The ranks of the heavenly powers and saints in Orthodoxy. The highest angelic ranks - Thrones, Seraphim and Cherubim (8 photos) Cherubim, Seraphim, thrones and other types of angels
Angels- are the heavenly army, according to what is said in the Gospel: “And suddenly a large army of heaven appeared with the angel, glorifying God and crying: glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:13-14).
God sends Angels to proclaim His decrees. That is why they are called Angels, that is, messengers.
There are countless angels, the human mind is lost in their countless hosts.
But here the order reigning among the Heavenly spirits is amazing. Order and harmony are the beauty of perfection, the wisdom and truth of God. In the Kingdom of Heaven there is no monotony and stagnation - there is diversity, movement, activity, aspiration, great, complex activity, unknown to us here on earth.
Saint Dionysius the Areopagite, a disciple of the holy Apostle Paul, who was caught up to the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:2), there he saw the difference in the ranks of the holy Angels, and explained this to Dionysius, how to his disciple he divides the Angels into nine ranks, and divides the nine ranks of Angels into three hierarchy - each has three ranks - highest, middle and lowest.
The first, highest and closest hierarchy to the Most Holy Trinity is: Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones, second, middle – Power, Dominance, Strength. The third includes Beginnings, Archangels, Angels(Dionysius the Areopagite “On the Heavenly Hierarchy”).
The closest to their Creator and Maker are the God-loving six-winged creatures. Seraphim, as the prophet Isaiah saw: “The Seraphim stood around Him; each of them had six wings: with two he 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!” (Isa. 6:2-3).
Seraphim are fiery, as immediately standing before the One about whom it is written: “The sight of the glory of the Lord on the top of the mountain was before the eyes of the children of Israel like a consuming fire” (Ex. 24:17), His throne was a flame of fire (Dan. 7:9) because our God is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:29).
Seraphim are flaming with love for God and excite others to the same love, as their very name shows, for “Seraphim” translated from Hebrew means: flaming.
After the Seraphim, before the Omniscient God, who lives in the inviolable light, many eyes stand in indescribable lightness. And you are e Cherubim, always shining with the light of the knowledge of God, the knowledge of the mysteries and depths of the wisdom of God, enlightened themselves and enlightening others. The name Cherubim, translated from Hebrew, means: much understanding or outpouring of wisdom, for through the Cherubim wisdom is sent down to others and enlightenment is given for the knowledge of God and the knowledge of God.
Then the God-bearing ones stand before the Almighty Thrones, for on them, as on reasonable thrones (as St. Maximus the Confessor writes), God rests. Resting on them in an incomprehensible way, God carries out His righteous judgment, according to what David said: “For You have executed my judgment and my litigation; You are seated on the throne, O righteous Judge” (Ps. 9:5). Therefore, through them the justice of God is predominantly manifested, helping earthly judges, kings, lords and rulers to carry out righteous judgment.
The middle hierarchy, as mentioned above, also contains three ranks of holy Angels: Dominance, Strength and Authority.
Dominations They send down the power for prudent control and wise management of earthly authorities appointed by God, teach them to control their feelings, to humble indecent lusts and passions, to enslave the flesh to the spirit, to dominate their will and to be above all temptation.
Powers filled with Divine strength and immediately fulfill the will of the Almighty. They perform great miracles and send down the grace of miracles to the saints of God, so that they can work miracles, heal illnesses, foretell the future, help toiling and burdened people in carrying out the obedience entrusted to them, which explains their name Strengths, that is, they bear the infirmities of the weak. Strength strengthens every person in enduring sorrows and adversity.
Authorities have power over the devil, tame the power of demons, repel temptations brought upon people, do not allow demons to harm anyone to the extent they would like, confirm good ascetics in spiritual deeds and labors, protecting them so that they do not lose their spiritual kingdom. Those who struggle with passions and lusts are helped to drive away evil thoughts, the slander of the enemy and defeat the devil.
There are also three ranks in the lower hierarchy: Beginnings, Archangels and Angels.
Beginnings they rule over the lower Angels, directing them to fulfill Divine commands. They are also entrusted with the administration of the universe and the protection of all kingdoms and principalities, lands and all peoples, tribes and languages. s cov.
