Angelic ranks and their names. Heavenly hierarchy of angels in orthodox Christianity

In Christianity, the host of angels is divided into three classes, or hierarchies, and each hierarchy, in turn, is divided into three faces. Here is the most common classification of angelic faces, which is attributed to Dionysius the Areopagite:

The first hierarchy: seraphim, cherubim, thrones. The second hierarchy: dominions, forces, authorities. The third hierarchy: principles, archangels, angels.

seraphim 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 a person start rule the destinies of peoples, archangels are heavenly warriors, and angels- Messengers of God to man. In addition to the listed functions, the host of angels serves as a heavenly choir.

This plan of celestial arrangement served as the basis for the creation and theological substantiation of the structure of the celestial spheres as the basis of the medieval picture of the world. According to this plan, the cherubim and seraphim are responsible for the first push ( Primum mobile) and for the sphere of fixed stars, thrones - for the sphere of Saturn, dominance - Jupiter, forces - Mars, authorities - the Sun, the beginning - Venus, archangels - Mercury, angels - the Moon, the celestial bodies closest to the Earth.

ARCHANGELS

archangel Michael (Who is like God, Who is equal to God). Leader of the heavenly host. The conqueror of Satan, holds a green date branch in his left hand on his chest, and in right hand a spear, on top of which is a white banner, with the image of a red cross, in commemoration of the victory of the Cross over the Devil.

Archangel Gabriel (The Fortress of God or the Power of God). One of the highest angels, in the Old and New Testaments, appears as a bearer of joyful gospels. Depicted with candles and a jasper mirror as a sign that the ways of God are not clear until the time, but are comprehended through time by studying the word of God and obedience to the voice of conscience.

Archangel Raphael (Healing of God or Healing of God). The doctor of human ailments, the chief of the guardian angels, is depicted holding a vessel (alavastre) with medical agents (medicine) in his left hand, and a pod, that is, a clipped bird feather for anointing wounds, in his right hand.

Archangel Salafiel (Angel of Prayer, Prayer to God). A prayer book that always prays to God for people and arouses people to prayer. He is depicted with his face and eyes bowed (lowered) down, and his hands pressed (folded) in a cross on his chest, as if tenderly praying.

Archangel Uriel (Fire of God or Light of God). As an Angel of light, he enlightens the minds of people with the revelation of truths that are useful to them; as an Angel of Divine Fire, he inflames hearts with love for God and destroys in them impure earthly attachments. He is depicted holding a naked sword in his right hand against his chest, and a fiery flame in his left.

Archangel Yehudiel (Praise God, Praise God). The Archangel of God Yehudiel is depicted holding a golden crown in his right hand, as a reward from God for useful and pious labors to holy people, and in his left hand a scourge of three black ropes with three ends, as a punishment for sinners for laziness to pious labors

Archangel Varahiel (God's blessing). The Holy Archangel Barachiel, the distributor of God's blessings and intercessor, asking for God's 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.

The basis for the creation of the church doctrine about angels is the writtenin the 5th century, the book of Dionysius the Areopagite "On the Heavenly Hierarchy" (Greek "Περί της ουρανίας", Latin "De caelesti hierarchia"), better known in the edition of the VI century. The nine angelic ranks are divided into three triads, each of which has a particular feature.

First triad – seraphim, cherubim and thrones - characterized by close proximity to God;

Second triad – strength, domination and power - emphasizes the divine basis of the universe and world domination;

Third triad – beginnings, archangels and angels proper - characterized by close proximity to man.

Dionysius summarized what had been accumulated before him. Seraphim, cherubim, powers and angels are already mentioned in the Old Testament; dominions, principalities, thrones, powers, and archangels appear in the New Testament.

According to the classification of Gregory the Theologian (4th century)the angelic hierarchy consists of angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities, forces, radiances, ascensions and understandings.

According to their position in the hierarchy, the ranks are arranged as follows:

seraphim - the first

cherubs - the second

thrones - third

domination - the fourth

strength - fifth

power - sixth

beginning - seventh

archangels - eighth

angels are the ninth.

Jewish hierarchical constructions differ from Christian ones, since they appeal only to the first part of the Bible - the Old Testament (Tanakh). One source lists ten ranks of angels, starting with the highest: 1. hayot; 2. ofanim; 3. arelim; 4. hashmalim; 5. seraphim; 6. malakim, actually "angels"; 7. elohim; 8. bene Elohim ("sons of God"); 9. cherubs; 10. ishim.

In "Maseket Azilut" ten angelic ranks are given in a different order:1. seraphim led by Shemuel or Yekhoel; 2. Opanim, led by Raphael and Ophaniel; 3. Cherubim, led by Cherubiel; 4. Shinanim, over whom Tzedekiel and Gabriel are placed; 5. tarshishim, whose chiefs are Tarshish and Sabriel; 6. we are with Cephaniel at the head; 7. Hashmalim, whose leader is called Hashmal; 8. malakim, led by Uzziel; 9. Bene Elohim, led by Hofniel; 10. Arelim, led by Michael himself.

The names of the elder angels (archangels) vary in different sources. Traditionally highest rank attributed to Michael, Gabriel and Raphael - three angels named by name in biblical books; the fourth is usually added to them by Uriel, found in the non-canonical 3 Book of Ezra. There is a common notion that there are seven higher angels (associated with magical properties 7), attempts to list them by name have been made since the time of 1 Enoch, but there are too great discrepancies. We confine ourselves to listing the "magnificent seven" adopted in the Orthodox tradition: these are Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Salafiel, Yehudiel, Barachiel, Jeremiel, headed by the eighth - Michael.

Judaic tradition also assigns an extremely high position to the archangel Metatron, who in earthly life was the patriarch Enoch, but in heaven he turned into an angel. He is the vizier of the heavenly court and almost the deputy of God Himself.

1. Seraphim

Seraphim are angels of love, light and fire. They occupy the highest position in the hierarchy of ranks and serve God, taking care of his throne. Seraphim express their love for God by constantly singing laudatory psalms.

