manifestation and transmit energies from us to the divine and from the divine to us. Our guardian angels are assigned to us for the duration of all earthly incarnations. They are ours best friends and our closest companions, accompanying us from the moment of our birth and helping us in the transition through death. They protect us in trouble, help us adapt to the world and carry out the divine plan inherent in us, invoking other powers of the Nine orders of angels when we need them. However, much of of the above they will only do at our request. Therefore, we must learn to talk about our needs and concerns. We will return to the guardian angels in chapter 7, which will be dedicated only to them.
Our guardian angels are always in contact with all the angels of the Nine ranks. They send messages instantly, and if we ask them for help, they will convey our request to the deity and other angels. Again, I must remind you that you are never alone. While angels often act instantaneously, especially if other people are involved in your problem, sometimes their action can slow down or go wrong as you expected. When turning to the angels for help, make sure that your thoughts are pure, and ask them to tell you the most acceptable solution for everyone or good attitude to you. But do not think that the angel will solve all your problems on his own. It will only open up new opportunities and paths for you that you could not find yourself.
Guardian angels can come from any of the Nine orders of angels .. Each angel has its own function. None of them is better or more important than the others. Light a candle in your favorite color to summon your guardian angel. Place a white candle for the deity nearby.

The ebb and flow of energy to a mortal or from a mortal to a deity is the main task of the angels. If this flow stops, all of us, including the angels, will cease to exist. All laws, cosmic and human, are ruled by angels. They can change anyone's destiny at any time. But an angel will never become an accomplice of evil. They seek justice with strength and love, but without cruelty. The stories about "merciless angels" frighten only fools.

We can magically interact with any angel from the nine ranks of angels. For example, if you want to heal the planet, you must find a special office responsible for this. All angels are in tune with the orders of the Holy Mother and the Holy Father. Those who open their hearts to a female deity can make major changes in our society. The Virgin is almost definitely the queen of angels, and if you need her, all you have to do is summon her.

When interacting with our angels weak point only doubt and fear are. Doubting the power of angels to help us, we sever our connection with them. Disbelief or fear creates a barrier between us and the angels.

A spell for nine ranks

Shining Seraphim, I call upon you.
Draw a circle, bring me love.
Mighty cherub, guard my gates
Take sadness and hate away from me.
Thrones, stand fast, make me determined
Help me to keep steady on land and at sea.
I call for domination whose power is undeniable
To be honest in everything I do.
Forces create circles of protection
Help me, weather and storm.
Miraculous authorities soar nearby,
They give me the energy of the elements.
Beginnings bring global changes
Blessing the world and every newborn.
Glorious archangels show me the way
Leading to peace and harmony every day.
Guardian angel, powerful deity,
Bless me with your guiding light.

An appeal to the nine ranks of angels

The fact that you have chosen this book and are thinking about how to do magic with angels makes you a special person. You are probably one in a thousand. Few have the guts to practice magic with angels, as that means you have to live honestly, which is not always easy to do. Some believe that angels do not correspond to their religious beliefs. I have come to the conclusion that angels correspond to everything anytime, anywhere. They are not as picky as we are.

One delightful winter morning, I busied myself at the local department store and grocery store. There I suddenly began to look at people - I mean that I began to look at them for real. I realized that all the people around me were not alone, that their angels were with them. I was surprised to realize that the earth level must be a very busy place. At that moment, the physical senses that I had trained for so long took a huge leap forward.

Looking at people, I "felt" what worries them the most. Some people looked around helplessly as if they were alone in the world, and I really wanted to tell them that they were not. Others were preoccupied with thoughts of their business, family, friends, etc. At first glance, I recognized those who were dishonest or those who felt empty in life, despite their expensive clothes and professional makeup. I felt myself stepping into a twilight zone.

I walked and felt my angels next to me. They were big and I could feel them pulsing. I have no idea how I knew this - I just knew. People looked at me and smiled, and I smiled back. This is unusual because most people in my area do not always benevolent to the people you meet. I understood that those who smile broadly felt the presence of angels, but could not realize what they were feeling. I felt huge. I felt great. I felt loved. I touched harmony.

As I walked to my car, I came up with the idea of ​​addressing the Nine Ranks of the Angels. This is your first acquaintance with all types of angels, let them know that you are ready to invite them into your life and do magic with them.

You will need one white candle to represent the Virgin and one white candle to represent the Lord. You will also need candles to represent each level of the Nine Ranks of the Angel, so you need eleven candles. If you want, you can use the candles of the colors that I recommended to you earlier.

Make sure not to be disturbed during this ritual. When talking with angels, you should not be interrupted. phone calls, TV, guests or family members.

Walk up to the angelic altar and light candles or lamps. Take a deep breath, holding both white candles firmly in your hands. Whatever your religious beliefs, say a prayer or incantation, stating exactly what you want to do. I am not giving a sample prayer here because it should come from your heart. Light both white candles, saying:

I light this candle for the Lord.
I light this candle for the Mother of God.

If you are familiar with magic, then it is time to outline the magic circle. Choose which way of creating a circle you like best. If you do not know how to draw a magic circle, refer to chapter b of this book; if you don't want to draw a circle, just imagine yourself surrounded by white light.