Archangels they are called great evangelists who preach good news about great and glorious things. Archangels reveal prophecies, knowledge and understanding of the will of God, strengthen the holy faith in people, enlightening their minds with the light of knowledge of the Holy Gospel and reveal the sacraments of pious faith.
Angels in the Heavenly hierarchy, lower than all ranks and closest to people. They proclaim the lesser mysteries and intentions of God and instruct people to live virtuously and righteously for God, protecting us from all evil. Angels are assigned to guard every Christian: they support us from falling, they raise the fallen and never leave us, even if we have sinned, for they are always ready to help us if we ourselves wish.
The words of the Savior provide us with convincing evidence about the Guardian Angels: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).
And not only every person has his own Guardian Angel, but also every family, every pious society, every state.
The Prophet Moses says to the people of Israel: “When the Most High gave inheritance to the nations and scattered the sons of men, then he set the boundaries of the nations according to the number of the Angels of God” (Deut. 32:8).
But all the highest heavenly ranks are called by a common name - Angels. Although they, by their position and by the grace given from God, have different names - Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Powers, Principalities, Archangels, Angels - however, they are all generally called Angels, for the word Angel is the name not of a being, but of a ministry , according to what is written: “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve...” (Heb. 1:14).
So, Angels, fulfilling the will of God, as ministering spirits, take an active, living part in the fate of humanity. Thus, Angels proclaim the will of God to people, monitor states (Deut. 32:8), protect human societies, regions, cities, monasteries, churches and govern various parts of the earth (Apoc. 7, 1; 14, 18), have influence on private affairs of people (Gen. 32, 1-2), encourage, preserve (Dan. b, 22), lead out of prison (Acts 5, 19-20; 12, 7-9), are present at the exodus of the soul from the body, They accompany her procession through the aerial ordeals, lift up our prayers to God and themselves intercede for us (Rev. 8:3). Angels come to serve people (Heb. 1:14), teach truth and virtue, enlighten the mind, strengthen the will and protect them from troubles in life (Gen. 16:7-12). You can read about the appearances of good Angels in the Holy Scriptures - Gen. 18, 2-22; 28, 12; Nav. 5, 13-14; OK. 1, 11, 26, 28; Matt. 2, 13; Acts 5, 19; 10, 31; 12, 7.
Over all nine Heavenly ranks of Angels, Archangel Michael was appointed by God as the official and leader, as a faithful servant of God.
Archangel Michael, during Satan’s disastrous fall into the pride, his retreat from God and fall into the abyss, having gathered all the ranks and armies of the Angels, loudly exclaimed: “Let us become kind before our Creator and let us not think about what is contrary to God! Let us remember what those who were created with us and hitherto, together with us, were partakers of the divine light suffered! Let us remember how, for the sake of pride, they suddenly fell from the light into darkness and fell from a height into the abyss! Let’s remember how the morning sunrise fell from the sky and was crushed on the earth.”
(Gregory Dvoeslov. “Interpretation of the Four Gospels”).
Speaking thus to the entire assembly of Angels, he, standing in front, began with the Seraphim and Cherubim and with all the Heavenly ranks to glorify the Most Holy, Consubstantial and Indivisible Trinity, the One God, singing in agreement the solemn song:
“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, fill heaven and earth with Your glory!”
Angels are usually depicted with two wings to signify the speed with which they strive to carry out the commands of God in different parts of the universe.
The names of the Archangels are known from the Holy Scriptures. Each of them has a special ministry.
In general, the life of any person is determined by the subtle world, having a huge impact 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 beings who help us in life, and there are those who try to lead us astray and sometimes even destroy us.
Heavenly Angels
To see all 9 ranks of angels, you should pay attention to Botticini’s “Assumption”. There are three triads of angels on it. Before creating our world, visible and physical, God created heavenly, spiritual forces and called them angels. It was they who began to play a mediating role between the Creator and people. The translation of this word from Hebrew literally sounds like “messenger”, from Greek - “messenger”.
Angels are called ethereal beings who have free will and great power. According to information from the Old and New Testaments, in the Angelic Hierarchy there are certain angelic ranks, the so-called steps. Most Jewish and Christian theologians were engaged in creating a unified classification of these ranks. At the moment, the most widespread is the angelic hierarchy, which was created in the fifth century and called the “nine ranks of Angels.”
