In general, the life of any person determines the subtle world, having a huge influence on it. In ancient times, everyone knew that it was the subtle world that determined the physical plane. At the moment, few people remember this and want to think in this direction. And this is a very important aspect of life, because there are creatures that help us in life, and there are those who try to lead us astray and sometimes even destroy us.
To see all 9 ranks of angels, you should pay attention to the "Assumption" by Botticini. On it are three triads of angels. Before creating our world, visible and physical, God created heavenly, spiritual forces and called them angels. It was they who began to play an intermediary role between the Creator and people. The translation of this word from Hebrew literally sounds like “messenger”, from Greek - “messenger”.
Angels are called incorporeal beings who have a higher mind, free will and great power. According to information from the Old and New Testaments in the Angelic Hierarchy, there are certain angelic ranks, the so-called steps. Most Jewish and Christian theologians were engaged in the creation of a unified classification of these ranks. At the moment, the angelic hierarchy of Dionysius the Areopagite, which was created in the fifth century and called the "nine ranks of the Angels", has spread the most.
nine ranks
It follows from this system that there are three triads. The first, or higher, included the Seraphim and Cherubim, as well as the Thrones. The middle triad includes the angelic ranks of Domination, Strength and Power. And in the lowest caste of ranks are the Principles, Archangels and Angels.
seraphim
It is believed that the six-winged Seraphim are closest to God. It is the Seraphim that can be called those who occupy the highest angelic rank. It is written about them in the Bible that the prophet Isaiah became a witness of their arrival. He compared them with fiery figures, so the translation of this word from Hebrew means "Flaming".
Cherubim
It is this caste that follows the Seraphim in the angelic hierarchy. Their main purpose is to intercede for the human race and pray for souls before God. In addition, it is believed that they serve as a memory and are the guards of the Heavenly Book of Knowledge. The knowledge of the Cherubim extends to everything that a being created can know. In Hebrew, cherub means intercessor.
In their power are the mysteries of God and the depth of his wisdom. It is believed that this particular caste of angels is the most enlightened among all. It is their responsibility to discover in man the knowledge and vision of God. Seraphim and Cherubim, along with the third representatives of the first triad, interact with people.
Thrones
Their position before the seated God. They are called God-bearing, but not in the truest sense of the word, but because of the goodness within them and because they faithfully serve the Son of God. In addition, evolutionary information is hidden in them. Basically, it is they who perform God's justice, help earthly representatives of power to fairly judge their people.
According to the medieval mystic Jan van Ruysbroku, representatives of the higher triad under no circumstances interfere in human conflicts. But at the same time, they are next to people in moments of insight, love for God and knowledge of the world. It is believed that they are able to carry the highest love in the hearts of people.
dominance
The angelic ranks of the second triad begin with Dominions. The fifth rank of angels, Dominions, has free will, thanks to which the daily work of the Universe is ensured. In addition, they govern the angels who are lower in the hierarchy. Because they are completely free, their love for the Creator is impartial and sincere. It is they who give strength to earthly rulers and managers so that they act wisely and fairly, owning lands and ruling people. In addition, they are able to teach how to manage feelings, protecting from unnecessary outbursts of passion and lust, to enslave the flesh to the spirit, so that it is possible to control one's will and not succumb to temptations of various kinds.
Forces
This caste of angels is full of Divine strength, in their power is the fulfillment of the instantaneous will of God, showing his strength and strength. It is they who work the miracles of God and are able to give a person grace, with the help of which he can see what is coming or heal earthly diseases.
They are able to strengthen a person’s patience, remove his grief, strengthen his spirit and give courage so that he can cope with all life’s hardships and problems.
Authorities
It is the responsibility of the Authorities to keep the keys to the Devil's cage and contain his hierarchy. They are able to tame demons, repel an attack on the human race, deliver from demonic temptation. Also, their duties include approving good people for their spiritual deeds and labors, protecting them and preserving their right to the kingdom of God. It is they who help drive away all evil thoughts, passions and lust, as well as the enemies of a person are taken away and help to defeat the Devil in oneself. If we consider the personal level, then the mission of these angels is to help a person during the battle of good and evil. And when a person dies, they accompany his soul and help him not to go astray.
