My beloved spiritual children in Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
+
THE ANGELS AND HEAVENLY HOST ACCORDING TO THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH
"And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host" (St. Luke, Ch. 2)
Impious worship of the Angels spread throughout many lands in the days of the Holy Apostles. The Holy Apostle Paul sought to root it out when he wrote to the Colossians, saying, "Let no man beguile you in voluntary humility and worshipping of Angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head" (Col., Ch. 2), which is Christ; for there were at the time certain heretics who made a show of humility but proudly imagined that they were like the Angels because of their abstinence and the purity of their lives.
The local Council (Synod) of the holy Fathers that met at Laodicea denounced this heresy, but while it anathematized and rejected the heretical worship of Angels, it decreed lawful the pious and proper veneration of the Holy Angels as God's servants and guardians of the race of man, establishing the celebration of the festival held in their honor.
According to Saint Dionysius the Areopagite, the disciple of the holy Apostle Paul there are nine orders of Angels. Saint Paul was taken up to the third heaven, where he saw how the Holy Angels are divided into ranks, and he told his disciple of this. These nine ranks are grouped in three hierarchies of three orders: the highest, the middle, and the lowest.
The highest hierarchy of Angels, which is the nearest to the most Holy Trinity, consists of the Seraphim, the Cherubim, and the Thrones. Closest of all to the Creator and Fashioner stand the Seraphim, beloved of God, of whom Prophet Isaiah said, "Seraphs stood round about Him: each one had six wings". They are like fire because they stand nearest to Him of Whom it is written: "Our God is a consuming fire," and His "throne is like a fiery flame," and "The sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire." Since they stand before such fiery glory, the Seraphim are themselves fiery, as it is written: "He maketh His Angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire." They burn with love for God and kindle the love of God in others, as their name itself reveals, for in the Hebrew tongue "Seraphim" means "burning" or "consuming."
The divinely wise Cherubim stand next after the Seraphim in the presence of God the All-knowing, Who dwells in transcendent light. These Angels, who abide in God's ineffable Light, themselves ever shine more brilliantly than the orders below them with the Light of Righteousness and the knowledge of God and His wisdom. They are themselves radiant and illumine others; therefore, they are called Cherubim, which in Hebrew means "much wisdom," or "an effusion of wisdom." Through the Cherubim wisdom is poured out, and through them the noetic eyes of others are illumined, enabling them to see the glory of God and to know Him.
The Thrones stand after the Cherubim before the exalted Throne on High. They are called God-bearing by Saint Dionysius, since, according to the explanation offered by Saint Maximus the Confessor, God noetically rests upon them as upon noetic thrones. Saint Basil writes that they are called God-bearing not according to their essence but because of the grace vouchsafed them and the service entrusted to them. The Thrones are called God-bearing because they bear God within themselves in an ineffable and inexpressible manner, not by nature but because of the grace and service entrusted to them. Seated upon them in a way that cannot be described. God ordains His judgments, as David said: "Thou hast sat upon a throne, O Thou that judgest righteousness." Therefore, it is through the Thrones that God brings to pass His Righteous judgments, for they are the ministers of His justice, imparting to the tribunals of magistrates here below, and to kings and lords, the ability to pass righteous judgment.
There are three ranks in the middle hierarchy of the Holy Angels as well: Dominions, Powers, and Virtues. The Dominions are so-called because they rule over the Angels subject to them, while they are themselves free, since, as Saint Dionysius says, they have set aside servile fear and ever serve the Lord willingly and gladly. They pour down upon the authorities ordained by God here below power to rule wisely and to exercise dominion judiciously, governing well the lands entrusted to them. They also teach us to rule over our senses, to subdue our disorderly lusts and passions, to subject the flesh to the spirit, to exercise authority over our will, and to prevail over every temptation.
The powers, full of Divine Light, serve the mighty and powerful will of the All-Powerful and Omnipotent Lord without hesitation or delay. They work exceedingly great marvels and impart the grace to perform similar miracles upon those of God's favorites who have been deemed worthy to work wonders (miracles), to heal every illness, and to foretell the future. Likewise, the holy Powers strengthen men as they labor and are heavy laden in bearing the yoke of their various burdens, strengthening them to fulfill the obligations of their station in life and helping the feeble in their weakness. They assist every man to be patient and not to weaken in trials, but to endure everything that comes to pass with nobility of soul and resolute courage, humbly giving thanks to God, Who orders all things for our benefit.
The Virtues bear their name because they have authority over the devil. They subdue the power of the demons and ward off the temptations which the spirits of evil bring upon men, and they forbid the demons to harm men as they desire. The Virtues confirm those who labor for virtue's sake in their spiritual undertakings and struggles, protecting them, lest they are deprived of the spiritual kingdom. Those who war with their passions and desires the virtues help in the day of battle, assisting them in dispelling every wicked thought and the enemy's calumny and in overcoming the devil.
he three orders in the lowest hierarchy are the Principalities, Archangels, and Angels. The Principalities are so-called because they rule over the Angels below them and direct them to fulfill God's Commands. It is they who watch over the world, protecting and guarding every kingdom and principality, every province and people, tribe and nation, for each of these has its own angel of this rank as guardian and governor. According to Saint Gregory, it is the duty of this order to teach men to render to all in authority the honor due to their station. These Angels usher worthy men into such positions as they merit and instruct them not to use their offices for their own gain or profit, nor to become vainglorious or full of conceit, but to honor god, to increase His glory and to spread word of it, for the benefit of all those under their authority.
The Archangels are the Great Messengers of good, eminent, and wondrous tidings (news). Accordingly to the renowned Saint Dionysius, it is they who deliver prophecies to men, enlightening them so that they may know and understand the will of God. They learn of God's Will from the higher ranks and entrust the secrets thereof to the Angels below them, who in turn declare them to men. Saint Gregory the Dialogist says that they spread abroad the faith among men, illuminating their minds with the light of the knowledge of the Holy Gospel and revealing to them the mysteries of the Orthodox faith.
The Angels occupy the lowest position in the hierarchy of Heaven and are the closest of the ranks to men. They reveal the lesser mysteries of God and His intentions to men, whom they guide to live virtuously and righteously. Each of the faithful is entrusted to one of them. They support those of us who stand firm, and they raise up the fallen. Even if we sin, they do not forsake us but are always readily to help us, it only we desire it. (Source: The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints)
_______________________
"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostomos
+++
With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George