Nine ranks
From this system it follows that there are three triads. The first, or highest, included the Seraphim and Cherubim, as well as the Thrones. The middle triad includes the angelic orders of Dominion, Strength and Authority. And in the lowest caste of ranks are the Principalities, Archangels and Angels.
Seraphim
It is believed that it is the Seraphim who are closest to God who can be called those who occupy the highest angelic rank. It is written about them in the Bible that the prophet Isaiah witnessed their arrival. He compared them to fiery figures, so the translation of this word from Hebrew means “Flaming.”
Cherubim
It is this caste that follows the Seraphim in the angelic hierarchy. Their main purpose is to intercede for the human race and pray for souls before God. In addition, it is believed that they serve as a memory and are guards of the Heavenly Book of Knowledge. The knowledge of the Cherubim extends to everything that a created being can know. Translated from Hebrew, cherub means intercessor.
In their power are the mysteries of God and the depth of his wisdom. It is believed that this particular caste of angels is the most enlightened among all. It is their responsibility to open up in man the knowledge and vision of God. Seraphim and Cherubim, along with the third representatives of the first triad, interact with people.
Thrones
Their position is before the seated God. They are called God-bearing, but not in the literal sense of the word, but because of the goodness within them and because they faithfully serve the Son of God. In addition, evolutionary information is hidden in them. Basically, it is they who carry out God's justice and help earthly authorities judge their people fairly.
According to the medieval mystic Jan van Ruijsbroeck, representatives of the highest triad under no circumstances interfere in human conflicts. But at the same time, they are close to people in moments of insight, love for God and knowledge of the world. It is believed that they are capable of bringing the highest love into the hearts of people.
Dominations
The angelic ranks of the second triad begin with the Dominions. The fifth rank of angels, the Dominions, have free will, which ensures the daily functioning of the Universe. In addition, they control the angels who are lower in the hierarchy. Because they are completely free, their love for the Creator is impartial and sincere. It is they who give strength to earthly rulers and managers so that they act wisely and fairly when owning lands and governing people. In addition, they are able to teach how to control feelings, protecting them from unnecessary impulses of passion and lust, and enslaving the flesh to the spirit, so that it is possible to control one’s will and not succumb to temptations of various kinds.
Powers
This caste of angels is filled with Divine strength; they have the power to carry out the instant will of God, showing his strength and power. They are the ones who work God’s miracles and are able to give a person grace, with the help of which he can see what is coming or heal earthly diseases.
They are able to strengthen a person’s patience, remove his sorrow, strengthen his spirit and give him courage so that he can cope with all life’s hardships and problems.
Authorities
It is the responsibility of the Authority to maintain the keys to the devil's cage and restrain his hierarchy. They are able to tame demons, repel attacks on the human race, and deliver from demonic temptation. Also, their responsibilities include affirming good people for their spiritual deeds and works, 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 ward off a person’s enemies and help defeat the devil within themselves. If we consider the personal level, then angels help a person during the battle of good and evil. And when a person dies, they accompany his soul and help him not to go astray.
Beginnings
These include entire legions of angels whose purpose is to protect religion. Their name is due to the fact that they guide the lower angelic ranks, it is they who help them to do actions pleasing to God. In addition, their mission is to rule the universe and protect everything that God has created. According to some reports, every nation and every ruler has its own angel, called upon to protect it from evil. The Prophet Daniel said that the Angels of the Persian and Judean kingdoms ensure that all rulers who are enthroned do not strive for enrichment and glory, but to spread and increase the glory of God, so that they benefit their people by serving their needs.
Archangels
The Archangel is the great evangelist. Its main mission is the discovery of prophecies, understanding and knowledge of the will of the Creator. They receive this knowledge from higher ranks in order to convey it to lower ranks, who will subsequently convey it to people. According to Saint Gregory Dvoeslov, the purpose of angels is to strengthen faith in man and discover its sacraments. The archangels, whose names can be found in the Bible, are the ones most known to man.
Angels
This is the lowest rank in the hierarchy of heaven and the closest creature to humans. They guide people on the path, help them in everyday life not to leave their path. Every believer has his own guardian angel. They support every virtuous person from falling, they try to raise everyone who has fallen spiritually, no matter how sinful he is. They are always ready to help a person, the main thing is that he himself desires this help.