Beginnings
These include legions of angels whose purpose is to protect religion. Their name is such, due to the fact that they direct the lower angelic ranks, it is they who help them to do things pleasing to God. In addition, their mission is to rule the universe and protect everything that the Lord has created. According to some reports, every nation and every ruler has his own angel, called to protect him from evil. The prophet Daniel said that the angels of the Persian and Jewish kingdoms make sure that all the rulers who are placed on the throne strive not for enrichment and glory, but for the spread and increase of the glory of God, so that they benefit their people, serving their needs.
Archangels
The archangel is a great evangelist. Its main mission is the discovery of prophecies, understanding and knowledge of the will of the Creator. They receive this knowledge from the higher ranks in order to convey it to the lower ones, who will subsequently convey it to people. According to St. Gregory the Dialogist, the purpose of angels is to strengthen faith in a person, to open its mysteries. Archangels, whose names can be found in the Bible, are the most known to man.
Angels
This is the lowest rank in the hierarchy of heaven and the closest being to people. They guide people on the path, help them in everyday life not to deviate from their path. Every believer has his own guardian angel. They support every virtuous person from falling, they try to raise everyone who has fallen spiritually, no matter how sinful he is. They are always ready to help a person, the main thing is that he himself wants this help.
It is believed that a person receives his Guardian Angel after the rite of Baptism. He is obliged to protect the subordinate from misfortunes, troubles and help him throughout his life. If a person is threatened by dark forces, you need to pray to the Guardian Angel, and he will help fight them. It is believed that depending on the mission of a person on earth, he may be associated not with one, but with several angels. Depending on how a person lives and how spiritually developed he is, not only lower ranks can work with him, but also Archangels, whose names most people know. It is worth remembering that Satan will not stop and will always tempt people, so the Angels will always be with them in difficult times. Only by living according to the laws of God and developing spiritually can one come to know all the mysteries of religion. In principle, this is all the information that relates to the ranks of Heaven.
The celebration of the Council of the Archangel Michael of God and other incorporeal Heavenly Powers was established at the beginning of the 4th century at the Local Council of Laodicea, which was several years before the First Ecumenical Council. The Council of Laodicea condemned and rejected the heretical worship of angels as creators and rulers of the world and approved their Orthodox veneration. A holiday is celebrated in November - the ninth month from March (from which the year began in ancient times) - in accordance with the number of 9 ranks of the Angels. The eighth day of the month indicates the future Council of all the Powers of Heaven on the day Doomsday of God, which the holy fathers call “the eighth day,” for after this age, which goes on in weeks of days, the “Of the Osmother Day” will come, and then “the Son of Man will come in His Glory, and all the holy angels with Him” (Matt. 25, 31).
The Angelic ranks are divided into three hierarchies - the highest, the middle and the lowest. Each hierarchy is made up of three ranks. The higher hierarchy includes: Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. Closest to the Most Holy Trinity are the six-winged Seraphim (Flaming, Fiery) (Isaiah 6:2). They burn with love for God and incite others to it.
After the Seraphim, the Lord will have many-eyed Cherubim (Genesis 3:24). Their name means: an outpouring of wisdom, enlightenment, because through them, shining with the light of the knowledge of God and the understanding of the mysteries of God, wisdom and enlightenment for true knowledge of God is sent down.
Behind the Cherubim - God-bearing by the grace given to them for service, the Thrones (Col. 1, 16), mysteriously and incomprehensibly bearing God. They serve the justice of God.
The average Angelic hierarchy is made up of three ranks: Dominions, Forces and Powers.
Dominions (Col. 1, 16) rule over the subsequent ranks of Angels. They instruct earthly rulers appointed by God in wise management. Dominions are taught to control feelings, to tame sinful desires, to enslave the flesh to the spirit, to dominate one's will, to overcome temptations.