Place the candles in a row and start with your guardian angel's candle. Say the following:

I light this guardian angel candle and invite my guardian angel into my life. I vow to practice magic with angels and to help my neighbors and the planet with all my might. May it be so.

Relax and meditate on what you just said. Feel that your guardian angel is by your side and reaffirm that you will listen to the messages being conveyed to you.

Light the archangel's candle and say the following:

I light this archangel candle and invite this archangel into my life. I vow to practice magic with the archangels and help my neighbors and the planet with all my strength. May it be so.

As before, relax and think about the archangels and what they mean to you.

Proceed to the rest of the ranks, each time to one of them, lighting a candle, summoning the angels, pronouncing an oath. Meditate on each rite.

When you've done all this, take a deep breath and close your eyes. Open yourself to universal harmony.

Upon completion of the work, speak to the angels you have summoned. The conversion can be large or small - it doesn't matter.

Give your message loudly and firmly.

Take another deep breath and relax. Thank the angels for responding and helping you. If you. o drawing a magic circle, open it.

You can join the Nine orders of angels at any time. Angels are always ready to help you.

Queen of Angels (The Story of Saint Cztrin Labour)

I’m not a Catholic, and I never was, but when I first read this story, my heart beat faster and shivers ran through my body. I believe not best example to demonstrate the power and existence of the Queen of Angels, the entity we Wiccans know as the Lady.

On July 18, 1830, nun Catherine Labourt woke up on the Rue du Bac in Paris and saw a radiant angel who ordered her to quickly go to the chapel. When Catherine arrived there, she saw the queen of angels, who gave her the first message. In this first message, she introduced herself to Catherine as the sacred mother of all children. She called herself the queen of angels.

After her first visit, Catherine devoted herself to deep solitude and prayer for many months. Every morning, Catherine returned to the chapel, hoping to see the queen of angels again. And one fine morning the queen returned to the chapel, standing over a ball bathed in bright light, and dressed in sunlight. Rings glittered on each of her fingers. When she opened her palms, bright beams of fire burst from them and ignited the ball. The angels emitted a shimmering light as the queen spoke the following words:

The sphere you see represents the planet Earth. The rays that break out of my hands symbolize the grace given to me to be passed on to those of our children who ask me to do so.

Gems that do not emit rays are favors that my children forgot to ask for. The light of the angels symbolizes their strength and presence on earth. Let me help you my children. Look for the light of the angels.

Katrin's vision intensified. The beams from the hands of the queen lit fire in all parts of the ball. The golden door to the Land of Summer hovered in an oval around the vision. The queen of angels spoke:

Divine will commands that a medal be made depicting this heavenly vision, which is bestowed upon you. The medal will always be a sign of my protection and the presence of angels to guide you along the paths of unconditional divine love for you. All who wear this medal with faith will be showered with favors, blessings and empowered.

This medal was produced and distributed to Catholics around the world. Legend says that those who wore the medal with faith and conviction witnessed many miracles and were under divine protection. It became known as the Miracle Medal. People around the world continue to wear this medal of angelic power, a gift from the Queen Mother herself.

After researching the story, I decided to visit a local Catholic store. I felt strange, wandering among the trappings of a religion alien to me, but at the same time I was proud that my own faith is strong and cannot be shaken by another belief system. I found the Miracle Medal and the card that came with it.

At home, I placed them on my angelic altar (see chapter 2), cleansed, sanctified and energized these objects. There is a prayer on the back of the card. I have composed my own spell to suit my personal spiritual needs:

Merciful Goddess, I reunite with you under the name of Our Lady, Queen of Angels, who brought this Miraculous Medal. Let this medal be for me a convincing sign of your maternal affection and a constant reminder of the oath that I made to my religion. Bless me with your loving protection and that of your Spouse. The most powerful Virgo, Mother and Foremother! Let me be by your side every minute of my life, so that I, like you, can live and act in such a way as to fulfill my oath. With this medal, I will call upon the angelic powers to help my neighbors and control my own life. May it be so.

If you don't like using the Miracle Medal, then don't worry about it. I took a little time to find a medal without a cross on the back. I do not want to use jewelry with a cross, as this sign denotes an attack and has a hidden meaning for me. You are free to choose another jewelry whichever is more convenient for you. A Jew can use the Star of David, a Wiccan a pentacle. The symbol must be important to you, and you must trust that it will work for the purpose that you identified in the dedication and prayer above.

Catholics have a prayer that they use for all difficulties. I will quote it here, and then we will rewrite it a little so that it fits with alternative religious traditions. Since all gods are one god and all goddesses are one goddess, I don't think the Mother of God would mind. Legend says that this prayer was first recited by the angel Gabriel.
Oh, Mary, blessed,. The Lord is with You. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Holy Mary, Mother

God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

If you are of an alternative religion, you can pronounce it like this:
O Lady, gracious, God is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Spouse and Son. Holy Goddess, Mother of the Earth, perform a sacrament for your children, now and at our hour of need. May it be so.