It is believed that a person receives his Guardian Angel after the rite of Baptism. He is obliged to protect his subordinate from misfortunes, troubles and help him throughout his life. If a person is threatened by dark forces, he needs to pray to the Guardian Angel, and he will help fight them. It is believed that depending on a person’s mission on earth, he may be associated with not one, but several angels. Depending on how a person lives and how spiritually developed he is, not only lower ranks, but also Archangels, whose names most people know, can work with him. It is worth remembering that Satan will not stop and will always tempt people, so the Angels will always be with them in difficult times. Only by living according to the laws of God and developing spiritually can one learn all the mysteries of religion. This is, in principle, all the information that relates to the ranks of Heaven.
According to Orthodox doctrine, God created not only the visible world, but also the invisible, spiritual world. What do we know about the world of “Heavenly Powers”?
Angel (Greek messenger, messenger) - a spiritual, invisible being,
which, like man, was created by God and has a personal existence.
In the relationship between man and God, angels perform a service role: they proclaim the will of God to people.
According to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, all angels (Heavenly Powers) are divided into three faces. In turn, each face is divided into three more. This division is based on two principles: the degree of closeness to God and the type of service.
First face
Seraphim
Translation:
Hebrew, gr.-
burning, fiery, flaming;
Mention: 6
:2
Is
Cherubim
Translation:Six-winged angels, closest to God. They got their name from the fiery love they have for their Creator.
Hebrew
burning, fiery, flaming;kerubim - minds, disseminators of knowledge and wisdom;25
:18–20;
37
Ref.9
:5
:7–9, etc.; EUR
Four-winged and four-faced angels. Their main ministry is
Thrones
burning, fiery, flaming; education.1 Iez1 :16
:18; Number
Figuratively, the Lord God sits on them, as on a throne, and executes
Your own court.
As the Church teaches, the degree of holiness and closeness of these ranks to God is so high that no one else can achieve it. As soon as the Mother of God (being human) was worthy of this glory, as the Church sings about it: “The most honorable Cherub and the most Glorious without comparison is the Seraphim.”
Dominations
burning, fiery, flaming; Second face1 Number1 :21
:16; Eph
They are invisible mentors of the earthly ones appointed by God
Powers
burning, fiery, flaming; authorities, rulers. They also help a person to tame his passions and control them.8 Rome1 :21
:38; Eph
Authorities
burning, fiery, flaming; Second face1 Number1 :21
They have the power to tame the power of fallen angels, and also command the elements.
Third face
Principalities (Beginnings)
burning, fiery, flaming; Second face1 Number1 :21
They are endowed with the right to command the laws of the universe, nature, and also protect peoples and countries.
Archangels
burning, fiery, flaming; Open12 :7 etc.
Chiefs of the angels. Teachers and heralds of God's will for
human beings, transmitters of Revelation.
A special place in the angelic hierarchy is occupied by the archangels, the archangels of the Heavenly Hosts. These include the archangels Michael and Gabriel and five more archangels - Jeremiel, Raphael, Uriel, Salafiel, Egudiel, Barachiel. Archangel Michael is considered the supreme archangel, the patron saint of the entire heavenly army.
Angels
burning, fiery, flaming; Open1 :7 etc.
They are closest to man, they are conductors of the will of God, as well as guardians and protectors. In this case, the word angel denotes precisely the rank of the Heavenly Forces.
In a broader sense, this word refers to a representative of any rank in general, without specifics.
Guardian angel
An angel who is invisibly assigned to a specific person during baptism in order to pray for him before God and protect him from evil.
material in A3 format as a teaching aid.
In general, the life of any person is determined by the subtle world, having a huge impact 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 beings who help us in life, and there are those who try to lead us astray and sometimes even destroy us.
To see all 9 ranks of angels, you should pay attention to Botticini’s “Assumption”. There are three triads of angels on it. Before creating our world, visible and physical, God created heavenly, spiritual forces and called them angels. It was they who began to play a mediating role between the Creator and people. The literal translation of this word from Hebrew sounds like “messenger”, from Greek - “messenger”.