Forces (1 Pet. 3:22) fulfill the will of God. They work miracles and send down the grace of wonderworking and clairvoyance to the saints of God. Forces help people in bearing obediences, 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 people, affirm ascetics, protect them, and help people in the fight against evil thoughts.
The lower hierarchy includes three ranks: Principals, 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 managing the universe, protecting countries, peoples, tribes. The Principles instruct people to give each one the honor due to his rank. Leaders are taught to perform official duties not for the sake of personal glory and benefits, but for the honor of God and the benefit of their neighbors.
The archangels (1 Thess. 4:16) preach the great and glorious gospel, 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 the believers, keep from falling, raise the fallen, never leave us and are always ready to help if we wish.
All ranks of the Heavenly Forces bear the common name of Angels - in essence of their service. The Lord reveals His will to the highest Angels, and they, in turn, enlighten the rest.
Above all nine ranks, the Lord placed the holy Archangel Michael (his name in Hebrew is “who is like God”) - a faithful servant of God, for he cast down from Heaven the proud day-stand with other fallen spirits. And to the rest of the Angelic Forces, he exclaimed: “Let's hear! Let us become kind before our Creator and do not think of what is displeasing to God!” According to Church tradition, captured in the service of the Archangel Michael, he took part in many Old Testament events. When the Israelites left Egypt, he led them in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by 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 disasters.
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 appeared in the destruction of 185 thousand soldiers of the Assyrian king Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:35), in the defeat of the wicked leader Antiochus Iliodor, and in the protection from fire of the three holy youths - Ananias, Azarias and Misail, who were thrown into the oven to be burned 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, who was imprisoned in the den with lions (kontakion of the 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 boy thrown into the sea by robbers with a stone around his neck off the coast of Athos (Athos Paterik).
Since ancient times, the Archangel Michael in Russia has been glorified by his miracles. In the Volokolamsk Patericon, the story of the Monk Pafnuty of Borovsky is given from the words of the Tatar Baskaks about miraculous rescue Novgorod the Great: “And how the Great Novgorod would never be taken from the Hagarians ... always, by God’s permission, the sin for our godless Hagarian king Batu the Russian land will be captured and burned and go to the New City and God and the Most Pure Mother of God covered it with the appearance of Michael the Archangel, like forbid him to go to him. He went to the Lithuanian castles and came to Kyiv and saw the great Michael the Archangel written above the doors of the stone church and the prince pointed with his finger: “Forbid me to go to Veliky Novgorod.”
Intercession for the Russian cities of the Most Holy Queen of Heaven has always been 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, cathedral, palace and town churches are dedicated to the Archangel. In ancient Kyiv, immediately after the adoption of Christianity, the Archangel Cathedral was erected and a monastery was built. Archangel cathedrals stand in Smolensk, Nizhny Novgorod, Staritsa, a monastery in Veliky Ustyug (beginning of the 13th century), a cathedral in Sviyazhsk. There was no city in Russia where there would not be a temple or a chapel dedicated to the Archangel Michael. One of major temples the city of Moscow - the temple-tomb in the Kremlin - is dedicated to him. Numerous and beautiful are the icons of the Chief of the Higher Forces and his Cathedral. One of them - the icon "Blessed Host" - was painted 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 and Sacred Tradition, the Archangels are also known: Gabriel - the fortress (power) of God, the herald and minister of Divine omnipotence (Dan. 8, 16; Lk. 1, 26); Raphael - God's healing, healer of human ailments (Tov. 3, 16; Tov. 12, 15); Uriel - fire or light of God, enlightener (3 Ezra. 5, 20); Selaphiel is God's prayer book, inciting to prayer (3 Ezra. 5, 16); Jehudiel - glorifying God, strengthening those who work for the glory of the Lord and interceding for recompense for their deeds; Varahiel - the distributor of God's blessing for good deeds, asking people for God's mercy; Jeremiel - elevation to God (3 Ezra. 4, 36).
On the icons, the Archangels are depicted in accordance with the nature of their ministry:
Michael - tramples the devil underfoot, holds a green date branch in his left hand, in his right - a spear with a white banner (sometimes a flaming sword), on which a scarlet cross is inscribed.