The queen of angels and the magic circle

The queen of angels sends the seraphim to collect human prayers and convey them to the deity. All angels are deeply devoted to her and she has her own angelic retinue. Thus, when you draw a magic circle and invoke the Master or Mistress, you also summon an angelic host that moves with them regardless of your belief system and whether you think about or believe in them. If you acknowledge the presence of angelic beings when you outline your circle, you will see the difference. If you don't believe me, try it and find out for yourself.

Indeed, many of us feel the presence of angels in our lives especially acutely when things go wrong. I will give myself as an example. I stubbornly pored over this angelic book, sometimes feeling tired and empty, but thinking that my life was in order, when suddenly a professional discord overtook me in the midst of a difficult streak. Feeling very unhappy and acutely aware that my whole life is going downhill, I went to my angelic altar and lit two white candles. I called my guardian angel and asked that this transition in my life be as painless as possible and that I find out why this happened, without being blinded by human emotions and selfishness. ...

Once I read that mortals are conductors of spiritual energy into the material world, and angels are conductors of material energy into the spiritual world. Together we create a bridge between the material and the spiritual world. I also understood that in order to continue my work, I must get rid of negative emotions - doubts, anger, dissatisfaction with myself and self-reflection, which are boiling in a terrible cauldron of endless speculation.

First of all, I took a shower and visualized how the water cleans my physical body and my soul. Then I took a glass cold water(any drink will do) and imagined that with every sip I was filling my body with angelic and universal energies. Then I took a deep breath, imagining the healing energy entering my body. I exhaled, throwing away any doubts, fears, or thoughts of unhappiness with him.

I summoned the Mistress with the help of Edgar Allan Po's poem:

In the morning, at noon, at dusk
Madam, you listen to my hymn:
In joy and sorrow, in health and illness,
Mother goddess, be with me.
When the bright hours fly by
And there is not a cloud in the sky
My soul, no matter how idle it is,
Your mercy leads to you.
Now that the storms of fate
Covered in darkness my present and future,
May my hope be in you
Will make my future shine.

Then I reread Gabriel's prayer several times, turning it into a mantra that enhances power:

O Lady, full of mercy, God is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Spouse and Son. Holy Goddess, Mother of the Earth, perform a sacrament for your children, now and at our hour of need. May it be so.

The problem was resolved within 24 hours.

Other hierarchies

I mentioned earlier that there are several hierarchies of angels. Although I have chosen the Nine Angelic Ranks to work, I would not want to discard Jewish mysticism. The Kabbalah mentions ten Sephiroth ( singular- sephira). Each represents its own world, which requires deep study through imaginary travels, personal encounters with the divine, etc. Angels are present in each sephira. The names of the sephiroth are Foundation, Splendor, Eternity, Beauty, Power, Grace, Knowledge, Wisdom, Understanding and Perfection (Crown). The diagram representing these forces is in the form of a tree. At the roots of this tree stands the guardian angel Sandalphon, which spreads through the tree and goes into the Universe. Other angels on the tree are Safkiel, the angel of contemplation; Raphael, divine physician; Gabriel, who rules over spiritual wisdom; Michael, Commander-in-Chief of the Heavenly Host. At the top is Metatron. We will be discussing all of these angels in the book.

Medieval Christian theologians distinguished several levels or angelic choirs in the angelic hierarchy. The most famous of these classifications is presented in the treatise "On the Heavenly Hierarchy" ("Latin De caelesti hierarchia"), where Dionysius the Areopagite unfolds a hierarchy of three triads.

However, in the Middle Ages, other schemes were also proposed - both expanding the Areopagitics and presenting other, different options. So, for some authors, the number of ranks was limited to a family. In some cases, the reverse order of ranking was justified.

Some scholastics believed that angels and archangels had a lower rank and were the only ones who took a direct part in the affairs of the human world.

At the same time, the authors of "De caelesti hierarchia" and "Summa Theologica", referring to New Testament, and, in particular, in the Epistle to Ephesians (1:21) and in Colossians (1:16), substantiated the idea of ​​three degrees, spheres, or triads of angels, each of which contained three orders, or "choir".

Method comparative analysis Old and New Testaments, including etymological and semantic analysis, the aforementioned theological works (with known variations between individual authors) deduced the angelic hierarchy in the following (descending) order:

First degree (sphere)(according to Old Testament sources)

• Seraphim
• Cherubim
• Thrones (also New Testament)

Second degree (sphere)(according to New Testament sources)

• Domination
• Authorities

Third degree (sphere)

• Beginnings
• Archangels
• Angels

In the writings of Bonaventura of Bagnoregio, these spheres are referred to, respectively, as epiphany, hyperphany and ipophany. Moreover, the ranks of the second and third spheres of his hierarchical list are also combined in pairs.

The theologian deduces the presence of these pairs of ranks from their etymological similarity and the obvious similarity for him in the description of their functions.