Angels are called ethereal beings who have 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 creating a unified classification of these ranks. At the moment, the most widespread angelic hierarchy is Dionysius the Areopagite, which was created in the fifth century and called the “nine ranks of Angels.”
Nine ranks
From this system it follows that there are three triads. The first, or highest, included the Seraphim and Cherubim, as well as the Thrones. The middle triad includes the angelic orders of Dominion, Strength and Authority. And in the lowest caste of ranks are the Principalities, Archangels and Angels.
Seraphim
It is believed that the six-winged Seraphim are closest to God. It is the Seraphim who can be called those who occupy the highest angelic rank. It is written about them in the Bible that the prophet Isaiah witnessed their arrival. He compared them to fiery figures, so the translation of this word from Hebrew means “Flaming.”
Cherubim
It is this caste that follows the Seraphim in the angelic hierarchy. Their main purpose is to intercede for the human race and pray for souls before God. In addition, it is believed that they serve as a memory and are guards of the Heavenly Book of Knowledge. The knowledge of the Cherubim extends to everything that a created being can know. Translated from Hebrew, cherub means intercessor.
In their power are the mysteries of God and the depth of his wisdom. It is believed that this particular caste of angels is the most enlightened among all. It is their responsibility to open up in man the knowledge and vision of God. Seraphim and Cherubim, along with the third representatives of the first triad, interact with people.
Thrones
Their position is before the seated God. They are called God-bearing, but not in the literal sense of the word, but because of the goodness within them and because they faithfully serve the Son of God. In addition, evolutionary information is hidden in them. Basically, it is they who carry out God's justice and help earthly authorities judge their people fairly.
According to the medieval mystic Jan van Ruijsbroeck, representatives of the highest triad under no circumstances interfere in human conflicts. But at the same time, they are close to people in moments of insight, love for God and knowledge of the world. It is believed that they are capable of bringing the highest love into the hearts of people.
Dominations
The angelic ranks of the second triad begin with the Dominions. The fifth rank of angels, the Dominions, have free will, which ensures the daily functioning of the Universe. In addition, they control the angels who are lower in the hierarchy. Because they are completely free, their love for the Creator is impartial and sincere. It is they who give strength to earthly rulers and managers so that they act wisely and fairly when owning lands and governing people. In addition, they are able to teach how to control feelings, protecting them from unnecessary impulses of passion and lust, and enslaving the flesh to the spirit, so that it is possible to control one’s will and not succumb to temptations of various kinds.
Powers
This caste of angels is filled with Divine strength; they have the power to carry out the instant will of God, showing his strength and power. They are the ones who work God’s miracles and are able to give a person grace, with the help of which he can see what is coming or heal earthly diseases.
They are able to strengthen a person’s patience, remove his sorrow, strengthen his spirit and give him courage so that he can cope with all life’s hardships and problems.
Authorities
The Authority's responsibilities include maintaining the keys to the Devil's cage and restraining his hierarchy. They are able to tame demons, repel attacks on the human race, and deliver from demonic temptation. Also, their responsibilities include affirming good people for their spiritual deeds and works, protecting them and preserving their right to the kingdom of God. They are the ones who help drive away all evil thoughts, passions and lust, and also ward off a person’s enemies and help defeat the Devil within themselves. If we consider the personal level, then the mission of these angels is to help a person during the battle of good and evil. And when a person dies, they accompany his soul and help him not to go astray.
Beginnings
These include entire legions of angels whose purpose is to protect religion. Their name is due to the fact that they guide the lower angelic ranks, it is they who help them to do actions pleasing to God. In addition, their mission is to rule the universe and protect everything that God has created. According to some reports, every nation and every ruler has its own angel, called upon to protect it from evil. The Prophet Daniel said that the Angels of the Persian and Judean kingdoms ensure that all rulers who are enthroned do not strive for enrichment and glory, but to spread and increase the glory of God, so that they benefit their people by serving their needs.
Archangels
The Archangel is the great evangelist. Its main mission is the discovery of prophecies, understanding and knowledge of the will of the Creator. They receive this knowledge from higher ranks in order to convey it to lower ranks, who will subsequently convey it to people. According to Saint Gregory Dvoeslov, the purpose of angels is to strengthen faith in man and discover its sacraments. The archangels, whose names can be found in the Bible, are the ones most known to man.