Gabriel - with a paradise branch brought by him 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 hand leads Tobias, carrying a fish.
Uriel - in his raised right hand - a naked sword at chest level, in his lowered left hand - "fiery flame".
Selaphiel - in a prayer position, looking down, hands folded on his chest.
Jehudiel - in his right hand he holds a golden crown, in his coat - a scourge of three red (or black) ropes.
Barahiel - on his clothes are many pink flowers.
Jeremiel - holds scales in his hand.
Both the Greek and Hebrew words for "angel" mean "messenger". Angels often played 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 may be ordinary people, prophets, inspiring 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. AT Old Testament it is said that no one could see God and remain alive, so direct communication between the Almighty and man 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 high and exalted throne, 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 proper 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 belonging to the first hierarchy are absorbed eternal love to the Lord and worship 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 Principalities means the God-like ability to rule and govern in accordance with the sacred order, befitting the ruling Forces, both to turn completely to the Beginning Beginning, and others, as it is characteristic of the Principality, 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 .., the proclaiming order of the Principalities, Archangels and Angels alternately rules over the human Hierarchies, so that in order there would be an ascent and conversion to God, communion and unity with Him, which 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 a green date branch in his left hand on his chest, 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 blessings 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 Full description Abdiel's deeds are given in John Milton's 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 is 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 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 the order of Christ in his sermon: "No one can serve two masters: for either he will hate the 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 mankind. 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 supposedly ordered Rahab, the angel sea depths, 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 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, Sariel is one of the nine angels in the occult teaching. 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 the 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-ilom ("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 discovered heavenly mysteries Ezra, translated the 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. Uriel was rejected in 745 AD church council in Rome, but now he has 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 they will call me Jacob by name." 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
Orders of Angels
The Bible speaks of 8 orders of angels. These are: Archangels, Cherubim, Seraphim, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Powers, Forces.
Why such a diversity of the inhabitants of Heaven?.. The teachers of the Church thought about it. Origen (III century) suggested that the difference in ranks of Angels is due to their cooling in love for God. The higher the rank, the more faithful, more obedient to God the Angel is, and vice versa. However, the Orthodox Church rejected this interpretation.
St. Augustine (4th century) wrote: “That there are Thrones, Dominions, Principalities and Powers in the heavenly abodes, I unshakably believe, and that they differ from each other, I undoubtedly contain; but what they are and in what exactly they differ from each other, I do not know.
The most profound and thoughtful work on this subject belongs to the theologian of the 5th century, St. Dionysius the Areopagite. He wrote an essay, which is called “On the Heavenly Hierarchy” and in which the question is clarified - how do the Angels differ from each other.
St. Dionysius divides all Angels into three triads. In each triad there are 3 ranks (in total, he gets 9 ranks).
The first triad, closest to God, are: Cherubim, Seraphim and Thrones.
The second triad: Dominions, Forces, Powers.
Finally, the third triad: Principles, Archangels, Angels.
St. Dionysius says that the rank of an Angel depends on the position in the Heavenly Hierarchy, that is, on proximity to the King of Heaven - God.
Most higher angels praise God, stand before Him. Other Angels, whose rank is lower in the Heavenly hierarchy, perform various tasks, for example, they protect people. These are the so-called service spirits.
The work of St. Dionysius is a remarkable achievement of Orthodox mysticism, theology and philosophy. For the first time, a coherent teaching appears, trying to show the principles of the interaction of God with the world through angelic beings; for the first time, the diversity of the ranks of Angels, which the Bible mentions, is put in order. However, it should be remembered that the classification of angelic ranks by St. Dionysius is not a strictly scientific work - rather, mystical reflections, material for theological reflections. Angelology of St. Dionysius, for example, cannot be used in the study of biblical angelology, since biblical angelology proceeds from other theological principles, develops according to other laws than St. Dionysius. However, for the work of the theologian, the system of St. Dionysius is irreplaceable, and this is why: in his work, the Byzantine thinker shows that the closer the Angelic rank is to God, the more he becomes a partaker of the blessed Light and grace of God.
