Ranks of heavenly powers. Angels

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

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

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

This is a wonderful plot for a novel, but it is not suitable for the smooth functioning of the Universe, in which the element of chaos is people, not angels. Just because some men are unable to control their lust does not mean that every other male species in the universe has the same problems. *

You probably think that all this does not help us understand the hierarchy of angels. But perhaps you are wrong. Understanding our own failures helps us realize that these systems may also have problems. This is good. We can work with this and get closer to the more important material. First of all, we must get rid of the feeling that we are not good enough to communicate with the angels.

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

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

Angels of the first triad

Seraphim Cherubim. Thrones

Angels of the second triad

Dominance of the Power of Power

Angels of the third triad

Beginnings Archangels Angels

Angels of the first triad

The first triad of angels is responsible for the Universe and the manifestations of the divine in it, acting on the highest astral level. Some consider them angels of pure contemplation, but to me contemplation means "sit back and think about things." Perhaps this means that they express their energy through pure thought. I like this idea better. These angels have the deepest knowledge about the deity, its internal activities and manifestations. The angels of the first triad are seraphim, cherubim and thrones.

Seraphim

Seraphim are closest to the deity, they protect, guard and glorify him and are considered angels of pure love, light and fire. They provide calm, protect the deity from the penetration of negative energy and help create and carry positive energy through all orders of angels and into the physical worlds. They surround the deity in order to ensure its continuous existence and give this energy to us to preserve our lives. Presumably, above these angels there are four chiefs, corresponding to the four winds of the Earth, each of which beats the air with six wings. The ruler of the seraphim is considered to be Joel, Metatron or Michael. Other angels named in this order are Seraphiel, Uriel, Kemuel and Nathanael. As you study and work with the Nine Orders of Angels, you will see that several angels are assigned to different orders, moving up and down the heavenly “stairs” depending on the need for them in the Universe. This especially applies to the four archangels (Michael, Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel).

Seraphim (beings of pure light) shine so brightly that a mortal could die of fright upon seeing a seraphim in all its brilliance. Only the Lord, the Mother of God and Michael are capable of fully interacting with these beings. Some say their faces are like lightning and their clothes are as dazzling as arctic ice. They never stop moving and acting.

People who practice magic can access seraphim because we are great at praying and summoning power. True, a friend once said to me: “Would you like to rise to the level of those little old ladies sitting in the back rows of the church discussing their garden beds? They have more magic than many boastful adepts.” I have no doubt about it.

The word "seraphim" means "ardor." In other words, these angels work with overwhelming divine love and compassion. You can’t just approach a seraphim on the astral level and say, “How are you?” Mortals meet with them only by invitation. I don't mean to say that seraphim don't interact with people at all. You can contact them and demand their help in magical actions, but you are unlikely to ever see them. If your guardian angel is a Seraphim, you may be drawn into some kind of change in the world or human consciousness at a time when you need their inspiration, divine love and power to complete your mission.

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

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

Cherubim

Cherubim are the guardians of light and stars. They also create and conduct positive energy from the deity, and their form is perfect. They are supposed to shine brighter than all other angels. These creatures are Assyrian or Akkadian in origin, and their name means “promoting reconciliation.” They are powerful spirits of knowledge and boundless love. Interestingly, in human consciousness they exist as half-humans and half-animals. Ancient statues that were placed in front of temples to protect the holy land depict them with human faces and the bodies of bulls or lions. Initially, they were not angels at all, but over time they made their way into the heavenly hierarchy. Maybe this is an ancient race that now functions not on the physical, but on the astral level? Mortals view cherubs as a hybrid of "beauty and the beast." Cherubim watch over all galaxies, collecting and distributing energy where it is needed, and also guard the temples of any religion, from architectural masterpieces to squalid huts.

