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Names and Ranks of Angels
08 November - (21 November)
The Sobor [Assemblage] of the Chief of the Heavenly Hosts Michael and the
Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers. The Archangels: Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel,
Selaphiel, Jehudiel, Barachiel, and Jeremiel
The Celebration of the Sobor [Assemblage] of the Leader of the Heavenly
Hosts Michael, and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Hosts was established at the
beginning of the IV Century at the local Laodician Council, which occurred
several years before the First Ecumenical Council. The Laodician Council by
its 35th Canon condemned and renounced as heretical the worship of angels as
creators and rulers of the world and it affirmed their proper Orthodox
veneration. A feastday was established in November -- the ninth month from
March (with which month the year began in ancient times) -- in accordance
with the 9 Ranks of Angels. The eighth day of the month was decreed for the
intended Sobor [Assemblage] of all the Heavenly Powers -- in conjunction
with the Day of the Dread Last-Judgement of God, which the holy fathers
called the "Eighth Day" -- since after this age in which the seven days [of
Creation] have elapsed will come the "Eighth Day" -- and then "shalt come
the Son of Man in His Glory and all the holy Angels together with Him" (Mt
25:31).
The Angelic Ranks are divided into three Hierarchies: highest, middle, and
lowest. In the Highest Hierarchy are included the three Ranks: the Seraphim,
Cherubim and Thrones. Closest of all to the MostHoly Trinity stand the
six-winged Seraphim [Seraphimy] (Flaming, and Fiery) (Is 6:12). They blaze
with love for God and impel others to it.
After the Seraphim there stand before the Lord the many-eyed Cherubim
[Cheruvimy] (Gen 3:24). Their name means: outpouring of wisdom,
enlightenment, since through them -- radiating with the light of
Divine-knowledge and understanding of the mysteries of God, there is sent
down wisdom and enlightenment for true Divine-knowledge.
After the Cherubim, stand God-bearing through grace given them for their
service, the Thrones [Prestoly] (Col 1:16), mysteriously and
incomprehensibly upholding God. They serve the uprightness of God's justice.
The Middle Angelic Hierarchy consists of three Ranks: Dominions, Powers, and
Authorities:
a.. Dominions [Gospodstva] (Col 1:16) hold dominion over the successive
ranks of Angels. They instruct the earthly authorities, established from
God, to wise governance. The Dominions influence rule by miracles, they
quell sinful impulses, subordinate the flesh to the spirit, and provide
mastery over the will to conquer temptation.
a.. Powers [Sily] (1 Pet 3:22) fulfill the will of God. They work the
miracles and send down the grace of wonderworking and perspicacity to saints
pleasing to God. The Powers give assist to people in bearing obediences,
encourage them in patience, and give them spiritual strength and fortitude.
a.. Authorities [Vlasti] (1 Pet 3:22, Col 1:16) have authority to quell
the power of the devil. They repel from people demonic temptations, uphold
ascetics and guard them, helping people in the struggle with evil
ponderings.
In the Lowest Hierarchy are included the three Ranks: Principalities,
Archangels, and Angels:
a.. Principalities [Nachala] (Col 1:16) have command over the lower
angels, instructing them in the fulfilling of Divine commands. To them are
entrusted to direct the universe, and protect lands, nations and peoples.
Principalities instruct people to render honour to everyone, as becomes
their station. They teach those in authority to fulfill their necessary
obligations, not for personal glory and gain, but out of respect for God and
benefit for neighbour.
a.. Archangels [Arkhangely] (1 Thess 4:16) announce about the great and
most holy, they reveal the mysteries of the faith, prophecy and
understanding of the will of God, they intensify deep faith in people,
enlightening their minds with the light of the Holy Gospel.
a.. Angels [Angely] (1 Pet 3:22) are closest to all to people. They
proclaim the intent of God, guiding people to virtuous and holy life. They
protect believers restraining them from falling, and they raise up the
fallen; never do they abandon us and always they are prepared to help us, if
we so desire.
All the Ranks of the Heavenly Powers have in common the name Angels -- by
virtue of their service. The Lord reveals His will to the highest of the
Angels, and they in turn inform the others.
Over all the Nine Ranks, the Lord put the Holy Leader ["Archistrategos"]
Michael (his name in translation from the Hebrew means "who is like unto
God") -- a faithful servitor of God, wherein he hurled down from Heaven the
arrogantly proud day-star Lucifer together with the other fallen spirits.
And to the remaining Angelic powers he cried out: "Let us attend! Let us
stand aright before our Creator and not ponder that which is displeasing
unto God!" According to Church tradition, in the church service to the
Archistrategos Michael concerning him, he participated in many other Old
Testament events. During the time of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt
he went before them in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of
fire by night. Through him the power of the Lord was made manifest,
annihilating the Egyptians and Pharaoh who were in pursuit of the
Israelites. The Archangel Michael defended Israel in all its misfortunes.