Each of the triads of Angels, writes St. Dionysius, has its general purpose. The first is purification, the second is enlightenment, and the third is perfection.
The first triad, the first three higher ranks - Cherubim, Seraphim and Thrones - are in the process of being cleansed of any admixture of something imperfect. Being close to God, in constant contemplation of the Divine Light, they achieve the highest degree of purity and clarity of their angelic spirit, striving to resemble the Absolute Spirit - God. And there is no limit to this perfection. No other creature of God can achieve that dizzying degree of purity in which these Angels are. No one ... except Mary of Nazareth - the Mother of the Lord Jesus Christ. We sing of her, who carried under her heart, gave birth, swaddled, raised the Savior of the world, as “The most honest Cherubim and the most glorious Seraphim without comparison.”
The second triad - Domination, Strength, Power - is constantly enlightened by the light of God's Wisdom, and in this there is also no limit for it, for God's Wisdom is limitless. This enlightenment is not of a mental nature, but of a contemplative one. That is, the Angels in awe and amazement contemplate the boundless and perfect Wisdom of God.
Finally, the work of the last triad - the Beginnings, the Archangels, the Angels - is perfection. This is a more understandable and concrete form of service. These Angels, joined to God's perfection and to His will, convey this will to us and thus help us to improve.
St. Dionysius also emphasizes the fundamental difference in the characteristics of the natures of the Angels that make up different triads. If the angelic nature of the first, highest, triad can be described as light and fire, then in the second, Dionysius notes power and material characteristics, and the third triad is understood completely as serving the will of God, addressed to the world.
St. Dionysius determined not only the general ministry of the triads of Angels, but also the specific ministry of each of the nine ranks.
And to find out what kind of service they carry, the very name of the rank will help us.
So, the name Seraphim, which is worn by the highest Angels, is translated in Hebrew as “flaming”, and the name Cherubim means “an abundance of knowledge or an outpouring of wisdom” (St. Dionysius the Areopagite). Finally, the name of the third rank of the first triad - the Thrones - means the Angels withdrawn from everything earthly, and shows us the desire of these Angels to "cleave motionlessly and firmly" to the Lord.
Accordingly, one can understand the properties and qualities of the other two angelic triads.
Dominations - instruct earthly rulers to wise management.
Forces - work miracles and send down the grace of miracles to the saints of God.
Authorities - have the power to tame the power of the devil. They reflect all our temptations and also have power over the elements of nature.
Beginnings - govern the universe, the laws of nature, protect peoples, tribes, countries.
Archangels - proclaim the great and glorious Mysteries of God. They are the bearers of the revelation of God.
Angels are present in every person, they inspire spiritual life, keep in everyday life.
Certainly, the opinion of St. Dionysius should not be considered indisputable. In the holy fathers (and even in St. Dionysius himself) we come across the idea that there are many more angelic ranks than nine, their ministries are more diverse than those listed above, but this is not open to us. The system of St. Dionysius is only an introduction to angelology, a starting point for further theological research on these issues.
The great John of Damascus, who himself greatly appreciated the work of St. Dionysius summed up the opinion of the Orthodox Church on this issue in this way: “Whether they are essentially equal or differ from each other, we do not know. But God alone knows who created them, Who knows everything. They differ from each other in light and position; or having a degree according to the light, or participating in the light according to the degree, and enlighten each other because of the superiority of rank or nature. But it is clear that the higher angels communicate both light and knowledge to the lower ones.
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From the book of Prayers in Russian by the authorThe Dying See “Angelic Powers” The one who leaves this world undoubtedly receives great comfort, seeing the faces of his friends and loved ones around him. Completely different, of course, is the situation of a martyr (p. 379) who sacrifices himself in the name of Christ under malicious and angry looks.
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From the author's bookWe know about the existence of the Heavenly angelic world from the Holy Scriptures. About the fact that he was created by God even before the creation of the visible world and man. We know that the number of Angels is incalculably great and that the Wisdom of God established an amazing order in this Heavenly host, creating an angelic hierarchy, dividing all the Angels into nine ranks of three ranks in the hierarchy, subordinating the lower ranks to the highest.
