Guardian Angel

The Guardian Angel constitutes a distinct reality within the pneumatological framework of the Orthodox Christian faith, viewed not as a metaphorical construct but as an objective, created intelligence.

These celestial beings are the first part of the creative act of God, brought into existence from nothingness prior to the formation of the material universe or the human race.

Saint John of Damascus defines an angel as an incorporeal race, akin to a spirit or immaterial fire, which was fashioned after the divine image. While they are termed bodiless or incorporeal in relation to humanity, this description is relative rather than absolute, for when compared to the infinite simplicity of the Uncreated Deity, the angelic nature is considered gross and material.

These entities are noetical essences, possessing an intellect superior to that of humans, yet they remain circumscribed by their status as creatures.

Unlike the omnipresent Creator, an angel occupies a specific mental place, meaning that when a celestial being is present in heaven, it is not simultaneously present on earth.

Their nature allows them to transcend the physical limitations of space and time as experienced by material beings, enabling movement with a celerity that corresponds to the swiftness of thought. Immortality is not an inherent property of their essence but is maintained through the sustaining grace of the Creator.

The Celestial Hierarchy is organised into a ninefold hierarchy, divided into three triads, a structure synthesised in the corpus attributed to Saint Dionysius the Areopagite. Within this economy, the Guardian Angels are generally understood to be drawn from the lowest order of the third triad, the rank of Angels proper, which is the choir closest to the human condition and the material world.

This proximity allows them to function as the primary conduits of divine energy to individual persons, translating the revelations of the higher orders into accessible guidance for humanity.

The Sacrament of Assignment

While general providence extends to all creation, the specific assignment of a personal Guardian Angel is inextricably linked to the Sacrament of Baptism.

In the liturgical tradition, the catechumen is received into the Church through rites that include exorcisms designed to expel demonic influences. Following these prayers, the priest explicitly petitions God to yoke to the newly baptised a radiant angel of light.

This angel is tasked with delivering the believer from every snare of the adversary, from encounters with evil, and from the demon of the noonday.

This assignment marks a restoration of the human person to a state of grace, filling the spiritual vacuum left by the expulsion of unclean spirits with a celestial protector. The Guardian Angel serves as a faithful guide, an angel of peace, and a guardian of both soul and body.

The relationship established at Baptism is unique and personal, intended to endure through the entirety of the believer's earthly life and into the eschatological reality of the afterlife. It is a spiritual kinship where the angel acts as an instructor and an intercessor, joining their voice to the believer's prayers and offering them at the heavenly throne.

Synergy and the Human Will

The interaction between the Guardian Angel and the human charge is governed by the theological principle of synergy, or cooperation.

The angel respects the boundary of human freedom and does not violate the Free Will of the person. Saint John Chrysostom elucidates that God does not anticipate human acts of will with angelic intervention in a manner that would hinder free choice.

Rather, once the human will inclines toward the good, the angel provides great assistance to realise that choice.

Conversely, the protective cover of the Guardian Angel is not unconditional. Saint Basil the Great employs the metaphor that just as smoke drives away bees and a stench drives away doves, so too does Sin drive away the angel who protects life.

Persistent unrepentant sin creates a spiritual environment that is repellant to the purity of the celestial being. The angel does not abandon the charge entirely but is forced to retreat from the immediacy of the person's life until repentance restores the relationship.

The angel remains always prepared to help if the individual desires to return to righteousness.

Liturgical and Devotional Presence

The reality of the Guardian Angel permeates the corporate worship of the Church. In the Divine Liturgy, the community offers a specific petition within the Litany of Supplication, asking for an angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of souls and bodies.

This request acknowledges the multifaceted role of the angel in providing inner peace, moral direction, and protection against spiritual and physical dangers.

During the service, the angels are understood to be active participants. At the Little Entrance of the Gospel, the priest prays that holy angels may enter with the clergy to serve and glorify God's goodness.

The congregation is exhorted to mystically represent the Cherubim during the Cherubic Hymn, joining the angelic choirs who ceaselessly chant the Trisagion hymn - Holy, Holy, Holy - around the throne of God.

The altar servers, bearing candles and fans (rhipidia) depicting the six-winged Seraphim, visibly represent the angelic presence at the altar.

Devotional life also includes specific canons and akathists dedicated to the Guardian Angel. These texts are often read during preparation for Holy Communion, serving to cleanse the soul and invoke the angel's aid in approaching the Holy Mysteries.

The believer confesses sins to the angel, asking for forgiveness for having offended their guardian and seeking strength to walk the path of salvation. The prayers emphasise the angel's role as a second intercessor after the Theotokos and the saints.

The Role at Death and the Particular Judgment

Orthodoxy holds a profound role for the Guardian Angel at the moment of death and in the immediate afterlife. Upon the separation of the soul from the body, the Guardian Angel meets the soul to escort it on its journey to the particular judgment.

This transition involves an ascent through what patristic and hagiographic traditions describe as aerial toll houses.

In this tradition, the soul encounters varying stages of examination where demons, acting as accusers, present lists of sins committed during the person's life.

These toll houses correspond to specific passions and vices, such as slander, gluttony, theft, and pride. The Guardian Angel acts as the soul's advocate during this legalistic struggle, countering the demonic accusations by presenting the soul's good deeds, virtues, and acts of repentance.

If the angel can produce evidence of righteousness that outweighs the sins, the soul is permitted to pass.

This concept underscores the belief that the struggle for salvation extends to the very threshold of the heavenly kingdom. The angel's function is to protect the soul from being seized by the demons and to guide it toward the light of God.

While the imagery of toll houses is sometimes debated regarding its literalness, it is accepted as a representation of the reality of the particular judgment and the active defence provided by the Guardian Angel. The angel remains with the soul, offering explanations of the heavenly and hellish states until the final determination is made.