In Hebrew tradition, the endless singing of the seraphim is known as"trisagion" - Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh (“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord of the Powers of Heaven, the whole earth is full of his radiance”), which is considered a song of creation and celebration. Being the closest creatures to God, seraphim are also considered "fiery" because they are enveloped in the flames of eternal love.

According to the medieval mystic Jan van Ruysbrok, the three orders of seraphim, cherubs and thrones never take part in human conflicts, but are with us when we peacefully contemplate God and experience constant love in our hearts. They generate divine love in people.

St. John the Evangelist on the island of Patmos had a vision of angels: Gabriel, Metatron, Kemuel and Nathaniel among the seraphim.

Isaiah is the only prophet who mentions seraphim in the Hebrew Holy Scripture (Old Testament) when he talks about his vision of fiery angels over the Throne of the Lord: "Each had six wings: two covered the face, two covered the legs, and two were used for flight."

Another mention of the seraphim can be considered the book of Numbers (21:6), where a reference is made to "fiery serpents". According to the "Second Book of Enoch" (apocryphal), seraphim have six wings, four heads and faces.

Lucifer stepped out of the rank of seraphim. In fact, the Fallen Prince was considered an angel who overshadowed everyone else until he lost God's Grace.

seraphim – In Judaic and Christian mythologyangels, especially close to God.The prophet Isaiah describes them this way: “In the year of the death of King Uzziah, I saw the Lord sitting on a high throne, and the edges of His robe filled the whole temple. Seraphim stood around Him; each of them had six wings: with two each one covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And they called to each other and said: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts! The whole earth is full of His glory / ”(Is. 6. 1-3). According to the classification of Pseudo-Dionysius, together with the cherubim and the thrones, the seraphim belong to the first triad: “... the most holy Thrones, the many-eyed and many-winged Orders, called in the language of the Jews Cherubim and Seraphim, according to the explanation of Holy Scripture, are in the greater and most immediate before the others

closeness to God ... as for the name of the Seraphim, it clearly shows their unceasing and everlasting aspiration for the Divine, their ardor and speed, their ardent, constant, unrelenting and unswerving impetuosity, also their ability to really elevate the lower to the heavenly, excite and inflame them to like heat: it also means ability, scorching and burning. thereby purify them – always open. their inextinguishable, constantly identical, light-like and enlightening power. banishing and uchichtozhayuschayu all obscuration.

2. Cherubim

Word "cherub" means "fullness of knowledge" or "outpouring of wisdom".This choir has the power to know and contemplate God and the ability to understand and communicate divine knowledge to others.

3. Thrones

Term "thrones", or "many-eyed", indicates their proximity to the throne of God.This is the rank closest to God: they receive both their divine perfection and consciousness directly from Him.

Pseudo-Dionysius reports:

“So, it is right that the highest beings are consecrated to the first of the heavenly Hierarchies, since it has the highest rank, especially because to it, as the closest to God, the first Theophany and consecrations originally belong, And they are called burning Thrones and an outpouring of wisdom.

heavenly Minds, because these names express their God-like properties ... The name of the highest Thrones means that they

completely free from any earthly attachment and, constantly rising above the valley, peacefully strive for the mountain, with all their might

immobile and firmly attached to the truly Highest being,

accepting His Divine suggestion in complete dispassion and immateriality; also means that they wear God and slavishly carry out His divine commands.

4. Dominions

The holy dominions are endowed with sufficient power to rise above and free from earthly desires and aspirations.Their duty is to distribute the duties of the angels.

According to Pseudo-Dionysius, “the significant name of the holy Dominions ... means some non-servile and free from any low attachment to the earthly exaltation to the heavenly, not in any way shaken by any violent attraction to dissimilar to them, but the dominion is constant in its freedom, standing higher any humiliating slavery, alien to any humiliation, removed from any inequality to itself, constantly striving for true Mastery and, as far as possible, holyly transforming both itself and everything subordinate to it into a perfect likeness to Him, not clinging to anything that accidentally exists, but always wholly turning to the true-existent and incessantly partaking of the sovereign God-likeness ”

5. Forces

The powers known as "brilliant or shining" are the angels of miracles, help, blessings that appear during battles in the name of faith.It is believed that David received the support of the Forces for the battle with Goliath.

The powers are also the angels from whom Abraham received his power when God told him to sacrifice his only son- Isaac. The main duties of these angels are to work miracles on Earth.

They are allowed to interfere with everything that concerns the physical laws on earth, but they are also responsible for enforcing these laws. By this rank, the fifth in the Hierarchy of Angels, humanity is given valor as well as mercy.

Pseudo-Dionysius says: “The name of the holy Powers means some powerful and irresistible courage, communicated to them as far as possible, reflected in all their God-like actions in order to remove from themselves everything that could reduce and weaken the Divine illuminations bestowed by them, strongly striving for imitation of God, not remaining idle from laziness, but steadfastly looking at the highest and all-strengthening Power and, as far as possible, according to its own forces, is made in Her image, completely turned to Her as the source of Forces and God-like descending to the lower forces to impart power to them.

6. Authorities

Powers are on the same level as dominions and powers, and are endowed with power and intelligence second only to God's. They provide balance to the universe.

According to the Gospels, the authorities can be both good forces and minions of evil. Among the nine angelic ranks, the authorities close the second triad, which, in addition to them, also includes dominions and powers. As Pseudo-Dionysius says, “the name of the holy Authorities signifies equal to the Divine Dominions and Forces, slender and capable of receiving Divine illuminations, the Chin and the device of the worldly spiritual dominion, which does not use autocratically for evil the granted domineering powers, but freely and decently to the Divine as itself ascending who brings others holy to Him and, as much as possible, becomes like the Source and Giver of all power and portrays Him ... in a completely true use of his sovereign power.

7. Beginnings

The beginnings are legions of angels protecting religion.They constitute the seventh choir in the hierarchy of Dionysius, following directly before the archangels. The beginnings give strength to the peoples of the Earth to find and experience their destiny.

It is also believed that they are the guardians of the peoples of the world. The choice of this term, as well as the term "authorities", to designate the ranks of the angels of God is somewhat doubtful, since c. In the Epistle to the Ephesians, “principalities and authorities” are called “spirits of wickedness in high places,” against whom Christians must fight (“Ephesians 6:12”).