Angels
This is the lowest rank in the hierarchy of heaven and the closest creature to humans. They guide people on the path, help them in everyday life not to leave their path. Every believer has his own guardian angel. They support every virtuous person from falling, they try to raise everyone who has fallen spiritually, no matter how sinful he is. They are always ready to help a person, the main thing is that he himself desires this help.
It is believed that a person receives his Guardian Angel after the rite of Baptism. He is obliged to protect his subordinate from misfortunes, troubles and help him throughout his life. If a person is threatened by dark forces, he needs to pray to the Guardian Angel, and he will help fight them. It is believed that depending on a person’s mission on earth, he may be associated with not one, but several angels. Depending on how a person lives and how spiritually developed he is, not only lower ranks, but also Archangels, whose names most people know, can work with him. It is worth remembering that Satan will not stop and will always tempt people, so the Angels will always be with them in difficult times. Only by living according to the laws of God and developing spiritually can one learn all the mysteries of religion. This is, in principle, all the information that relates to the ranks of Heaven.
Classification of angelic ranks according to the svmch. Dionysius the Areopagite
| Chin | Description | Celebration | In Holy Scripture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seraphim | Translated as “flaming”, they encourage the love of God; (depicted with six wings). | ||
| Cherubim | “Much understanding”, through them enlightenment is sent down; (depicted with four wings). | ||
| Thrones | Through them the justice of God is predominantly manifested; (image in the form of wheels with many eyes on the rims). | ||
| Authorities | They tame the power of demons and repel temptations. | ||
| Dominations | They send down power to the wise management of earthly authorities. | ||
| Powers | Strengthen people, give the grace of miracles to the saints of God | ||
| Beginnings | They control the universe, the laws of nature; protect peoples and countries. | ||
| Archangels | They are conductors of God’s revelation (for more details, see the table below). | ; | |
| Angels | Placed for the safekeeping of every Christian. | ; |
Archangels
| Michael | Heb. “who is like God”; Archangel (military leader); in the icon he tramples the devil underfoot, in his left hand he holds a green date branch, in his right hand a spear with a white banner (sometimes a flaming sword), on which a scarlet cross is inscribed. Placed by God over all nine angelic ranks. | ; | |
| Gabriel | "The Power of God"; proclaims to people the great deeds of God; he is depicted with a branch of paradise that he brought to the Blessed Virgin, or with a luminous lantern in his right hand and a jasper mirror in his left. | ; ; | ; |
| Rafail | "Healing of God"; healer, doctor of God; is depicted holding a vessel with healing potions and leading Tobias with his right hand, carrying a fish. | ||
| Uriel | "Light, fire of God"; enlightens people and inflames their hearts with love for God; is depicted holding a naked sword in his right hand at chest level, and a fiery flame in his lowered left hand. | ||
| Salafiel | "God's Prayer Book"; depicted with his hands folded in prayer on his chest. | ||
| Yehudiel | "Glorifying God"; patron of monks and workers for the glory of God; image holding a golden crown in his right hand, and in his left a scourge of three black ropes with three ends (reward for saints and reward for sinners). | Mentioned only in | |
| Barachiel | "God's Blessing"; giver of blessings and mercy of God; image Carrying white roses on their chests, as a harbinger of bliss in the Kingdom of Heaven, or roses on their clothes. | Mentioned only in | |
| Jeremiel | "The Height of God"; depicted holding scales in his hand. |
November was chosen for the Feast of the Angels because it is the ninth from March, which was once the beginning of the year, and the number nine corresponds to the nine ranks of angels.
Angels on icons are a set of symbols that convey to us not their appearance, but the idea of angels as messengers of God, because Angels do not have material flesh:
- Wings- a symbol of speed and all penetration;
- Staff- symbol of messengership;
- Mirror(a sphere in the hand with the image of a cross or an abbreviation of the name of the Savior) - a symbol of the gift of foresight that God endowed the Angels with;
- Toroki(developing golden “ribbons” in the hair) - a symbol of special hearing of God and obedience to His will;
- "Eye" in the forehead– a symbol of all-vision;
- The appearance of a beautiful youth- a symbol of perfection. In the Holy Scriptures, Angels sent by God, as a rule, appeared to chosen people in the form of beautiful, radiant young men in white vestments.