He appeared to Jesus Son of Navin (Joshua) and revealed the will of the Lord
at the taking of Jericho (Nav / Josh 5:13-16). The power of the great
Archistrategos of God was manifest in the annihilation of the 185 thousand
soldiers of the Assyrian emperor Sennacherib (4 [2] Kings 19:35); also in
the smiting of the impious leader Antiochos Illiodoros; and in the
protecting from fire of the Three Holy Youths -- Ananias, Azarias and
Misail, thrown into the fiery furnace for their refusal to worship an idol
(Dan 3:22-25).
Through the will of God, the Archistrategos Michael transported the Prophet
Avvakum (Habbakuk) from Judea to Babylon, so as to give food to Daniel,
locked up in a lions' den (Kondak of Akathist, 8).
The Archangel Michael prevented the devil from displaying the body of the
holy Prophet Moses to the Jews for idolisation (Jude 1:9).
The holy Archangel Michael showed his power when he miraculously saved a
lad, cast by robbers into the sea with a stone about his neck at the shores
of Athos [Athos Paterikon].
From ancient times the Archangel Michael was famed by his miracles in Rus'.
In the Volokolamsk Paterikon there is included a narrative of the Monk
Paphnutii of Borovsk with an account of Tatar "baskaki" [tax-gatherers]
concerning the miraculous saving of Novgorod the Great: "And wherefore Great
Novgorod never was taken by the Hagarites ... when by the sufferance of God
for our sins the godless Hagarite emperor Batu devoured and set aflame the
Russian land and was come to the New City (i.e. Novgorod) and God and the
MostHoly Mother of God shielded it with an appearance of Michael the
Archistrategos, which did forbid him to enter into it. He [Batu] was come to
the Lithuanian city and did come towards Kiev and did see the stone church
over the doors of which the great Archangel Michael had written and spoken
unto the prince his allotted fate: 'By this we have forbidden entry into
Great Novgorod'."
Intercession for Russian cities by the MostHoly Queen of Heaven always
involved Her appearances with the Heavenly Hosts, under the leadership of
the Archistategos. Grateful Rus' acclaimed the MostPure Mother of God and
the Archangel Michael in church singing. To the Archistrategos Michael are
dedicated many a monastery, cathedrals, court and merchant churches. In old
Kiev at the time of the accepting of Christianity, there was erected a
cathedral of the Archangel, and a monastery also was built in his name.
Archangel cathedrals stand at Smolensk, Nizhni Novgorod, Staritsa, a
monastery at Great Ustiug (beginning XIII Century), and a cathedral at
Sviyazhsk. In Rus' there was not a city, wherein was not a church or chapel,
dedicated to the Archangel Michael. One of the chief temples of the city of
Moscow -- the burial church in the Kremlin -- is dedicated to him. Numerous
and beautiful icons of the Chief-in-Rank of the Highest Powers are also in
his Cathedral. One of these -- the Icon "Blest Soldiery" --written in the
Uspenie [Dormition] Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, where the saintly
soldiers -- Russian princes -- are depicted under the leadership of the
Archistrategos Michael.
From Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition are likewise known the
Archangels:
a.. Gabriel -- strength (power) of God, herald and servitor of Divine
almightiness (Dan 8:16, Lk 1:26)
a.. Raphael -- the healing of God, the curer of human infirmities (Tobit
3:16, 12:15)
a.. Uriel -- the fire or light of God, enlightener (3 Ezdras 5:20)
a.. Selaphiel -- the prayer of God, impelling to prayer (3 Ezdras 5:16)
a.. Jehudiel -- the glorifying of God, encouraging exertion for the glory
of the Lord and interceding about the reward of efforts
a.. Barachiel -- distributor of the blessing of God for good deeds,
entreating the mercy of God for people
a.. Jeremiel -- the raising up to God (3 Ezdras 4:36)
On icons the Archangels are depicted in accord with the trait of their
service:
a.. Michael -- tramples the devil underfoot, and in his left hand holds a
green date-tree branch, and in his right hand a spear with a white banner
(or sometimes a fiery sword), on which is outlined a scarlet cross.
a.. Gabriel -- with a branch from paradise, presented by him to the
MostHoly Virgin, or with a shining lantern in his right hand and with a
mirror made of jasper in his left.
a.. Raphael -- holds a vessel with healing medications in his left hand,
and with his right hand leads Tobias, carrying the fish [for healing --
Tobit 5-8].
a.. Uriel -- in raised right hand hold a bare sword at the level of his
chest, and in his lowered left hand "a fiery flame."
a.. Selaphiel -- in a prayerful posture, gazing downwards, hands folded to
the chest.
a.. Jehudiel -- in his right hand holds a golden crown, in his left a whip
of three red (or black) branches.
a.. Barachiel -- on his garb are a multitude of rose blossoms.
a.. Jeremiel -- holds in his hand balance-scales.