Among those who are considered "chief" in this rank are Nisrok, the Assyrian deity, who is considered by occult writings to be the main prince - the demon of hell, and Anael - one of the seven angels of creation.

The Bible says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, neither angels nor

Beginnings, no Powers, no present, no future... can separate us

from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 8:38). By

classification of Pseudo-Dionysius. beginnings are part of the third triad

along with the archangels and the angels themselves. Pseudo-Dionysius says:

“The name of the heavenly Principalities means the God-like ability to rule and govern in accordance with sacred order befitting the commanding Forces, both by themselves wholly turn to the Beginning without Beginning, and others, as it is characteristic of the Administration, to guide Him, to imprint in oneself, as far as possible, the image of the inaccurate Beginning, etc. finally, the ability to express His premier leadership in the well-being of the ruling Forces .., The proclaiming order of the Principalities, Archangels and Angels alternately rules over the human Hierarchies, so that in order there is an ascent and conversion to God, communion and unity with Him, which also from God graciously extends to all Hierarchies, is inspired through communication and pours out in the most sacred harmonious order.

8. Archangels

Archangels - The Word is Greek origin and is translated as "angel chiefs", "senior angels".The term "Archangels" appears for the first time in the Greek-language Jewish literature of the pre-Christian time (Greek edition of the "Book of Enoch" 20, 7) as a transfer of expressions like (" Grand Duke”) in the appendix to Michael of the Old Testament texts (Dan. 12, 1); then this term is taken up by New Testament authors (Jude 9; 1 Thess. 4:16) and later Christian literature. According to the Christian heavenly hierarchy, they rank directly above the angels. Religious tradition has seven archangels. The chief here is Michael the Archangel (Greek, “supreme commander”) - the leader of the armies of angels and people in their universal battle with Satan. Michael's weapon is a flaming sword.

Archangel Gabriel - best known for his participation in the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary about the birth of Jesus Christ. As a messenger of the innermost secrets of the world, he is depicted with a flowering branch, with a mirror (reflection is also a way of knowing), and sometimes with a candle inside the lamp - the same symbol of a hidden mystery.

Archangel Raphael - known as a heavenly healer and comforter of the afflicted.

Less frequently, four other archangels are mentioned.

Uriel - this is a heavenly fire, the patron of those who have devoted themselves to the sciences and arts.

Salafiel - the name of the supreme minister, with whom prayer inspiration is associated. On the icons he is painted in a prayerful pose, with his arms folded crosswise on his chest.

Archangel Yehudiel - blesses the ascetics, protects them from the forces of evil. In his right hand he has a golden crown as a symbol of blessing, in his left - a scourge that drives away enemies.

Barahiel - the role of the distributor of the highest blessings was assigned to ordinary workers, especially farmers. He is depicted with pink flowers.

About seven heavenly archangels says the Old Testament tradition. Their ancient Iranian parallel is the seven good spirits of Amesha Spenta("immortal saints") finds a correspondence with the mythology of the Vedas.This points to the Indo-European origins of the doctrine of the seven archangels, which in turn correlates with the most ancient ideas of people about the septenary structures of being, both divine and earthly.

9. Angels

Both Greek and Hebrew words expressing the concept"angel" means "messenger". Angels often performed this role in the texts of the Bible, but its authors often give this term another meaning. Angels are the incorporeal helpers of God. They appear as humans with wings and a halo of light around their heads. They are commonly mentioned in Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious texts. Angels have the appearance of a man, “only with wings and dressed in white clothes: God created them from stone”; angels and seraphim - women, cherubs - men or children)<Иваницкий, 1890>.

Good and evil angels, messengers of God or the devil, converge in the decisive battle described in the book of Revelation. Angels 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. The Old Testament says that no one could see God and stay alive, so direct communication between the Almighty and a person is often portrayed as communication with an angel. It was the angel who prevented Abraham from sacrificing Isaac. Moses saw an angel in a burning bush, although the voice of God was heard. An angel led the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. From time to time, biblical angels look just like mortals until their true nature is revealed, like the angels who came to Lot before the horrific destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Unnamed spirits. Other angels are mentioned in Scripture, such as a spirit with a fiery sword that blocked Adam's path back to Eden; cherub and seraphim, depicted as thunderclouds and lightning, which recalls the faith of the ancient Jews in the god of thunder; the messenger of God, who miraculously rescued Peter from prison, in addition, the angels who appeared to Isaiah in his vision of the heavenly court: “I saw the Lord sitting on a 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.

God immediately created various kinds of angelic forces. The difference between them in nature was not the result of different degrees of "cooling" of the Angels in love, as Origen taught. Dionysius the Areopagite brought into the system the church doctrine of the nine angelic ranks. He writes that the Heavenly World has a hierarchical structure, since not all angelic ranks equally accept divine enlightenment. The lower ranks receive enlightenment from the higher ones. The angelic world is a single whole and, at the same time, a ladder. All Angels to a certain extent participate in the Divine and the Light communicated from Him, but the degrees of their knowledge and perfection are not the same.

The angelic hierarchy consists of three triads. The first, the highest, is - Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. All of them are in the closest and immediate proximity to God, "as if on the threshold of the Divine", at the very Trinity sanctuary. They have access to direct and immediate knowledge of the Divine mysteries. They live in inexpressible illumination, contemplate God in a bright light.

six-winged seraphim(Heb. - flaming, fiery), which are mentioned only by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 6:2), burn with love for God and incite others to it.

Cherubim(Heb. - chariots) - spiritual creatures that the prophet Ezekiel saw in the images of a man, an ox, a lion and an eagle (Ezek. 1). These symbols mean that the Cherubim combine the qualities of intelligence, obedience, strength and speed. Cherubim stand before the throne of God (Rev. 4:6-7). They are the spiritual vehicle of the Supreme (Ezekiel 1:10) so God is called sitting on cherubs (1 Sam. 4:4).

The cherub guarded the entrance to paradise (Gen. 3:24). Images of two Cherubim overshadowed the Ark of the Covenant, the place of the direct presence of God (Ex. 25:18-20). The king of Tire, symbolizing, according to the holy fathers, Satan, is called the overshadowing cherub (Ezekiel 28:14), which indicates his initial closeness to God.