He also explains how the position stated in 1 Peter (3:22) applies to these couples:

• Thrones and Dominions
• Beginnings and Authorities (Ephesians 6:12)
• Archangels and Angels

Photo gallery

Useful information

Angelic hierarchy
English Christian angelic hierarchy

First sphere

Seraphim

In Hebrew. שׂרף (saraf) - singular "Flaming", "fiery". The ending "-im" indicates plural. h (Hebrew שׂרפים, read sraphim); this distinction is observed in lat. seraph - seraphi, eng. Seraph - Seraphim etc.

When borrowing in Russian, the plural form. seraphim was perceived as singular, and already from it the plural was formed: seraphim - seraphim.

Sometimes the etymology is deepened to the original source of the Hebrew word - among the Egyptians, seref meant "griffin" - it is this word form that is used in Num.21: 6 and Isa. 14:29 to denote snake-like lightning.

The seraphim themselves are mentioned only in Isaiah 6: 2-3, where, according to the text, they appeared to the gaze of man with six-winged wings, covered their faces with two wings, two lower parts of the body (legs), with two they flew, praising the holiness of God.

In the angelic hierarchy, the purpose of seraphim is also to embody God's holy purposes on earth.

In biblical usage, seraphim are the order of angels who worship God and serve the needs of people.

In the Apocryphal Book of Enoch, Seraphiel is called. It has the head of an eagle, but it emits such a bright light that no one, not even other angels, can see it.

Cherubim

As in the word "seraphim", the ending "-im" indicates plural. h (Hebrew כרובים, read kerubim); this distinction is observed in lat. cherub - cherubi, eng. Cherub - Cherubim or Cherubs.

When borrowing in Russian, the plural form. cherubim was perceived as singular, and from it they formed the plural: cherubim - cherubim.

There are several etymological hypotheses, but there are no decisive arguments in favor of any one.

In the Talmud, Hebrew. כרוב is produced from aram. כרביא - "like a youth."

In the last quarter of the XIX century. Friedrich Delitzsch associated this morpheme with kirubu = shedu, the Assyrian name for a winged bull.

A number of Assyriologists (Feuchtwang, Teloni, Budge, etc.) in 1885 objected to this hypothesis. Later Delitzsch gave another version of the link - "karubu" (great, powerful).

In 1897 Karppe, and then Haupt suggested that כרוב could be Babylonian, and then it means not powerful, but supportive, benevolent, merciful (synonym "damḳu").

In the biblical view, the cherubim, together with the seraphim, are the closest to the Almighty.

In Christianity, the second, following after the seraphim, the angelic order.

Thrones

Thrones - according to Dionysius: "God-bearing" (Eze 1: 15-21; 10: 1-17) - the Lord sits on them as on a throne and pronounces His Judgment.

The ranks of the powers of heaven and saints in Orthodoxy. Heavenly hierarchy.

Since the creation of the world and man, there have always been creatures that hinder people, and that help. Angels, Cherubim, Seraphim - perhaps there is not a single person on earth who has not heard about these disembodied forces. Since ancient times, people knew about the existence of angels, they were revered, and continue to be honored in many religions, angels are revered by almost all peoples of the world. Angels are mentioned more than once in the Holy Scriptures, their actions are described in fulfilling the will of God, helping the righteous, as well as protecting people from troubles and misfortunes with their angelic cover. But, angels are mentioned not only in the main Christian book, information about them was also left by the Holy Fathers, to whom heavenly beings more than once appeared and conveyed to them the will of the Most High, they passed it on, since according to God's plan, he sends angels to notify, bring news, therefore they are called angels, that is, messengers.

The Lord endowed his disembodied messengers with many gifts and powerful power, with the help of which God's spiritual essences can influence the world of things and man, but only according to the will of the Lord and his will, fulfilling his will. With all their essence, the angels love their Creator and abide in tireless gratitude to him for the bliss in which they abide, and this bliss cannot be compared with anything. There are a lot of angels, sometimes the human mind is lost in their countless number. In fact, everything is much simpler, because among the angels of heaven, there is their own harmony, order and hierarchy, which is described in the creation of the disciple of the Holy Apostle Paul - passion-bearer and martyr Dionysius the Areopagite. According to the scripture of St. Dionysius, the heavenly hierarchy has three degrees, each of which has three ranks, respectively, a total of nine spiritual entities:

1. Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones - are distinguished by their proximity to the Most High God. Dominance;
2. Forces and Authorities - emphasize the basis of the universe and world dominion;
3. The beginnings - Archangels and Angels - are distinguished by their closeness to each person.

Our Lord Jesus Christ pours out his love on all his angels, starting with the highest faces, therefore the angelic ranks are in complete harmony and subordination of the lower ranks to the higher ones, according to the hierarchy.

Seraphim - this name means "Flaming, Fiery". They are always close to the Lord, of all the angels they are closest to the Heavenly Father. Burn divine and great love to the Lord, pass it on to other faces, igniting them. This is their main purpose and their main task.

Cherubim - this name means "Chariot". Prophet Ezekiel saw them in the form of a lion, an eagle, an ox and a man. This means that the Cherubim combine in themselves rationality, obedience, strength and speed, they are God's chariot and stand before the throne of God. Cherubim know everything that the Lord allows his children to know, through them God sends wisdom and knowledge of it into the world.