Cherubim can also serve as personal guards, fighting with flaming swords when necessary. Sometimes cherubs are depicted in a more fearsome form with four faces and four wings, this must be their mystical representation, associating cherubs with the four winds. They are both sacred animals and chariots of the deity. Their names are Ophaniel, Rikbiel, Cherubiel, Raphael, Gabriel, Uriel and Zophiel. It is difficult to imagine why in art these strong angels turned into dwarfs with childish faces. I prefer to stick to the idea of ​​creatures with lion faces and human bodies. Of course, you can imagine them differently.

In magic, when you seek protection, wisdom and knowledge, turn to the cherubs. Many Egyptian deities, especially Sekhmet, Baet and Anubis, may have been cherubs.

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

Thrones

Thrones are assigned to planets, so most of the planetary angels that are mentioned in this book belong to the category of thrones. They create, conduct and collect incoming and outgoing positive energy. The Thrones are called "many-eyed" and are something of a divine private eye as well as a teacher of obedience. The name "thrones" comes from the idea that all the power of the deity rests on their strong shoulders. Justice and the administration of justice are very important to them. They can highlight injustice with their fire and send healing energy to any victim. Once again, the question is who is leading whom. The Prince of Thrones must be Orithiel, Zadkiel or Zaphkiel. Other names are given - Razzil and Jophiel. The Thrones are very interested in the affairs of mortals, although they may channel energy through your guardian angel rather than interact directly with you.

In magick, invoke thrones to help facilitate relationships with groups of people or between two individuals. Contact the thrones if you are in search of stability, as well as for any problems related to planets or planetary energies. To invoke thrones, light a white candle for the deity and a green one for the thrones.

Angels of the second triad

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

Dominations

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

In magic, all questions of leadership fall under the control of dominions. They embody the law of cause and effect and precision in work. Dominations give a person the gift of a “born leader” and make sure that his subordinates are healthy and happy. They disapprove of corrupt governments, politicians, church and political leaders who put personal interests above public interests. If you want to achieve divine wisdom, turn to the dominions. They are excellent mediators and arbitrators. If you are starting an important project or something has stalled in your current affairs, turn to the dominions. To invoke the dominions, light a white candle for the deity and a pink candle for the dominions.

Powers

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

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

Authorities

The main work of the authorities is to move spiritual energy to the level of the earth and collective human consciousness. Known as "miracle angels", they are courteous and courageous. In the planetary system of the Egyptians and alchemists, the head of the authorities was Pi-Re. Among the ruling princes of this degree are Michael, Raphael, Barviel, Haniel, Gamaliel, Tarshish, Peliel, Sabriel, Uzziel.
Authorities are especially supportive of those who try to achieve more than others expect of them. They love enterprising and successful positive people who try to enlighten and educate others and lead them to achieve harmony.

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

Angels of the third triad

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

Beginnings

Principalities are the guardians of large structures such as continents, countries, cities, and large human organizations (such as the UN). They contribute to global reforms. You'll find them in boardrooms and brokerage houses, even in swimming pools—anywhere people gather in groups to study, make decisions, or just have fun. They also create and transmit positive energies from the physical to the divine and back again. Patrons of religion and politics, they watch over the leaders of humanity to help them make just decisions. The main ruling angels of this degree are Rekuil, Anael, Kerviel and Nisroc. According to Egyptian beliefs, the ruler among them is Surot.

With the help of magic, you can call upon these angels in cases of discrimination, destruction of animals or (God forbid!) genocide, violation of laws by those who control anything - from a country to a company, or in the event that you do not have enough strength to make the necessary decisions regarding large groups of people. The highest priority to begin with is human rights and economic reform. To invoke the beginnings, light a white candle for the deity and a red one for the beginnings.