The many-eyed Cherubim, according to Dionysius the Areopagite, shine with the light of knowledge of God. They send down wisdom and enlightenment for knowledge of God to the lower ranks. They are "rivers of wisdom" and "places of God's rest"; hence some of the Cherubim are called " Thrones", since God Himself rests on them not sensually, but spiritually, with a special abundance of grace.

The middle hierarchy is: Dominions, Powers and Powers.

dominance (Col. 1:16) rule over the successive ranks of Angels. They instruct earthly rulers appointed by God in wise management. They teach to control feelings, to tame sinful lusts, to enslave the flesh to the spirit, to overcome temptations. Forces (1 Pet. 3:22) they work miracles and send down the grace of wonderworking and clairvoyance to the saints of God. They help people in carrying out labors, strengthen them in patience, bestow spiritual strength and courage. Authorities (1 Pet. 3:22; Col. 1:16) have the power to tame the power of the devil. They repel demonic temptations from us, protect ascetics, help them in the fight against evil thoughts. They also have power over the forces of nature, such as wind and fire. (Rev. 8:7).

The lower hierarchy includes: Principles, Archangels and Angels.

Beginnings (Col. 1:16) they rule over the lower Angels, directing their activity towards the fulfillment of Divine commands. They are entrusted with managing the universe, protecting countries, peoples and tribes. They teach earthly authorities to fulfill their duties not for the sake of profits and personal glory, but in everything to seek the glory of God and the benefit of others.

Archangels (1 Thess. 4:16) proclaim great and glorious things. They reveal the secrets of faith, prophecy and the will of God to people, that is, they are the conductors of Revelation.

Angels (1 Pet. 3:22) closest to people. They proclaim the intentions of God, instruct in the virtues and a holy life. They protect the faithful, keep us from falling, raise the fallen.

Saint Dionysius the Areopagite is aware of the imperfection of such a systematization. He writes: “How many ranks of celestial beings, what they are and how they perform the secrets of the hierarchy, only God knows exactly, the Culprit of their hierarchy; they themselves also know their own powers, their own light, their sacred and supreme rank and file. And we can be told about this as much as God has revealed to us through them, as those who know themselves.”

Blessed Augustine also argues in a similar way: “What there are Thrones, Dominions, Principles and Powers in the heavenly abodes, I unshakably believe, and that they differ from each other, I undoubtedly contain; but what they are and how they differ from each other, I do not know.

Some holy fathers believe that the listed nine ranks do not cover all the existing angelic ranks, there are others that will open only in the Future Age (Eph. 1:21).

The well-known Orthodox theologian Archpriest John Meyendorff believes that for Christian tradition the hierarchical structure of the angelic world proposed by Dionysius the Areopagite presents great inconvenience. “Old Testament angelology is complex and does not fit into the hierarchy of Dionysius. So, Seraphim in the book of the prophet Isaiah is a direct messenger of God (in the system of Dionysius, Seraphim would have to use the underlying hierarchy). The Church honors the Archangel Michael as the head of the heavenly host (in the Epistle of the Apostle Jude, he fights with Satan), but in the system of Dionysius, the archangel rank is one of the lowest in the heavenly hierarchy. This was noticed by the holy fathers, so they accepted the hierarchy of Dionysius with reservations. Thus, St. Gregory Palamas claims that the Incarnation of Christ violated the original order: in violation of all hierarchical ranks, God sent the Archangel Gabriel, that is, one of the lower Angels, to announce to the Virgin Mary the good news of the Incarnation. Reflecting the same thought, the hymns of the feasts of the Ascension and the Assumption proclaim that the Angels were surprised that the human nature of Christ and the Mother of God "ascends from earth to heaven" completely independently of the angelic hierarchy.

So, it should be kept in mind that the classification Heavenly Forces Dionysius the Areopagite is rather arbitrary and schematic; she is unable to satisfactorily explain some of the facts of Revelation and the phenomena of spiritual life. For example, if we strictly follow the scheme of Dionysius, then our communication with God is possible only through Angels. However, in the Holy Scriptures there are any number of examples of people communicating with God without the mediation of Angels.

Archangels

In the canonical books of the Bible, only two names of the Archangels are mentioned:

1) Michael(from Heb. - “who is like God”; Dan. 10:13; Jude 1:9) - Archangel of the incorporeal Forces.

2) Gabriel(from Heb. - "man of God"; Dan. 8:16; Luke 1:19) - a servant of the Divine fortress and a messenger of the mysteries of God.

Four names appear in non-canonical books:

3) Raphael(from Heb. - "God's help"; Tov. 3:16) - a healer of ailments.

4) Uriel(from Heb. - “the fire of God”; 3 Ezra 4: 1) - a servant of Divine love, kindling love for God in hearts and enlightening with the light of God-knowledge.

5) Selaphiel(from Heb. - “prayer to God”) - a minister of prayer, teaching prayer.

6) Jeremiel(from Heb. - "the height of God"; 3 Ezra. 4:36).

In addition, pious tradition speaks of two more Archangels:

7) Yehudiel(from Heb. - “Praise of God”) - an assistant in labor and an advocate for rewards for those who work for the glory of God.

8) Barahiel(from Heb. - "God's blessing") - a servant of God's blessings.

There is an opinion that seven of them are coming to the throne of God. In this sense, the following words from the Revelation of John the Theologian are interpreted: Grace to you and peace from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne” (Rev. 1:4). This is, of course, a rather arbitrary interpretation. The exact meaning of this text is hidden from us.

There are prayers with petitions to each of the Archangels according to their ministry.

