Angels

In the sacred taxonomy of the Celestial Hierarchy, the Angels constitute the ninth and final rank of the ninefold angelic order, standing as the third member of the lowest triad which also includes the Principalities and Archangels.

While the term angel is frequently employed as a general designation for all celestial powers, in its specific and proper sense, it refers to this particular order which is most proximal to the human race and the material world.

As the completing choir of the celestial intelligences, the Angels serve as the ultimate link in the chain of divine mediation, translating the revelations and illuminations of the higher orders into accessible guidance for humanity.

Etymology and Designation

The appellation Angel is derived from the Greek angelos and the Hebrew malakh, both signifying a messenger. This title describes the nature of their service rather than their essential being.

According to the principles of the hierarchy established by Saint Dionysius the Areopagite, the higher orders possess the powers and illuminations of the subordinate ranks, while the lower do not possess the complete perfection of the superior.

Consequently, it is permissible to refer to the Seraphim or Cherubim as angels, for they too manifest the divine light, but the specific order of Angels does not participate in the supreme functions of the first hierarchy, such as the immediate stability of the Thrones or the fiery ardour of the Seraphim.

The Angels are so named because they are more directly in contact with manifested and mundane things than the higher orders. They are the order most concerned with the affairs of men and the physical world.

While the Archangels are entrusted with the announcement of great and glorious prophecies and the understanding of the divine will, the Angels are tasked with announcing the lesser mysteries and intentions of God.

They fill up and complete the lowest choir of all the hierarchies, serving as the interpreters of the Archangels, just as the Archangels interpret the Principalities.

Hierarchical Function and Mediation

The Celestial Hierarchy is structured so that divine illumination flows from the Source through the first triad to the second, and from the second to the third.

The Angels, standing at the base of this cascade of grace, receive the divine light that has been mediated and proportioned by the superior orders. They are purified, illuminated, and perfected by the orders above them, specifically receiving the divine revelations from the Archangels.

This hierarchical arrangement ensures that the divine operations are transmitted with well-ordered regularity. In the visions of the prophets, such as Zechariah and Daniel, one observes angels of higher rank instructing those of lower rank.

For instance, an angel is described as meeting another angel and commanding him to run and speak to the prophet, demonstrating that within the angelic host, the higher orders reveal the divine will to the lower, who then execute these commands or communicate them to humanity.

The Angels are the primary executors of the divine will in the lives of individuals. They teach people to live virtuously and righteously before God, guiding them to a holy life.

They support those who remain steadfast in virtue and assist in raising up those who have fallen. Unlike the Principalities, who guard nations and large collectives, the Angels are appointed to the guardianship of specific individuals, ensuring that the providence of God extends to the particularities of each human life.

The Ministry of Guardianship

A central tenet of the Church’s teaching regarding the ninth rank is the doctrine of the Guardian Angel. The Orthodox Church believes that every Christian receives a guardian angel, typically at the moment of Holy Baptism.

This belief is rooted in the words of Christ, who warned against despising the *little ones*, for *"in heaven their angels do always behold the Face of My Father Which is in heaven".*

The Guardian Angel is drawn from this lowest rank of the Celestial Hierarchy. Their specific ministry involves constant companionship and protection of the human soul entrusted to them.

They act as a defender against the attacks of the adversary, protecting their charge from evil encounters and demonic temptations. They are the *"older brothers"* of humanity, revealing the will of God and assisting in the attainment of salvation.

The relationship between the Guardian Angel and the human soul is dynamic and dependent on the human will. The angel does not retreat unless driven away by evil deeds, much as smoke drives away bees or a stench drives away doves.

Sin creates a barrier that distances the human from the angelic protection, yet the angel remains always prepared to help if the individual desires to return to righteousness.

At the end of a person's life, the Guardian Angel serves as an advocate, bearing the soul's prayers to God and contending with the demons for the soul.

Ontological Characteristics

Ontologically, the Angels share the same nature as the higher ranks, differing only in glory and position. They are active spirits endowed with intelligence, reason, and free will.

They are described as incorporeal and immaterial in comparison to humans, yet when compared to God, who alone is absolutely immaterial, they are considered to be gross and material. Their nature is like a spirit or immaterial fire, characterised by lightness, ardour, and keenness.

The Angels are in perpetual motion, serving God without ceasing. They are circumscribed, meaning they cannot be in two places at once; when they are in heaven, they are not on earth, and when sent to earth, they are not in heaven.

However, they are not hindered by walls, doors, or physical barriers, and they move with a celerity that corresponds to the swiftness of thought.

Although they possess knowledge superior to that of humans, the Angels are limited beings. They do not know the depths of the Essence of God, they do not know the future unless God reveals it to them, and they do not fully comprehend the mystery of redemption.

They cannot read human thoughts without the aid of God, nor can they perform miracles by their own power, but only by the will of the Creator. Their immortality is not inherent to their nature but is sustained by the grace of God.

Iconography and Symbolism

In the iconographic tradition, the Angels are depicted in a manner that reflects their service as messengers and ministers.

They are typically shown as beautiful, youthful humans, wearing tunics and often clad in the vestments of deacons, such as the orarion, symbolising their service at the heavenly altar.

They possess two wings, which denote their "super-mundane" nature, their elevation to the sublime, and their swiftness in executing the divine will.

The visual representation often includes attributes such as staffs or scrolls, indicating their authority as messengers and the divine messages they bear. Their naked and unshod feet symbolise their freedom from earthly superfluity and their agile readiness to serve.

While the higher orders like the Seraphim are depicted with six wings and the Cherubim with many eyes, the Angels of the ninth rank are portrayed with a simpler, more human-like appearance to facilitate their communication with mankind.

Summary

The Order of Angels, as the ninth and final rank of the celestial hierarchy, serves as the bridge between the heavenly and the earthly.

They are the messengers of God's lesser mysteries, the guardians of individual souls, and the intimate protectors of the faithful.

While they stand furthest from the immediate presence of the Godhead in the hierarchical scheme, their ministry is no less vital, for through them the divine light, mediated by the superior orders, finally reaches the human heart.

They complete the "super-essential harmony" of the cosmos, ensuring that no part of creation is left without the providential care of the Creator.

Through their constant intercession and guidance, they assist humanity in the ascent towards deification, aiming to fill the ranks of the heavenly kingdom and join in the eternal doxology of the Triune God.