Thrones are spiritual essences shining with the light of knowledge of God. God Himself rests on them not sensually, but spiritually, and administers his just judgment. Their purpose is to help the children of God, to be honest and to do only what is fair.

Dominions - dominate the subsequent ranks of angels. Their direct purpose is to protect from the fall, tame obstinacy, overcome the thirst for temptation and piously control their feelings.

Forces are created by the Lord in order to work miracles, to give the gifts of clairvoyance, healing from ailments, and miracles to the holy saints of God and righteous holy fathers. They help people endure hardships and hardships, give wisdom, strength of spirit and prudence.

Authorities- True God is endowed with special power, they are able to tame the actions and power of Satan. Their direct purpose is to protect earthly inhabitants from the wiles of the devil, to protect the ascetics in their pious life, and to pacify the elements of nature.

Beginnings- lead the lower degree of angels, direct their deeds to fulfill the will of God. They rule the universe, the world and the peoples inhabiting the earth. They teach earthlings to live not for their own benefit, but for the glory of the Lord.

Archangels- were created to carry the good news to the world of people, to reveal the mystery of the Christian faith, and to convey the will of the Lord to people. They are the guides - Revelation.

Angels- main defenders ordinary people, every person has, they instruct him on the righteous path, protect him from evil spirits and evil spirits, keep from falling and help the fallen to rise.

According to Holy Scripture, the Archangel Michael, the heavenly warrior and the commander-in-chief of the angelic army, is placed over all the angelic ranks. Led by the Archangel Michael, the Divine Angels cast down the proud angel and all those who followed Satan into the underworld. The great warrior of the forces of heaven, the Archangel Michael, took part in many heavenly battles and defended the people of Israel in troubles and adversities.

In addition to the disembodied forces, there is a distribution of all saints to the ranks of holiness, which are understood in different categories, namely:

1. Holy Old Testament - Holy Fathers and Prophets
2. Saints of the New Testament - Apostles, Equal-to-the-Apostles and Illuminators, Prelates, Great Martyrs and Martyrs, Confessors and Passion-bearers, Monks, Holy Fools, Blessed Believers.

So who are these New Testament saints?

True God - created his spiritual essences intelligent and strong, and distributed them according to the type of service. By merit, the way of life and the degree of holiness, the Old Testament and New Testament Saints are distributed.

There is an opinion based on Gen. 6: 2-4, according to which sinful angels once interbred with humans, giving rise to giants (Nephilim). To do this, they incarnated into a human body and descended to earth:

At that time there were giants on earth ( nephilim), especially since the time when the sons of God began to enter the daughters of men, and they began to give birth to them: these are strong, glorious people from ancient times.

However, the “sons of God” in the Bible means not only Angels, but also righteous people, thus, according to Jewish and Christian traditions, the meaning of this verse is that righteous people began to marry the wicked, succumbed to their influence, and themselves morally sunk. From the point of view of church theology, the sons of God are the descendants of Seth, and the daughters of men are the descendants of Cain.

In the New Testament

... they are ministerial spirits sent into ministry for those who have inherited salvation

In most translations of the Bible, when mentioning the fallen and all sinned (opposed to God) angels, they use a lower case letter, and when mentioning holy Angels, they use a capital letter.

Angel with a flower. 14th century

In a religious tradition

In Judaism

Among the seven angels of Jewish mythology, only three are named in the Tanakh (Old Testament) by name: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. The other four, Oriel, Reguel, Sariel and Jerahmiel, are mentioned in non-canonical literature (Book of Enoch). It is believed that four angels stand in front of the throne of the Lord and guard the four cardinal points: Michael, Gabriel, Oriel and Raphael.

In Kabbalah

In Orthodoxy, there is an idea of ​​guardian angels sent by God to each person immediately after his conception (even before birth): “Look, do not despise any of these little ones; for I say to you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven ”(Matthew 18.10). Every person is also hunted by demons who want to destroy his soul with the help of instilled fears, temptations and temptations. In the heart of every person, an "invisible war" is waged between God and the devil. But almost always God does not Himself personally appear to people, but trusts his angels (or holy people) to convey His will. Such an order was established by God so that a greater number of persons would be involved (and thereby consecrated) in the providence of God, and so as not to violate the freedom of people who are unable to withstand the personal manifestation of God in all His glory. Therefore, the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist, many saints and monks, are called angels in the Church.

In addition, for every Christian, the earthly Church with heavenly patrons offers special prayers, and God has special care for him.

Each angel (and the demon) has different abilities: Some "specialize" in the virtue of non-possession, others strengthen faith in people, and still others help in something else. Likewise, demons - some catch up with lustful passions, others - anger, others - vanity, etc. In addition to personal guardian angels (assigned to each person) there are angels - patrons of cities and entire states. But they never enmity, even if these states are at war with each other, but pray to God for the enlightenment of people and the granting of peace on earth.

Ranks of angels

In three Epistles to Apostle Paul (between and years) are named in addition to the angels: thrones, dominions, beginnings, authorities and powers.