1. Holy Archangel Michael, conqueror, conquer my passions.

2. Holy Archangel Gabriel, messenger of God, announce to me the hour of death.

3. Holy Archangel Raphael, healer, heal me from mental and physical illness.

4. Holy Archangel Uriel, enlightener, enlighten my feelings of soul and body.

5. Holy Archangel Yehudiel, glorifier, glorify me with good deeds.

6. Holy Archangel Selaphiel, prayer book, pray to God for me, a sinner.

7. Holy Archangel Varahiel, bless me, a sinner, spend my whole life in spiritual salvation.

8. Holy Angel of God, my Guardian, save my sinful soul.

9. O my Most Holy Lady Theotokos, all the Heavenly Powers of the holy Angels and Archangels and all the saints, have mercy on me, help me in this life, in the outcome of my soul and in the Future Age. Amen

We know about the existence of the Heavenly angelic world from Holy Scripture. That he was created by God even before creation visible world and a person. 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 the angelic hierarchy, dividing all the Angels into nine ranks of three ranks in the hierarchy, subordinating lower ranks higher.

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 according to their name, they have hearts burning with love for God, and excite others to ardently love their Creator. Seraphim means "flaming".

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 they teach people to dominate their will, to be above any temptation, and they also command those evil spirits who swore to destroy a person.

Powers - they can handle the powers of the devil.

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 - Angels who have the power to tame the power of demons, to repel the enemy's temptations. In addition, they strengthen good ascetics in their spiritual and bodily labors.

***

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 - great evangelizers of the Mysteries of God, of everything great and glorious. They strengthen the holy faith in people, enlightening their minds to the knowledge and understanding of the will of God.

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.

Of all the ranks of heaven, the Seraphim are the closest to God; they are the first participants in divine bliss, the first to shine with the light of magnificent divine glory. And what most amazes and astonishes them in God is His infinite, eternal, immeasurable, unsearchable love. They in all their strength, in all their depth, incomprehensible to us, perceive, feel God precisely as Love, through this approaching, as it were, to the very doors, to the Most Holy of Holies of that “unapproachable Light” in which God lives (1 Tim. 6:16 ), through this entering into the most intimate, most sincere communion with God, for God Himself is Love: “God is loved” (1 John 4:8).
Have you ever looked at the sea? You look, you look at its boundless distance, at its boundless expanse, you think about its bottomless depth, and ... the thought is lost, the heart stops, the whole being is filled with some kind of sacred awe and horror; to fall prostrate, to close oneself before the clearly felt, boundless majesty of God, displayed by the boundlessness of the sea. Here is some, although the weakest, similarity, a barely noticeable, thin shadow of what the Seraphim are experiencing, constantly contemplating the immeasurable, unsearchable sea of ​​Divine love.
God-Love is fire, and the Seraphim, constantly clinging to this fiery Divine Love, are filled with the fire of the Divine primarily before all other ranks. Seraphim - and the word itself means: fiery, fiery. The flaming Divine Love, by the inexpressibility of Its mercy, by the immensity of Its condescension to all creatures, and above all to the human race, for the sake of which this Love humbled itself even to the cross and death, always leads the Seraphim into an indescribable holy awe, plunges them into horror, makes everything shudder. their being. They cannot endure this great Love. They cover their faces with two wings, their legs with two wings, and with two they fly, in fear and trembling, in reverence in the deepest singing, crying, crying out and saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord of hosts!”
Burning with love for God themselves, the six-winged Seraphim ignite the fire of this love in the hearts of others, purifying the soul with divine fire, fulfilling its strength and strength, inspiring preaching - to burn the hearts of people with the verb. So, when the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, seeing the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne, surrounded by Seraphim, began to lament about his impurity, exclaiming: “Oh, accursed Az! For I am a man with unclean lips ... - and my eyes saw the King, the Lord of Hosts! .. Then, - says the prophet himself. One of the Seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a burning coal, which he took with tongs from the altar, and touched my mouth and said: Behold, I will touch this with your mouth, and I will take away your iniquities and cleanse your sins ”(Is. 6: 5-7).
Oh, fiery Seraphims; purify with the fire of divine love, kindle our hearts too, yes, apart from God, we do not wish for any other beauty; May God be our heart the only joy, the only delight, the only blessing, the beauty before which all earthly beauty fades!

2. The second rank of angels - Cherubim

If for the Seraphim God appears as a fiery burning Love, then for the Cherubim God is a shining Wisdom. Cherubim incessantly delve into the divine mind, praise, sing of it in their songs, contemplate the divine mysteries, penetrate them with trepidation. That is why, according to the testimony of the Word of God, in the Old Testament the Cherubim are depicted crouching over the Ark of the Covenant.
“And make,” the Lord said to Moses, “two Cherubim of gold... Make them on both ends of the lid (of the Ark). Make one Cherubim from one side, and another Cherubim from the other side ... And there will be Cherubim with wings spread upwards, covering the lid with their wings, and their faces will be towards each other, the faces of the Cherubim will be towards the lid ”(Ex. 25:18- 20).
Marvelous image! So it is in heaven: Cherubim with tenderness, with fear, look at the Divine Wisdom, explore it, learn from it, and, as it were, cover its secrets with their wings, keep them, cherish, revere them. And this reverence for the mysteries of Divine Wisdom is so great among the Cherubim that any bold inquisitiveness, any proud gaze at the Mind of God is immediately cut off by them with a fiery sword.
Remember the fall of Adam: the forefathers, contrary to the commandment of God, boldly approached the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, became proud of their minds, wanted to know everything like God; they set out, as it were, to rip off the veil that hides the secrets of Divine Wisdom. And, look, one of the guardians-keepers of these secrets immediately descends from heaven, one of the servants of God's Wisdom - Cherubim, with a fiery turning sword, expels the forefathers from paradise. So great is the zeal of the Cherubim, so strict are they towards those who boldly encroach on the unknown mysteries of heaven! Be afraid to test with your mind what you need to believe!
If, according to St. Basil the Great, “one herb or one blade of grass is enough to occupy our whole thought with the consideration of the art with which it is produced,” then what can be said about that abyss of wisdom that is open to the Cherubim? The Wisdom of God, as in a mirror imprinted in the visible world, the Wisdom of God in all the construction of our redemption, is all “the manifold Wisdom of God, ... in a hidden mystery, God foretell the world before the age for our glory” (Eph. 3:10; 1 Corinthians 2:7)...
What, indeed, “the depth of the wealth, wisdom and mind of God” lies before the eyes of the Cherubim! No wonder they are called "multiple-eyed". This means: from the unceasing contemplation of the Divine Wisdom, the Cherubim themselves are full of knowledge, and therefore they see and know everything perfectly, and knowledge is promised to people.