Angels differ from each other both in enlightenment and in the difference in the degree of grace.
***
higher hierarchy
Those directly close to God are Angels bearing the names:Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones .
seraphim
Cherubim have fullness of vision and abundance of wisdom. They are illuminated by abundant rays of God's light. They are given to know everything to the extent that created beings can know.
Thrones- these Angels are so exalted and so illumined by grace that the Lord dwells in them and through them manifests His justice.
The second face includes angels of the middle hierarchy.
Second, middle hierarchy consists of Angels bearing the names: Dominions, Powers and Powers .
Dominations - teach the earthly rulers to reason, as well as to cope with feelings and lusts.
Angels dominance teach people to dominate their will, to be above every temptation, and also command those evil spirits who swore to destroy the man.
Forces- Angels filled with Divine Fortress. These are the spirits through which the Lord works His miracles. God has given them the ability to send down the grace of miracles to the saints of God, who work miracles while living on earth.
Power - can work miracles and give the gift of clairvoyance. The angels in the picture give a wonderful gift to the righteous.
Authorities
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Third, lowest, hierarchy
also includes three ranks:Beginnings, Archangels and Angels
.Principalities and principles that govern the forces of nature and the physical world.
Beginnings- the rank of Angels, who are entrusted with managing the universe, protecting individual countries and peoples and managing them. These are the Angels of the People. Their dignity is higher than the Guardian Angels of individual people. From the book of the prophet Daniel, we learn that the care of the Jewish people was entrusted to the Archangel Michael (see: Dan. 10, 21).
Archangels
Angels (the last, ninth rank of the hierarchy)
- light spiritual beings who stand closest to us and have special care for us.
We know from Holy Scripture that there are seven archangels, that is, senior angels who rule over all the others. In the book of Tobit we read that the angel who talked with him said: "I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels" (Tob. 12, 15). And the Revelation of John the Theologian speaks of seven spirits who are before the throne of God (see Rev. 1:4). The Holy Church refers to them: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Yehudiel and Barahiel. Tradition includes Jeremiah among them. 
1. Archangel Michael- the first of the supreme Angels, the Defender of the glory of God. He is often depicted in military attire with other angels faithful to God. Or one is depicted in the clothes of a warrior with a sword or a spear in his hand, trampling underfoot a dragon or an ancient serpent - the devil. So he is depicted in memory of the fact that once in heaven there was a great battle between the Angels - the servants of God and evil spirits - the angels who fell away from God and became the servants of Satan. Sometimes he is depicted with a copy, the top of which is decorated with a white banner with a cross. This is a special difference between the Archangel Michael and his army, which means moral purity and unwavering loyalty to the Heavenly King.
2. BUTArchangel Gabriel- the herald of the fate of God and the servant of His omnipotence. Depicted sometimes with a branch of paradise in his hand. Or with a lantern, inside of which a candle burns, in one hand and with a mirror in the other. A candle closed in a lantern means that often the fates of God are hidden until the time of their fulfillment, but after fulfillment they are comprehended only by those who carefully look into the mirror of their conscience and
the words of God.
3. Archangel Raphael - depicted with an alabaster vessel filled with healing oil. The name Raphael means "mercy", "help to all who suffer".
4. Archangel Uriel - Archangel of light and fire of God- depicted with a lightning bolt down. It is illumined by the fire of fiery love, enlightens the minds of people with the revelation of useful truths. It can be said about him that he is a special patron of people who have devoted themselves to the sciences.
5. Archangel Selaphiel - Archangel of prayer. Depicted either with a rosary in his hands, or in a prayerful pose with his hands clasped in reverence to his chest.
6. Archangel Yehudiel - "Praise God". Depicted with a golden crown in one hand and a whip of three cords in the other. The crown is to encourage people who strive for the glory of God, and the scourge is to protect them in the name of the Holy Trinity from enemies.
7. Archangel Varahiel - Archangel of God's blessings, during earthly life sent to those who work to receive heavenly, eternal blessings. These are the Archangels.
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