In his commentary on "The Canon of the Holy Apostles" St. Gregory the Theologian (Nyssa) (d. Ok.) Writes that there are nine angelic ranks: angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, beginnings, strength, radiance, ascension and clever powers (understanding).

St. Cyril of Jerusalem also singles out nine ranks, although in this order: “... Therefore, we remember ... all creation ... invisible, Angels, Archangels, Power, Dominance, Beginning, Power, Thrones, many Cherubims (Ezek. 10.21 and 1.6 ), as if speaking to David: magnify the Lord with me (Ps. 33: 4). We also remember the Seraphim, whom Isaiah saw by the Holy Spirit, standing around the Throne of God, and covering their face with two wings, with two legs, and with two flying, and exclaiming: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts (Isa. 6: 2-3). And for this, we repeat the Theology, which is devoted to us from the Seraphim, so that we become partakers of the chant together with the premium armies. "

St. Athanasius the Great (d.) Singled out "... heavenly lights, thrones, dominions, there is heaven, cherubim and seraphim and many angels."

In one of his sermons, St. Amphilochius of Iconium (d.) Lists: Cherubim, Seraphim, Archangels, Dominions, Strengths and Authorities.

The basis for the creation of the church doctrine of angels is the book by Dionysius the Areopagite "On the Heavenly Hierarchy" written in the 5th century (Greek. «Περί της ουρανίας» , lat. "De caelesti hierarchia"), better known in the 6th century edition.

According to Dionysius the Areopagite, the angels are arranged in the following order:

The first face(higher hierarchy)

• Seraphim(Hebrew שׂרפים - burning, flaming, fiery, ancient Greek. σεραφίμ (Is 6: 2-3)) - six-winged angels. "Flaming", "Fiery". They are aflame with love for God and encourage many to love it.
• Cherubim(Old Greek. χερουβίμ from Hebrew כרובים, kerubim- intercessors, minds, disseminators of knowledge, outpouring of wisdom (Gen. 3:24; Eze 10; Ps 17:11)) - four-winged and four-faced angels. Their name means: outpouring of wisdom, enlightenment. Satan was from the order of the cherubim.
• Thrones(Old Greek. θρόνοι ), according to Dionysius: "God-bearing" (Eze 1: 15-21; 10: 1-17) - the Lord sits on them as on a throne and pronounces His Judgment.

Second face(middle hierarchy)

• Domination, ancient Greek. κυριότητες , lat. dominationes(Col. 1:16) - they instruct the earthly rulers appointed by God to wise management, teach to control the senses, to tame sinful desires.
• Forces, ancient Greek. δυνάμεις , lat. potestates(Rom 8:38; Eph 1:21) - work miracles and send down the grace of miracles and clairvoyance to the saints of God.
• Authorities, ancient Greek. ἐξουσίες , lat. virtutes(Col. 1:16) - have the power to tame the power of the devil.

The third face(lower hierarchy)

• Chiefs (Beginnings)(archons), ancient Greek. ἀρχαί , lat. principates(Rom 8:38; Eph 1: 21; Col 1:16) - they are entrusted with managing the universe and the elements of nature.
• Archangels(chiefs of angels), ancient Greek. ἀρχάγγελοι - Michael (Rev 12: 7) - heavenly teachers, teach people how to act in life.
• Angels, ancient Greek. ἀγγελοι - closest to people. They proclaim the intentions of God, instruct people to a virtuous and holy life. Gabriel (Luke 1:26) Raphael (Tov 5: 4); (For Pseudo-Dionysius, the archangel Michael is an "angel"); Seven Angels with golden bowls filled with the wrath of God (Rev. 15: 1); Angel of the Abyss Abaddon with a chain and a key to the abyss (Rev 9: 1, 11; 20: 1); Seven Angels with trumpets (Rev 8: 6).

In islam

Belief in angels is an integral part of the faith of a Muslim (Qur'an 2: 177). This is one of the pillars of the Muslim faith. According to Islamic beliefs, angels are created from the element of light. The meaning of their existence is in the service of Allah (One, One God) (Quran 2:34). Angels are sinless, since they are not endowed by Allah with the ability to make a choice, they unquestioningly carry out his orders.

• The angel Gabriel informs the prophets of the Revelation of God.
• The angel Michael leads the heavenly army.
• Angel Azrael is the Angel of Death.
• Angels Harut and Marut- give people magical knowledge about witchcraft, but not for its use, but only for testing people, like an apple in paradise (forbidden fruit). For the use of this knowledge, a person will burn in hell. (Quran 2: 102).
• Angel Malik guarding fiery hell.

Other angels are described in the Qur'an and in the reliable Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, without naming their names:

• guardian angels - angels who follow a person everywhere and help at the will of the Almighty in some situations
• scribe angels - angels located on the right and left shoulder from a person, and recording his every deed and word, on the basis of these collected factual materials, Allah will justify a person's judgment on the Day of Judgment (in Hell or Paradise). And the person will have nothing to do but agree with this material.
• angels governing natural phenomena and forces. So, for example, the angel is the guardian of the mountains, the angel is the leading sun, etc. As it was said earlier, they carry out all their actions only with the permission of God.
• warrior angels - angels that are given by Allah to help human troops, as the Blessing and Pleasure of Allah with these people.