3. The third rank of angels - Thrones

Of course, you know what a throne is, with what meaning this word is often used among us? They say, for example, "The King's Throne" or "The King's Throne", "The King said from the height of the Throne." With all this they want to show dignity, royal greatness.
The throne, therefore, is the personification of royal majesty, royal dignity. So there are their Thrones in heaven, not our material, soulless ones, made of gold, silver, bone or wood and serving only as symbols, but intelligent Thrones, living bearers of the greatness of God, the glory of God. Thrones, primarily before all the ranks of the angels, feel, contemplate God, as the King of Glory, the King of the entire universe, the King who creates judgment and justice, the King of Kings, as “Great, Strong and Terrible God” (Deut. 10:17). "Lord, Lord, who is like You?" (Ps. 34:10) ... “Who is like You in bosekh. Lord, who is like Thee: glorified in the saints, marvelous in glory” (Ex. 15:11). “Great is the Lord and highly praised, and His majesty has no end” (Ps. 144:3) ... “Great and has no end, high and immeasurable” (Bar. 3:25)! All these hymns to the majesty of God, in all their fullness, depth and truth, are understandable and accessible only to Thrones.
Thrones not only feel and sing of the majesty of God, but they themselves are filled with this majesty and glory, and others are allowed to feel it, poured, as it were, into human hearts, waves of majesty and Divine glory filling them themselves.
There are moments when a person is somehow especially clearly aware of the mind and with some special power feels the greatness of God in his heart: thunder rolls, the flash of lightning, marvelous views of nature, high mountains, wild rocks, worship in some magnificent large temple - all this often captures the soul so much, strikes the strings of the heart so much that a person is ready to compose and sing laudatory psalms and songs; before the perceived greatness of God, he disappears, is lost, falls on his face. Know, beloved, such holy moments of a clear sense of the greatness of God do not happen without the influence of Thrones. It is they who, as it were, join us to their mood, throw its sparkles into our hearts.
Oh, if the Thrones would visit us more often, they would more often send us a sense of the greatness of God and our own insignificance! Then we would not have been haughty, we would not have been so haughty with our minds, as we often are haughty and haughty, not knowing our own worth, almost revering ourselves as a god.

4. The fourth rank of angels - Domination

Dominions ... Think about this name. Doesn't it remind you of another like him? “Lord”... This is, no doubt, where the “Domination” is borrowed from. So, in order to understand what these latter are, it is necessary to understand in what sense the name Lord is used.
You have heard: in everyday life we ​​say: "the master of the house" or "the master of such and such an estate." What do they want to express with this? And the fact that a person whom we call the master of a house or estate, holds his house or estate in his hands, manages it, takes care of its well-being, provides for it, is “a good owner”, as they say among us. So God is called the Lord because he takes care of the world created by Him, provides for it, is its Supreme Owner. “He,” says blessed Theodoret, “is himself both a shipbuilder and a gardener who has grown matter. He created the substance, and built the ship, and constantly controls its helm. “From the shepherd,” teaches St. Ephraim the Syrian, - the herd depends, and everything that grows on the earth depends on God. In the will of the farmer - the separation of wheat from the thorns, in the will of God - the prudence of those living on earth in their mutual unity and unanimity. It is in the will of the king to arrange regiments of soldiers, in the will of God - a certain charter for everything. So, another teacher of the Church notes, “neither on earth nor in heaven, nothing remains without care and without providence, but the care of the Creator equally extends to everything invisible and visible, small and great: for all creatures need the care of the Creator, equally as well as each separately, according to its nature and purpose. And “not for one day does God cease from the work of managing creatures, so that they would not immediately deviate from their natural paths, by which they are led and directed in order to achieve the fullness of their development, and each to remain in its kind what it is.”
Here, in this domination, in this management of God's creatures, in this care, God's providence for everything invisible and visible, small and great, and the Lords penetrate.
For the Seraphim, God is flaming Love; for the Cherubim - take out the luminous Wisdom; for Thrones God is the King of Glory; for Dominions, God is the Lord-Provider. Predominantly before all other ranks of the Dominion, they contemplate God precisely as a Provider, sing of His care for the world: they see “and in the sea the way, and in the waves of His strong path” (Wisdom 14: 3), they look with fear how “He will change times and years, he sets up kings and sets them down” (Dan. 2:21). Full of sacred delight and compunction, the Lord enters into the many different cares of God: he puts on the curtains of the village, “as Solomon in all his glory is clothed, as if he is one from these” (Matt. 6:29), as He dresses “the sky clouds, prepares the earth for rain vegetates grass and grain on the mountains for the service of man: he gives their food to the cattle, and to the chicks of the crows that call on him ”(Ps. 146: 7-9). The Dominions marvel at how God, so great, embraces everyone and everything with His care; keeps and protects every blade of grass, every midge, the smallest grain of sand.
Contemplating God as a Provider - the Builder of the world, Domination and people are taught to organize themselves, their soul; they teach us to take care of the soul, to provide for it; they inspire a person to dominate his passions, over various sinful habits, to oppress the flesh, giving scope to the spirit. Dominions must be prayerfully invoked to help anyone who wants to free himself from any passion, wants to dominate it, to get behind some bad habit, but cannot do this because of weakness of will. Let such one cry out: “Holy dominions, strengthen my weak will in the fight against sin, let me rule over my passions!” And, believe, such a prayerful invocation will not remain fruitless, and now help and strength will be sent to you from the host of Dominions.

5. The fifth angelic rank - Forces

Predominantly before all other ranks, this angelic rank contemplates God as creating many powers or miracles. For the Forces, God is the Miracle Worker. “You are the God who works miracles” (Ps. 76:15) - this is what constitutes the subject of their constant praise and glorification. Forces delve into how "wherever God wills, the order of nature is overcome." Oh, how enthusiastic, how solemn, how wondrous must these songs be! If we, clothed in flesh and blood, when we are witnesses of some obvious miracle of God, for example, the sight of the blind, the restoration of the hopelessly ill, come into indescribable delight and trembling, we are amazed, moved, then what can we say about the Forces when they are given to see miracles that our minds cannot even imagine. Moreover, they can delve into the very depths of these miracles, their highest goal is revealed to them.