Archangels

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

Angels

Angels are beings assigned to a specific person. They are often called guardian angels. They relate to matters of human and physical manifestation and transmit energies from us to the divine and from the divine to us. Our guardian angels are assigned to us for the duration of all earthly incarnations. They are our best friends and our closest companions, accompanying us from the moment of our birth and helping us in the transition through death. They protect us in trouble, help us adapt to the world and implement the divine plan laid within us, calling on other forces of the Nine Orders of Angels when we need them. However, much of above they will do only at our request. Therefore, we must learn to talk about our needs and concerns. We will return to guardian angels in Chapter 7, which will focus solely on them.
Our guardian angels are always in contact with all the angels of the Nine Orders. They send messages instantly, and if we ask them for help, they will convey our request to the deity and other angels. Once again, I must remind you that you are never alone. Although angels often act instantly, especially if other people are involved in your problem, sometimes their action may slow down or go differently than you expected. When turning to the angels for help, make sure that your thoughts are pure and ask them to tell you the most acceptable solution for everyone or a good attitude towards you. But do not think that the angel himself will solve all your problems. It will only open up new possibilities and paths for you that you could not discover on your own.
Guardian angels can come from any of the Nine ranks of angels. Each angel has its own function. None of them are better or more important than the others. To summon your guardian angel, light a candle of your favorite color. Place a white candle nearby for the deity.

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

We can magically interact with any angel from the Nine Orders of Angels. For example, if you want to heal the planet, you must find a special rank responsible for this. All angels are attuned to the orders of the Holy Mother and Holy Father. Those who open their hearts to the feminine deity can make major changes in our society. Our Lady is almost certainly the queen of angels, and if you need her, all you have to do is call upon her.

When interacting with angels, our only weak point is doubt and fear. By doubting the power of angels to help us, we break our connection with them. Unbelief or fear puts a barrier between us and the angels.

Spell for the nine ranks

Blazing Seraphim, I call upon you.
Draw a circle, bring me love.
Mighty cherub, guard my gates,
Take away sadness and hatred from me.
Thrones, stand strong, make me resolute,
Help me to stay steady on land and sea.
I call upon the dominions, whose power is unquestionable,
That I be honest in everything I do.
Forces create circles of protection,
Help me, weather and storm.
Miraculous powers hover nearby,
They give me the energy of the elements.
The beginnings bring global changes,
Blessing the world and every newborn.
Glorious archangels show me the way,
Leading to peace and harmony every day.
Guardian angel, powerful deity,
Bless me with your guiding light.

Appeal to the nine orders of angels

The fact that you chose this book and are thinking about how to do magic with angels makes you a special person. You're probably one in a thousand. Only a few have the courage to practice magic with angels, because it means you have to live honestly, which is not always easy to do. Some believe that angels do not correspond to their religious beliefs. I have come to the conclusion that angels correspond to everything at any time and in any place. They are not as picky as we are.

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

Looking at people, I “felt” what bothered them most. Some people looked around helplessly as if they were alone in the world, and I really wanted to tell them that they weren't. Others were busy thinking about their business, family, friends, etc. At first glance, I recognized those who were dishonest or those who felt empty in life, despite their expensive clothes and professional makeup. I felt like I had entered the twilight zone.

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

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

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

Make sure you will not be disturbed during this ritual. During your conversation with the angels, you should not be interrupted by telephone calls, television, guests or family members.

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

I light this candle for the Lord.
I light this candle for the Virgin Mary.

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

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

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

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

Light the archangel candle and say the following:

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

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

Move on to the other ranks, each time to one of them, lighting a candle, calling the angels, saying an oath. Meditate on every order.

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

When you are finished, turn to the angels you called. The appeal can be big or small - it doesn't matter.

Say the message loudly and firmly.

Take a deep breath again and relax. Thank the angels for their response and help to you. If you. o draw a magic circle, open it.

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

Queen of Angels (story of Saint Kztrin Labour)

I am not a Catholic and never have been, but when I first read this story, my heart started beating faster and my body got goosebumps. I believe there is no better example to demonstrate the power and existence of the Queen of Angels, the entity we Wiccans know as the Mistress.