In other sources

In the mythology of the Rose of the World

Lower circle angels:

• Cherubim- keepers of light missions,
• Seraphim- guardians of some human communities (churches, communities, ethical associations),
• Thrones- guardians of nations.

The Angels of the Upper Circle:

• Astrals or Authorities- creators of materiality Enrof,
• Forces- creators of materiality sakwala daimons,
• Domination- creators of the materiality of the worlds of enlightenment, except for Olirna,
• Beginnings- creators of materiality of zatomis,
• Archangels- creators of materiality of the worlds of High Duty.

The angels of the lower circle were once angelic humanity, and dwelt in Olirna. The Sirins, Alkonosts, Gamayuns of Christian metacultures become archangels.

Angels of darkness are also mentioned in the Rose of the World.

In The Urantia Book

The Urantia Book says that angels belong to the category of ministering spirits.

Angels in The Urantia Book are classified as follows:

• 1. Supernaphim.
• 2. Seconaphim.
• 3. Tertiaphim.
• 4. Omniaphim.
• 5. Seraphim.
• 6. Cherubim and Sanobim.

As the Urantia Book suggests, there are other unrevealed angelic orders.

Images of angels

Angels were usually depicted as fair-haired androgynous youths with wings (a symbol of freedom of spirit) in white linen clothes with gold belts. The dwelling place of angels is heaven, which was created before the dense sky (Genesis 1.1, Gen.1.8).

Abilities of angels

The power of Angels is bestowed by God. He determines for any Angel the abilities that the Angel will possess. Some abilities have been shown in many Christian legends:

• Be invisible to physical vision;
• The ability to fly spiritually;
• Ability to manifest in the material:
• The ability to appear in the physical human body, the ability to influence the physical world;
• A vision through time, a vision of both the face of the human soul and the thoughts of a person in the soul and in the look, the deep thoughts of the human heart;
• The ability to destroy entire cities;
• The possibility of sinful choice exists for angels in Christianity, but is absent in Islam and Judaism

True, p. Saadiya Gaon (IX-X centuries) recognized the freedom of choice among angels.

Celebration of the Cathedral of the Archangel of God Michael and others Heavenly Forces incorporeal was installed at the beginning of the 4th century at the Local Laodicean Council, which was several years before the First Ecumenical Council. The Council of Laodicea, with Canon 35, condemned and rejected the heretical worship of angels as creators and rulers of the world and approved their Orthodox veneration. The holiday is celebrated in November - the ninth month of March (from which the year began in antiquity) - in accordance with the number of 9 angelic ranks. The eighth day of the month points to the future Council of all the Forces of Heaven on the day of the Last Judgment of God, which the holy fathers call the “eighth day,” for after this century, which lasts for weeks, the “greater day” will come, and then “the Son of Man will come in His Glory and all the holy angels are with him ”(Matthew 25, 31).

The Angelic ranks are divided into three hierarchies - higher, middle and lower. Each hierarchy consists of three ranks. V higher hierarchy includes: Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. Closest of all Holy Trinity six-winged Seraphim (Flaming, Fiery) are coming (Is. 6, 2). They are aflame with love for God and encourage others to love it.

After the Seraphim, the many-read Cherubim stand before the Lord (Genesis 3:24). Their name means: outpouring of wisdom, enlightenment, for through them, shining with the light of knowledge of God and understanding of the mysteries of God, wisdom and enlightenment are sent down for true knowledge of God.

For the Cherubim - stand the God-bearing by the grace given to them for their service, the Thrones (Col. 1:16), mysteriously and incomprehensibly bearing God. They serve the justice of God.

The middle Angelic hierarchy consists of three ranks: Dominance, Strength and Authority.

Dominions (Col. 1:16) rule over the subsequent ranks of the Angels. They instruct the earthly rulers appointed by God to wise management. Dominions teach you to master feelings, tame sinful desires, enslave the flesh to the spirit, dominate your will, and overcome temptations.

Forces (1 Pet. 3:22) do the will of God. They work miracles and send down the grace of miracles and clairvoyance to the saints of God. Forces help people in bearing obedience, strengthen them in patience, grant spiritual strength and courage.

Authorities (1 Pet. 3:22; Col. 1:16) have the power to tame the power of the devil. They reflect demonic temptations from people, assert the ascetics, protect them, and help people in the struggle against evil thoughts.

The lower hierarchy includes three ranks: Beginnings, Archangels and Angels.

The beginnings (Col. 1, 16) rule over the lower angels, directing them to the fulfillment of Divine commands. They are entrusted with ruling the universe, protecting countries, peoples, tribes. The beginnings instruct people to give everyone the honor that befits his title. They teach the rulers to fulfill their official duties not for the sake of personal glory and benefits, but for the honor of God and the benefit of their neighbors.

Archangels (1 Sol. 4:16) preach the great and glorious, reveal the secrets of faith, prophecy and understanding of the will of God, strengthen the holy faith in people, enlightening their minds with the light of the Holy Gospel.