6. The sixth rank of angelic - Power

The angels belonging to this rank contemplate and glorify God as the Almighty, "who has all power in heaven and on earth." A terrible God, “His vision dries up the abyss, and the prohibition melts the mountains, who walked, as if on dry land, on the splashing of the sea, and forbade the storms of the winds; who touches the mountains and smokes; calling on the water of the sea, and shedding it on the face of all the earth."
The angels of the sixth rank are the closest, constant witnesses of God's omnipotence, they are given the opportunity to feel it before others. From the constant contemplation of the Divine power, from the constant contact with it, these angels are imbued with this power in the same way that red-hot iron is imbued with fire, which is why they themselves become carriers of this power and are called: Powers. The power with which they are clothed and filled is unbearable for the devil and all his hordes, this power puts the devil's hordes to flight, into hell, into outer darkness, into tartar.
That is why all who are tormented by the devil must prayerfully call for the help of the Authorities; about all the demoniac, various seizures, hysterics, spoiled ones - one must pray daily to the Authorities: “Holy authorities, with the power given to you by God, drive away from the servant of God (name) or the servant of God (name) the demon who torments him (or her)!”
When the demon of despondency attacks the soul, one must also pray to the Authorities so that they drive away this demon with their power. With faith, invoked in simplicity of heart, the Authorities will not hesitate to come to the rescue, they will drive out the demon, and the demon-possessed will feel free from it, will feel spaciousness and lightness in his soul.

7. The seventh rank of the angels - Beginnings

These angels are so called because God entrusted them with command over the elements of nature: over water, fire, wind, "over animals, plants and in general over all visible objects." “Creator and Builder of the world. God, - says the Christian teacher Athenagoras, - placed some of the angels over the elements, and over the heavens, and over the world, and over what is in it, and over their structure. Thunder, lightning, storm... all this is controlled by the Beginnings, and directed, as it pleases the will of God. It is known, for example, that lightning often strikes blasphemers; the hail beats one field, leaving the other unscathed... Who gives a soulless, unreasonable element such a reasonable direction? Beginnings do it.
“I saw,” says the seer of St. John the Theologian, - a strong angel descending from heaven, clothed in a cloud; over his head was a rainbow, and his face was like the sun ... And he set right leg his on the sea, and his left on the land, and exclaimed with a loud voice, as a lion roars; and when he cried out, then seven thunders spoke with their voices” (Rev. 10:1-3); the apostle John saw and heard both the "angel of the water" (Rev. 16:5) and the "angel having authority over the fire" (Rev. 14:18). “I saw,” testifies the same St. John, - four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that the wind would not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree ... - it was given to them to harm the earth and the sea ”(Rev. 7: 1 -2).
The principles also have dominion over entire peoples, cities, kingdoms, and human societies. In the word of God there is, for example, a mention of a prince or an angel of the kingdom of Persia, the kingdom of Hellenism (Dan. 10:13, 20). The beginnings lead, entrusted to their superiors, the peoples to the highest good goals, which the Lord Himself indicates and outlines; “They are building,” according to St. Dionysius the Areopagite, - how many can those who willingly obey them, to God, as to their Beginning. They intercede for their people before the Lord, “inspire,” notes one saint, “people, especially kings and other rulers, with thoughts and intentions related to the good of nations.”

8. Eighth rank - Archangels

This rank, says St. Dionysius of learning". Archangels are heavenly teachers. What are they teaching? They teach people how to arrange their lives according to God, that is, according to the will of God.
Different paths of life are before man: there is the path of monasticism, the path of marriage, and there are various kinds of service. What to choose, what to decide, what to stop? This is where the Archangels come to the aid of man. To them the Lord reveals His will concerning man. The archangels know, therefore, what awaits famous person on this or that path of life: what hardships, temptations, temptations; therefore, they deviate from one path, and direct a person to another, teach them to choose the right path, suitable for him.
Whoever has broken his life, hesitates, does not know which way to go, he must call on the help of the Archangels, so that they teach him how he should live: “Archangels of God, determined by God Himself to teach us, admonish, teach me which path to choose I’ll go and please my God!”

