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Angel Hierarchy or Choirs
In the ancient Western world, particularly medieval Europe,
it was believed that angels were arranged in hierarchical
order. Perhaps because the angels were believed to continually
sing praises of God, the levels of the angelic hierarchy came
to be referred to as choirs.
In the sixth-century theologian
Dionysius the Areopagite - and an outline by Thomas Aquinas
was formed and arranged into the nine choirs, which are grouped
into the three hierarchies (perhaps reflecting the Trinity)
Angel Hierarchy - in descending
order of closeness to God.
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First Hierarchy |
Second Hierarchy |
Third Hierarchy |
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Angels of Pure Contemplation |
Angels of the Cosmos |
Angels of the World |
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Govern All Creation |
Govern All the Cosmos |
Govern All the World |
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Seraphim
Cherubim
Thrones |
Dominions
Powers
Virtues |
Principalities
ArchAngels
Angels |
The Nine Orders of Angels
According
to Dionysus each name of the choir indicates its divine nature.
The name Seraphim means both
"those that burn" and "those that
warm." The seraphim are in continuous revolution
around God, thus the heat they emit is like lightning.
The highest
order, the six-winged ones, surround the throne of God, singing
ceaselessly, they are angels of love, light, and fire.
The name
Cherubim means "fullness of knowledge"
or effusion of wisdom." This choir has the
power to know and contemplate God, and the capacity to understand
and communicate divine knowledge.
The guardians
of the fixed stars, keepers of celestial records, bestowers
of knowledge. In the Talmud cherubim are equated with the
order of wheels, also called ophanim. Chief rulers are Ophaniel,
Rikbiel, Zophiel, and, before his fall, Satan.
The term
Thrones, or the "many eyed ones,"
is and indication of their close prozimity to the throne of
God. This is the order closest to God and they receive directly
from him divine perfection and awareness.
Bring God's
justice to us. They are sometimes called wheels and in the
Jewish Kabbalah,CHARIOTS or the MERKABAH. The occult book,
the Zohar, ranks wheels above seraphim, but other sources
place them as cherubim, the whole thing being confused. The
ruling prince is Oriphiel or Zabkiel or Zaphiel.
The holy
Dominions have the power to elevate themselves
and are liberated from all earthly desires and yearnings.
It is their job to regulate the duties of the angels.
Regulate
angelic duties. Through them is manifested the Majesty of
God. They hold an orb or sceptre as an emblem of authority,
and in Hebraic lore, the chief of this order is named Hashmal
or Zadkiel.
The name
of the Virtues indicate a firm and steadfast
courage in all angelic activities. Known as the "brilliant"
or "shining ones," the virtues are assoicated
with acts of heroism.
Work miracles
on earth. They are bestowers of grace and valor.
The Powers
are on the same level as the dominions and virtues and possess
the power and intelligence that is subordinate only to God.
They keep the universe in balance. Camael is
believed to be "chief" of this choir.
Stop the
efforts of demons to overthrow the world, or else they preside
over demons, or perhaps (according to St. Paul) they are themselves
evil. Ertosi, Sammael, or Camael (depending on source)is chief
of the Powers.
The Principalities
are the legions of angels who protect religions. They provide
strength to the tribes of Earth to pursue and endure their
faith. Among those considered "chief" of
the principalities are Nisrock, originally and
Assyrian deity considered in occult writings to be the chief
chef to the Demon Princes of Hell; and Anael,
one of the seven angels of creation.
Protectors
of religion. Nisroc, in Milton, is "of principalities
the prime," and others, according to various sources,
are named Requel, Anael, and Cerviel.
The Archangels
are "messenger which carry Divine Decrees."
They carry God's messages to human and are ultimately in command
of God's armies of angels who constantly battle the Son of
Darkness, with Michael at the helm.
While Michael,
Gabriel, and Raphael are generally
agreed to be three of the seven archangels, the idenity of
the other four is subject to debate. Possible candidates are
Urile, Raguel, Zadkile,Saraqael, Remile,
Anael, Orifiel, Uzziel,, Raziel, and Metatron. The Koran only recognizes four and actually
names only two, Djibril (Gabriel) and Michael.
Guardians
of people and all physical things.
The order of Angels is closest
to human kind. It is the job of this order to act as guardians
and messengers, and at its helm is placed Michael, prince
of the Jewish people, who leads all the angels in their post
and guardians of nations. In fact, according to Dionysius,
God established the boundaries of the nations according to
the number of angels.
Guardians
of people and all physical things.
More
articles on Angels
(Angels
& Angelic Guidance)
(What
are Angels)
(Angel
Protection & Cleansing)
(Angels - origin,nature
and purpose)
(Angels & The
Angelic Realm)
Don't Forget The Angels
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