Angels (1 Pet. 3:22) are closest to people. They proclaim the intentions of God, instruct people to a virtuous and holy life. They keep believers, keep them from falling, raise up the fallen, never leave us and are always ready to help if we wish.

All the ranks of the Heavenly Forces wear common name Angels - in the essence of their ministry. The Lord reveals His will to the higher Angels, and they, in turn, enlighten the rest.

Above all nine ranks, the Lord placed the holy Archangel Michael (his name in translation from Hebrew - "who is like God") - a faithful servant of God, for he threw down from Heaven the proud day with other fallen spirits. And to the rest of the Angelic Powers, he exclaimed: “Let us behold! Let us become good before our Creator and do not think of something displeasing to God! " According to Church tradition, captured in the service of the Archangel Michael, he took part in many Old Testament events. During the exit of the Israelites from Egypt, he led them in the form of a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. Through him, the Power of the Lord appeared, destroying the Egyptians and Pharaoh, who were persecuting the Israelites. Archangel Michael defended Israel in all calamities.

He appeared to Joshua and revealed the will of the Lord to take Jericho (Joshua 5: 13-16). The power of the great Archangel of God was in the destruction of 185 thousand soldiers of the Assyrian king Sennacherib (2 Kings 19, 35), in the defeat of the wicked leader Antiochus Iliodorus and in the protection from the fire of three holy youths - Ananias, Azaria and Misail, thrown into the furnace for burning for refusal worship an idol (Dan. 3, 92 - 95).

By the will of God, the Archangel transferred the prophet Habakkuk from Judea to Babylon in order to give food to Daniel, imprisoned in a den with lions (kontakion akathist, 8).

Archangel Michael forbade the devil to reveal to the Jews the body of the holy prophet Moses for deification (Jude 1: 9).

The Holy Archangel Michael showed his strength when he miraculously saved a youth thrown into the sea by robbers with a stone around his neck off the coast of Athos (Athos Patericon).

Since ancient times, the Archangel Michael has been glorified for his miracles in Russia. In the Volokolamsk Paterikon, the story of the Monk Pafnutius of Borovsk is given from the words of the Tatar Baskaks about the miraculous salvation of Novgorod the Great: “And as if Great Novgrad was never taken from the Hagarians ... to the New City and God and the Most Pure Mother of God covered him with the appearance of Michael the Archangel, and forbid him to go to him. He went to the Lithuanian castles and came to Kiev and the great Michael the Archangel was written above the doors near the stone church and the prince was pointing with his finger: “this forbid to go to Veliky Novgorod”.

The representations for the Russian cities of the Most Holy Queen of Heaven were always carried out by Her appearances with the Host of Heaven, under the leadership of the Archangel. Grateful Russia sang the Most Pure Theotokos and the Archangel Michael in church hymns. Many monasteries, cathedrals, palaces and posad temples are dedicated to the Archangel. In ancient Kiev, immediately after the adoption of Christianity, the Archangel Cathedral was erected and a monastery was built. Archangel cathedrals are in Smolensk, Nizhny Novgorod, Staritsa, a monastery in Veliky Ustyug (early XIII century), a cathedral in Sviyazhsk. There was no city in Russia where there would be no temple or chapel dedicated to the Archangel Michael. One of the most important churches in the city of Moscow - the tomb temple in the Kremlin - is dedicated to him. The icons of the Chief of the Higher Forces and his Cathedral are numerous and beautiful. One of them - the icon "Blessed Host" - was written for the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, where the holy warriors - Russian princes - are depicted under the leadership of the Archangel Michael.

From Holy Scripture Archangels are also known to the Holy Tradition: Gabriel is the fortress (power) of God, herald and minister of Divine omnipotence (Dan. 8:16; Luke 1:26); Raphael - the healing of God, the healer of human ailments (Tov. 3:16; Tov. 12, 15); Uriel - fire or light of God, enlightener (3 Ezra 5, 20); Selafiel - the prayer book of God, encouraging prayer (3 Ezra 5, 16); Jehudiel - glorifying God, strengthening those who labor for the glory of the Lord and interceding for reward for their deeds; Barachiel is a dispenser of God's blessing for good deeds, asking people for God's mercy; Jeremiel - exaltation to God (3 Ezra 4:36).

On the icons, the Archangels are depicted in accordance with the type of their ministry:

Michael - tramples the devil with his feet, in his left hand he holds a green date branch, in his right - a spear with a white banner (sometimes a fiery sword), on which a scarlet cross is inscribed.

Gabriel - with a paradise branch, which he brought to the Blessed Virgin, or with a luminous lantern in right hand and a jasper mirror on the left.

Raphael - holds a vessel with healing potions in his left hand, and with his right he leads Tobiya carrying a fish.

Uriel - in his raised right hand - a naked sword at chest level, in his lowered left hand - "fiery flame."

Selafiel - in a prayer position, looking down, arms folded across his chest.

Jehudiel holds a golden crown in his right hand, in shuyts - a scourge of three red (or black) ropes.

Barachiel - he has many pink flowers on his clothes.

Jeremiel holds a balance in his hand.