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

After her first visit, Catherine devoted herself to deep solitude and prayer for many months. Every morning Catherine returned to the chapel in the hope of seeing the Queen of Angels again. And one fine morning the queen returned to the chapel, standing over the ball bathed in bright light, and dressed in sunlight. Rings sparkled on each of her fingers. When she opened her palms, brightly burning rays of fire burst out of them and ignited the ball. The angels emitted a flickering light as the queen spoke the following words:

The sphere you see represents planet Earth. The rays that escape from my hands symbolize the grace given to me to be passed on to those of our children who ask me for it.

Precious stones from which rays do not come out are favors that my children forgot to ask for. The light of angels symbolizes their power and presence on earth. Let me help you, my children. Seek the light of the angels.

Catherine's vision intensified. The rays from the queen's hands lit fire in all parts of the ball. The golden door to the Land of Summer wavered in an oval around the vision. The Queen of Angels said:

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

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

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

At home, I placed them on my angel altar (see chapter 2) and cleansed, blessed, and energized the items. There is a prayer on the back of the card. I created my own spell to suit my personal spiritual needs:

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

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

Catholics have a prayer that they use in all difficulties. I'll put it here and then we'll rewrite it a little to fit alternative religious traditions. Since all gods are one god, and all goddesses are one goddess, I don't think Our Lady will mind. Legend says that this prayer was first read by the angel Gabriel.
O Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with You. Blessed are You among women, and blessed is the fruit of Your womb. Holy Mary, Mother

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

If you follow an alternative religion, you could say it like this:
O Lady of grace, God is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Spouse and Son. Holy Goddess, Mother of the Earth, perform the sacrament for your children, now and in our time of need. Let it be so.

Queen of Angels and the Magic Circle

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

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

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

The first thing I did was take a shower and visualize how the water cleanses both my physical body and my soul. Then I took a glass of cold water (any drink will do) and imagined that with each sip I was filling my body with angelic and universal energies. Then I took a deep breath, imagining the healing energy entering my body. I exhaled, throwing away all doubts, fears or thoughts of unhappiness.

I summoned the Lady with the help of Edgar Allan Poe's poem:

In the morning, at noon, at dusk
Lady, do you hear my hymn:
In joy and sorrow, in health and sickness,
Mother goddess, be with me.
When the bright hours fly by
And there's not a cloud in the sky
My soul, no matter how idle it may be,
Your mercy leads to you.
Now that the storms of fate
They covered my present and future with darkness,
Let my hope be in you
Will make my future shine.

Then I recited Gabriel’s prayer several times, turning it into a power-enhancing mantra:

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

The problem was resolved within 24 hours.

Other hierarchies

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

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, subdue indecent lusts and passions, enslave the flesh to the spirit, dominate their will and 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 the heights 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.

The celebration of the Council of the Archangel Michael of God and other disembodied Heavenly Powers was established at the beginning of the 4th century at the Local Council of Laodicea, which took place several years before the First Ecumenical Council. The Council of Laodicea, by its 35th canon, condemned and rejected the heretical worship of angels as creators and rulers of the world and approved their Orthodox veneration. The holiday is celebrated in November - the ninth month from March (with which the year began in ancient times) - in accordance with the number of the 9 ranks of Angels. The eighth day of the month points to the future Council of all the Heavenly Powers on the day of the Last Judgment of God, which the holy fathers call the “eighth day,” for after this age, which runs in weeks of days, the “eighth day” will come, and then “the Son of Man will come in His Glory.” and all the holy angels with Him” (Matthew 25:31).

The Angelic ranks are divided into three hierarchies - highest, middle and lowest. Each hierarchy consists of three ranks. The highest hierarchy includes: Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. Closest to all the Holy Trinity are the six-winged Seraphim (Flaming, Fiery) (Isa. 6: 2). They burn with love for God and encourage others to do so.

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

Behind the Cherubim come the God-bearing Ones by grace given to them for service, the Thrones (Col. 1:16), mysteriously and incomprehensibly bearing God. They serve God's justice.

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

Dominions (Col. 1:16) rule over the subsequent ranks of Angels. They instruct God-appointed earthly rulers in wise governance. Dominions teach one to control one's feelings, tame sinful lusts, enslave the flesh to the spirit, dominate one's will, and overcome temptations.

