A SHORT COURSE ON THE NATURE AND MINISTRY OF ANGELS

Tina Gilson

Continued from July 22

Dominions, Virtues, and Powers

The second hierarchy or middle order of angels also have no direct contact with man, but are the governors of space and the visible universe, including the earth. The Pseudo-Dionysius refers to them as the Holy Lordships, which “denotes a certain unslavish elevation, free from all groveling subserviency . . . ever aspiring to the true Lordship and source of Lordship.” Their works are power, authority, control, and leadership.

The Dominions are given power over the lesser ranks of the angels. Indirectly they give power for wise leaders and good government, and the ruling of the passions and temptations.

The Virtues are not keepers of morality, but exhibit virtue as understood by the older meaning of the word—as power, virility, or valor.

The Powers are given control over the influence of the devil and act to limit his power and the degree of harm he can cause.

Principalities, Archangels, and Angels

The third order exists in closest contact with humanity, and their activities deal directly with transmitting the divine qualities of God and His will to man.

The Principalities guide the soul towards divine service and cooperation with the angelic hosts in the world. They are the managers of earthly governments, nations, and all peoples, and they teach obedience and service to those in godly authority.

The Archangels, the great heralds of good news, are the most personable of the angelic orders, which may be a factor in their popularity. They have individual personalities and attributes, and most are known by name. Their role is to reveal prophecies, and to transmit knowledge and understanding of God’s will.

The archangel Michael is undoubtedly the most famous of the seven archangels. He is called the archistrategos, the chief commander of the bodiless powers and the conqueror of Satan, whom he battled and cast out from heaven (Revelation 12:7–8). He intercedes for the human race and is the defender of the Faith. His name means, “Who is like unto God?” (Daniel 10:13; 12:1).

Three other archangels are identified personally in the Bible: Gabriel (“Man of God”), who was the angel of the Annunciation; Raphael (“God heals”), who is the chief of the guardian angels; and Uriel (“Fire of God”). The other archangels have been identified by name in Orthodox, Oriental, and Ethiopian tradition since the time of the early Church. In Eastern Orthodox tradition they are known as Barachiel, Salathiel, and Jehudiel. In another instance, the sword carried by the cherubim at the entrance to Eden is by legend identified as the archangel Jophiel (“Beauty of God”).

      Guardian angels are included among the angels of the third order. They act as witness, guide, and counsel to each of us during our life, and they will be present at the Last Judgment to give an account of the conduct of our lives. Too often we take for granted the awesome benefit God has provided us with the assignment of our own guardian angel. Our guardian angel is the constant companion of our life, and has no other desire than to help us achieve salvation.

The Harmony of the Angels

Does the ranking of angels mean some are more powerful than others? Does it mean some angels are of less importance than others? At a basic level all the hierarchies are angels, and all exist in perfect harmony with each other. They do not have the human tendency to assign superiority based on a person’s closeness with the seat of power. The first order of angels—the seraphim, the cherubim, and the thrones—are the closest in proximity and service to God; therefore, they receive His immediate illumination and know His will most perfectly. They surround the throne of God, are most directly touched by His attributes, and have achieved the greatest angelic perfection.

The first order is least in contact with mankind and act as the initiator of the conduit of divine will, relaying it down to the third order, who are intimately involved with our day-to-day lives. This hierarchy of communication relays the divine will of God down through the ranks, so to speak. The Pseudo-Dionysius observes:

All Angels are interpreters of those above them, the most reverend, indeed, of God, who moves them, and the rest, in due degree, of those who have been moved by God. For, to such an extent has the superessential harmony of all things provided for the religious order and the regulated conduct of each of the rational and intellectual beings, that each rank of the Hierarchies has been placed in sacred order. (The Celestial Hierarchies, Chapter X, Section II)

Discovering the Real Image of Angels

What else can we learn about angels from the words of the Bible, our Orthodox Liturgy, and from the icons that depict them? For instance, do angels really have wings? At every celebration of the Divine Liturgy, we are offered a physical picture of the “six-winged seraphim” and the “many-eyed cherubim” who “soar aloft, borne on their pinions.” These terms evoke beautiful, awesome images of the angels, but are only physical descriptions of a spiritual reality. The six wings of the seraphim are an image of their movement and action around God, and the knowledge and vision of God form the many eyes of the cherubim. Other angels are depicted with wings as a sign of their swiftness of spirit.

The spear and armor depicted in icons of the archangel Michael represent his power as a commander of the angelic hosts. The wand carried by angels is also a sign of their authority. Angels are often depicted in flowing deacon’s robes as an indication of their willingness to serve. These iconographic symbols allow our minds to grasp something incomprehensible about the Kingdom of God and the function of His angels.

I suggest the next time you think about angels, you keep firmly to our Orthodox understanding, and avoid the misinformed mental images fostered by either the New Age or pop culture. The Orthodox Church has no room for fat-bottomed, babyish cherubs that chase each other among the clouds playing harps. And while it’s not possible to understand the true nature of angels, our contemplation shows us that angelic power and majesty are beyond anything earthly. Angels are created from the mind of God, and we should remember them with awe and respect, asking for their protection, guidance, and help in accordance with God’s will, and not our own.

For further reading: No finer book on the angels can be found than Mother Alexandra’s The Holy Angels (Light and Life Publishing, 1987), upon which so much of this article is based. It is easily the most comprehensive and easily understood book on the subject.

This article was first published in The Handmaiden Spring 2009 issue.

Tina Gilson is a native of San Antonio, Texas, and the mom of two boys, Eric Anthony (9) and Michael (7).  A convert from the Lutheran Church, she has been a member of St. Anthony the Great Orthodox Church (OCA) since her chrismation on the feast of Saint Herman of Alaska in December 1992.  She blogs at http://comethatmidnight.wor...