9. The last, ninth rank of angels - Angels

These are the closest to us. The angels continue what the archangels begin: the archangels teach a person to recognize the will of God, put him on the path of life indicated by God; Angels lead a person along this path, guide, protect the one who walks, so that he does not deviate to the side, they strengthen the exhausted, and lift the falling one.
Angels are so close to us that they surround us from everywhere, they look at us from everywhere, they watch our every step, and, according to St. John Chrysostom, "the whole air is filled with angels"; Angels, according to the same saint, "appear to the priest at the time of the terrible Sacrifice."
From among the angels, the Lord, from the moment of our baptism, assigns to each of us another special angel, which is called the Guardian Angel. This Angel loves us so much as no one on earth can love. The Guardian Angel is our true friend, an invisible quiet interlocutor, a sweet comforter. He wishes only one thing for each of us - the salvation of the soul; to this he directs all his cares. And if he sees us also caring about salvation, he rejoices, but if he sees us being careless about his soul, he mourns.
Do you want to always be with an angel? Run away from sin, and the Angel will be with you. “Just as,” says Basil the Great, “smoke and stench drives away the bees, so the Guardian of our life, the Angel, is driven away by the mournful and stinking sin.” Therefore, be afraid to sin!
Is it possible to recognize the presence of the Guardian Angel when he is near us and when he moves away from us? You can, according to the inner mood of your soul. When your soul is light, your heart is light, quiet, peaceful, when your mind is occupied with contemplation of God, when you repent, you are touched, then, therefore, there is an Angel nearby. “When, according to the testimony of John of the Ladder, at some utterance of your prayer you feel inner delight or tenderness, then stop over it. For then the Guardian Angel prays with you.” When you have a storm in your soul, passions in your heart, your mind is haughty, then know that the Guardian Angel has departed from you, and instead of him the demon has approached you. Hurry, hurry then call the Guardian Angel, kneel before the icons, fall down, pray, make the sign of the cross, cry. Believe, your Guardian Angel will hear your prayer, come, drive away the demon, say to the restless soul, to the overwhelmed heart: "Be quiet, stop." And great silence will come in you. Oh, Guardian Angel, always keep us from the storm, in the silence of Christ!
Why, someone will ask, is it impossible to see an Angel, why can’t you talk, talk with him the way we talk with each other? Why can't an angel appear in a visible way? Therefore, in order not to frighten, not to confuse us with his appearance, for he knows how cowardly, fearful and timid we are in front of everything mysterious.
The prophet Daniel was once seen in a visible manner by an angel; but listen to the prophet himself tell what happened to him at this apparition. “On the twenty-fourth day of the first month,” says the prophet, “I was on the shore big river Tiger, and lifted up my eyes, and saw: behold, a man clothed in linen, and his loins were girded with gold. His body is like a topaz, his face is like a kind of lightning; his eyes are like burning lamps, his hands and feet are like shining bronze, and the voice of his speech is like the voice of a multitude. And I looked at this great vision, but there was no strength left in me, and the appearance of my face changed tremendously, there was no vigor in me. And I heard the voice of his words; and as soon as I heard the voice of his words, I fell down on my face in a daze and lay with my face to the ground, and became dumb, my bowels turned in me, and my strength was gone, and my breath stopped in me ”(Dan. 10: 4- 6, 8-9, 15-16, 17). It was necessary for the angel to deliberately encourage the prophet, so that he would not die of fear at all. "Daniel," says St. John Chrysostom - who confused the eyes of lions and in human body had strength higher than human, could not bear the presence of a celestial, but fell down lifeless. What would happen to us, sinners, if an Angel suddenly appeared before us with our own eyes, when even the prophet could not bear his luminous appearance!
And then: are we worthy of the appearance of an Angel? Here is a significant incident from his life told by Metropolitan Innokenty of Moscow, who used to be a priest (his name was Father John), a missionary in the Aleutian Islands: “Having lived on Unalaska Island for almost 4 years, I went to Great Lent for the first time to the island of Akun to the Aleuts to prepare them for fasting. Approaching the island, I saw that they were all dressed up on the shore, as if on a solemn holiday, and when I went ashore, they all joyfully rushed to me and were extremely kind and helpful to me. I asked them, "Why are they so dressed up?" They answered: “Because we knew that you had left and should be with us today: then we were overjoyed and went ashore to meet you.”
“Who told you that I would be with you today, and why did you recognize me that I was Father John?”
“Our shaman, old man Ivan Smirennikov, told us: wait, a priest will come to you today: he has already left and will teach you to pray to God; and described to us your appearance as we now see you.”
“Can I see this old shaman of yours?” “Why, you can: but now he is not here, and when he comes, we will tell him; Yes, he himself will come to you without us.
Although this circumstance greatly surprised me, I ignored all this and began to prepare them for fasting, having previously explained to them the meaning of fasting and other things. This old shaman also came to me and expressed a desire to go to fast and walked very carefully, and yet I did not pay special attention to him and, during confession, I even missed asking him why the Aleuts call him a shaman, and to make him about it some instruction. Having introduced him to the Holy Mysteries, I let him go...
And what? To my surprise, after taking communion, he went to his toen and showed him his displeasure with me, namely, because I did not ask him in confession why the Aleuts call him a shaman, since it is extremely unpleasant for him to bear such a name from his brethren, and that he is not a shaman at all. Toen, of course, conveyed to me the displeasure of the old man Smirennikov, and I immediately sent for him to explain; and when the messengers set off, Smirennikov met them with the following words: “I know that the priest Father John is calling me, and I am going to him.” I began to ask in detail about his displeasure with me, about his life, and to my question whether he was literate, he replied that although he was illiterate, he knew the Gospel and prayers. Then he asked him to explain why he knew me, that he even described my appearance to his brethren, and how he knew that on a certain day I should come to you and that I would teach you to pray. The old man replied that two of his comrades had told him all this.
“Who are these two of your comrades?” I asked him. “White people,” the old man replied. “They also told me that you, in the near future, will send your family along the shore, and you yourself will go by water to a great man and talk to him.”
“Where are these white people of yours, and what kind of people are they and what kind of appearance are they?” I asked him.
“They live not far here in the mountains and come to me every day,” and the old man introduced them to me in the way that St. Archangel Gabriel, that is, in white robes and girded with a pink ribbon over his shoulder.
“When did these white people come to you for the first time?” "They appeared soon, as Hieromonk Macarius had christened us." After this conversation, I asked Smirennikov: “Can I see them?”
"I'll ask them," the old man replied and left me. I went for some time to the nearest islands, to preach the word of God, and, on my return, seeing Smirennikov, I asked him: “Well, you asked these white people if I could see them, and if they wanted to receive me? »
“I asked,” the old man replied. - Although they expressed a desire to see and accept you, but at the same time they said: “Why should he see us when he himself teaches you what we teach?” So let's go, I'll bring you to them."
Then something inexplicable happened in me,” Father John Veniaminov said. - Some kind of fear attacked me and complete humility. What if, in fact, I thought, I will see these angels, and they will confirm what the old man said? And how can I go to them? After all, I am a sinful person, and therefore unworthy to speak with them, and it would be pride and arrogance on my part if I decided to go to them; and, finally, by my meeting with the angels, I, perhaps, would have exalted myself with my faith or imagined a lot about myself ... And I, as unworthy, decided not to go to them, having previously, on this occasion, given a decent instruction, both old Smirennikov and his fellow Aleuts, and that they no longer call Smirennikov a shaman.
No, let us not desire the appearance of an Angel, but let us more often intelligently and cordially turn to him. In order not to break off communication with the Guardian Angel, it is necessary to pray to him daily, in the morning, when waking up from sleep, and in the evening, when going to bed, reading the prescribed Orthodox Church prayers, as well as the canon to the Guardian Angel.
Thanks be to the Lord, who has protected us with His angels, and who also sends each angel a peaceful, faithful mentor and guardian of our souls and bodies - glory to Thee, our Benefactor, forever and ever!

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