The powers (1 Pet. 3:22) fulfill the will of God. They work miracles and send down the grace of miracles and clairvoyance to the saints of God. The forces help people to obey, strengthen them in patience, and bestow spiritual strength and courage.

The authorities (1 Pet. 3:22; Col. 1:16) have the power to tame the power of the devil. They ward off demonic temptations from people, confirm ascetics, protect them, and help people in the fight against evil thoughts.

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

The principalities (Col. 1:16) rule over the lower angels, directing them to fulfill Divine commands. They are entrusted with managing the universe, protecting countries, peoples, tribes. They began to instruct people to give everyone the honor due to their rank. They teach superiors to perform official duties not for the sake of personal glory and benefits, but for the sake of the honor of God and the benefit of their neighbors.

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

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

All ranks of the Heavenly Forces bear the general name of Angels - in essence of their service. The Lord reveals His will to the highest Angels, and they, in turn, enlighten the rest.

Over all nine ranks, the Lord placed the holy Archangel Michael (his name translated from Hebrew as “who is like God”) - a faithful servant of God, for he cast down from Heaven the proud star with other fallen spirits. And to the rest of the Angelic Powers he exclaimed: “Let us take notice! Let us become good before our Creator and not think anything displeasing to God!” According to Church tradition, recorded in the service of Archangel Michael, he took part in many Old Testament events. During the Israelites' exit from Egypt, he led them in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Through him the Power of the Lord appeared, destroying the Egyptians and Pharaoh who were pursuing the Israelites. Archangel Michael protected Israel in all disasters.

He appeared to Joshua and revealed the will of the Lord to take Jericho (Joshua 5: 13 - 16). The power of the great Archangel of God appeared in the destruction of 185 thousand soldiers of the Assyrian king Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:35), in the defeat of the wicked leader of Antiochus Iliodor and in protecting from the fire the three holy youths - Ananias, Azariah and Mishael, who were thrown into the oven to be burned for refusal bow to the idol. (Dan. 3, 92 - 95).

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

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

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

Since ancient times, Archangel Michael has been glorified for his miracles in Rus'. In the Volokolamsk Patericon, the story of the Venerable Paphnutius Borovsky from the words of the Tatar Baskaks about the miraculous salvation of Novgorod the Great is given: “And since Veliky Novgrad was never taken from the Hagarians ... sometimes, by God's permission, it was a sin for our sake, the godless Hagaryan king Batu captured the Rosi land and burned and went to the New City and God and the Most Pure Mother of God covered it with the appearance of Michael the Archangel, who forbade him to go to it. He went to the Lithuanian cities and came to Kyiv and saw the great Archangel Michael written above the doors of the stone church and the prince pointed with his finger: “Forbid me from going to Veliky Novgorod.”

Representations for Russian cities of the Most Holy Queen of Heaven were always carried out by Her appearances with the Heavenly Host, under the leadership of the Archangel. Grateful Rus' sang the Most Pure Mother of God and Archangel Michael in church hymns. Many monasteries, cathedrals, palace and town churches are dedicated to the Archangel. In ancient Kyiv, immediately after the adoption of Christianity, the Archangel Cathedral was erected and a monastery was established. There are Archangel Cathedrals in Smolensk, Nizhny Novgorod, Staritsa, a monastery in Veliky Ustyug (beginning of the 13th century), and a cathedral in Sviyazhsk. There was no city in Rus' where there was not a temple or chapel dedicated to the Archangel Michael. One of the most important churches in the city of Moscow - the tomb temple in the Kremlin - is dedicated to him. The icons of the Chief of the Supreme Powers and his Cathedral are numerous and beautiful. One of them - the icon “Blessed Host” - was painted for the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, where the holy warriors - the Russian princes - are depicted under the leadership of the Archangel Michael.

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

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

Michael - tramples the devil 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.

Gabriel - 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.

Raphael holds a vessel with healing potions in his left hand, and with his right he leads Tobiah, who is carrying a fish.

Uriel - in his raised right hand - a naked sword at chest level, in his lowered left hand - a “flame of fire”.

Selafiel - in a prayer position, looking down, hands folded on his chest.

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

Barachiel - there are many pink flowers on his clothes.

Jeremiel holds scales in his hand.

Everything in the world is subject to strict laws and hierarchy. Without order, cities would not have arisen and civilization would not have developed. But the hierarchy can be traced not only in the material plane of existence, but also in the spiritual or, in other words, the angelic world.

The angels who helped God in his affairs and became guides of His will were no exception. The structure of the angelic hierarchy is clearly divided into three spheres, each of which has its own ranks of angels.

Every religion has its own angels, archangels and other heavenly powers, but, of course, they are called differently.

Angels of Christianity

Modern Angelology began to take shape in the initial stages of the development of Christianity. The theologians of that time took seriously the issue of creating diagrams of the hierarchies of these beings. Moreover, each scheme is divided into several levels, which later became known as choirs.

Of course, Christian theologians did not come up with all this out of their heads. They used the Old and New Testaments as a source of information. This is confirmed by the fact that in Judaism (from which many traditions followed into Christianity) there are no such angelic ranks as an archangel or “principal”.

Since all these schemes were created at approximately the same time, they often overlap with each other. At the same time, it often happened that hierarchies and choirs were subject to a serious increase or, on the contrary, previously existing ranks were missing.

However, there have also been examples in history of schemes with radically different provisions. Moreover, there were hierarchies of the reverse execution scheme (from lowest to highest).

As an example, we can cite the hierarchy built and described by Athanasius the Great: he did not systematize all the information and simply listed all the available ranks.

Those who are now called cherubs are actually the image of the ancient Greek Cupid.

The first treatise that appeared, in which the work on structuring the gathering of angels was more or less thoroughly carried out, was called “Ariopagitiki”. It was this Talmud that theologians used in their works as a source of detailed descriptions of choirs.

This book belongs to the hand of Pseudo-Dionosius and in it the hierarchy of heavenly powers is shown in ascending order. Where more and more important angels were placed above the rest.

In the treatise “On the Heavenly Hierarchy” there are two options for the arrangement of the hierarchy of heavenly powers. How this happened is explained in a later work - Schilios to the Areopagitics.

Another interesting scheme can be called the vision of hierarchy from Hildegard, which is described in the work “Know the ways of the light, that is, the Lord.” In this scheme there were nine choirs, which had their own symbolism:

1. Angels, together with archangels, corresponded to body and soul.
2. Seraphim and cherubim related to the love of God and knowledge.
3. The intermediate five symbolized human feelings (vision, touch, etc.).

Gradually, some of the schemes atrophied, others were degenerated. What theologians believed to be incorrect ideas about hierarchy were discarded. Ultimately, the Areopagite scheme became canonical. It had three spheres in each three groups.

The heavenly hierarchy in Orthodoxy differs little from that in Catholicism.

Spheres of angelic ranks and ranks of angels (descending)

First sphere:

• seraphim;
• cherubs;
• thrones.

Second sphere:

• domination;
• strength;
• authorities.

Third sphere:

• angels;
• archangels;
• started.

Of course, the above-described scheme has been refined and developed more than once. New interpretations of hierarchies often appeared.

Ranks of the First Sphere

All 9 ranks of angels in Orthodoxy have not deviated much from the Catholic canon:

Second Sphere

Third Sphere

The table described above fully answers the question of how many angelic ranks there are in the Christian religion. As you can see, there is nothing complicated in the hierarchy of heaven.

2. Second rank of angels - Cherubim

3. The third rank of angels - Thrones

4. The fourth rank of angels - Dominions

5. Fifth rank of angels - Powers

6. The sixth rank of angels - Authorities

7. The seventh rank of angels - Beginnings

8. Eighth rank - Archangels

9. The last, ninth rank of angels - Angels

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