Virtues (angel)

In Christianity, angels are the agents of God. Various works of Christian theology have devised hierarchies of angelic beings. The most influential Christian angelic hierarchy was put forward around the turn of the 6th century AD by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite in his work '' De Coelesti Hierarchia'' (''On the Celestial Hierarchy''). He claimed to be an important figure who was converted by Paul the Apostle, who authored most of the New Testament, and his work enjoyed greater influence than it would have if he had used his actual name, until Erasmus publicised doubts about the age of the work in the early 16th century.

Angels are organized into several orders, or "Angelic Choirs".

As referred to in the theological doctrine of the communion of saints, in paradise there is a common and unique vision of the truth and contemplation of the face of God, without any kind of difference between angels or human souls. The ''Summa theologiae'' of Thomas Aquinas states that there exists different degree in respect of the creation, about the power of intercession to God and of direct entrustment in the human lives.

Doctrine

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) paragraph 328, "the existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition."

The ''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' states: "The whole life of the church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of the angels... From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession." It also states, "Christ is the center of the angelic world. They are ''His'' angels... They belong to Him because they were created through and for Him."

As Augustine of Hippo would remark, the angels were experiencing something new as the creation of God unfolded. The 'good' angels seek at all times, to direct us towards the true source of happiness, God. They encourage us in worship of God.

First Sphere

According to Pseudo-Dionysius, the first sphere of angels see and worship God directly, and communicate His will to angels who are closer to the life of man.

Seraphim

Tradition places seraphim in the highest rank in Christian angelology and in the fifth rank of ten in the Jewish angelic hierarchy. A seminal passage in the Book of Isaiah () used the term to describe six-winged beings that fly around the Throne of God crying "holy, holy, holy". This throne scene, with its triple invocation of holiness, profoundly influenced subsequent theology, literature and art. Its influence is frequently seen in works depicting angels, heaven and apotheosis. Seraphim are mentioned as celestial beings in the non-canonical Book of Enoch and the canonical Book of Revelation.

Cherubim

In the Book of Ezekiel and (at least some) Christian icons, the cherub is depicted as having two pairs of wings, and four faces: that of a lion (representative of all wild animals), an ox (domestic animals), a human (humanity), and an eagle ( birds). Their legs were straight, the soles of their feet like the hooves of a bull, gleaming like polished brass. Later tradition ascribes to them a variety of physical appearances. In Western Christian tradition, cherubim have become associated with the putto (derived from classical Cupid/ Eros), resulting in depictions of cherubim as small, plump, winged boys. St. Thomas Aquinas imagined Satan as a fallen cherub.

Thrones

Thrones are a class of angels, based on an interpretation of . According to 1 Peter 3:21-22, Christ had gone to Heaven and "angels and authorities and powers" had been made subject to him. Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite in his work '' De Coelesti Hierarchia'' includes the thrones as the third highest of nine levels of angels.

The ''ophanim'' refer to the wheels seen in Ezekiel's vision of the chariot (Hebrew ) in . One of the Dead Sea scrolls (4Q405) construes them as angels. These "wheels" have been associated with (mentioned as , traditionally "the wheels of ", in "fiery flame" and "burning fire") of the four, eye-covered wheels (each composed of two nested wheels), that move next to the winged cherubim, beneath the throne of God.

Second Sphere

Angels of the Second Sphere work as heavenly governors of the creation by subjecting matter and guiding and ruling the spirits.

Dominations or Lordships

The Dominations (lat. ''dominatio'', plural ''dominationes'', also translated from the Greek term ''kyriotētes'', pl. of ''kyriotēs'', as "Lordships") or "Dominions" are presented as the hierarchy of celestial beings "Lordships" in some English translations of the ''De Coelesti Hierarchia''. The Dominations regulate the duties of lower angels. It is only with extreme rarity that the angelic lords make themselves physically known to humans.

Virtues

According to ''The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville'', the Virtues are known for their control of the elements. In addition to being the spirits of motion, they also assist in governing nature. They also assist with miracles, as well as encourage humans to strengthen their faith in God.

Powers or Authorities

In ''The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville'', the Powers ( lat. ''potestas'' (f), pl. ''potestates'') (Greek: ἐξουσίαι) are given their name because they are angels who have power over evil forces, which the angels are able to restrain to keep them from doing harm.

Third Sphere

Principalities or Rulers

The Principalities ( la, principatus), also translated as "Princedoms" and "Rulers", from the Greek ''archai'', pl. of ''archē'' (see Greek root i
Eph 3:10
, are the angels that guide and protect nations, or groups of peoples, and institutions such as the Church. The Principalities preside over the bands of angels and charge them with fulfilling the divine ministry. There are some who administer and some who assist.

An example of a Principality angel that became the subject of a cult would be the Angel of Portugal.

Archangels

The word ''archangel'' is only used twice in the New Testament: and .

In most Christian traditions Gabriel is also considered an archangel, but there is no direct literary support for this assumption. The term ''archangel'' appears only in the singular, never plural, and only in specific reference to Michael.

The name of the archangel Raphael appears only in the Book of Tobit (Tobias). Tobit is considered deuterocanonical by Catholics (both Eastern and Western Rites) and Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christians, as well as Anglicans. The Book of Tobit is not, however, acknowledged by most Protestant denominations. In it Raphael says to Tobias that he was "one of the seven who stand before the Lord", and it is generally believed that Michael and Gabriel are two of the other six.

A fourth archangel is Uriel. Uriel's name is not mentioned in the Western Christian Bible, but plays a prominent role in an apocryphal book read by Anglican and Russian Orthodox Christians, the Second Book of Esdras (fourth Book of Esdras in the Latin Vulgate). In the book, he unveils seven prophecies to the prophet Ezra. He also plays a role in the apocryphal Book of Enoch, which is considered canonical by the Ethiopian Orthodox, Eritrean Orthodox, and Ethiopian Catholic Churches. The Catholic Church generally does not regard Uriel as an angel just as the Book of Enoch is not part of the Catholic Bible used by most Catholics either.

Another possible interpretation of the seven archangels is that these seven are the seven spirits of God that stand before the throne described in the Book of Enoch, and in the Book of Revelation.

The Seven Archangels are said to be the guardian angels of nations and countries, and are concerned with the issues and events surrounding these, including politics, military matters, commerce and trade: e.g. Archangel Michael is traditionally seen as the protector of 'Israel' and of the ''ecclesia'' ( Gr. root ''ekklesia'' from the New Testament passages), theologically equated as the Church, the forerunner of the spiritual ''New Israel''.

An additional angel, Metatron, which entered the Christian tradition via Christian Kabbalah, is described in the Babylonian Talmud as a heavenly scribe and in the Zohar as the king of the angels. The apocryphal Books of Enoch (especially 3 Enoch) tell that Metatron was previously the biblical Enoch, who, upon his ascension to Heaven, was transformed into an archangel and given the name Metatron. He was then bestowed the positions of chief of the archangels, and told the secrets of creation.

Angels

The angels are the lowest order of celestial beings, and the most recognized. They are the ones most concerned with the affairs of people. Within the category of the angels, there are many different kinds, with different functions. The angels are sent as messengers to humanity. Personal guardian angels come from this class (Matthew 18:10).

Personal guardian angels

Personal guardian angels are not of a separate order of angels. It is a common belief among Christians that they are assigned to every human being, Christian or not.

Individual angels and demons from the choirs

In John Milton's fictional ''Paradise Lost,'' Satan and the archangels belong to this choir ("archangel" has here the meaning of "most powerful angel", not the members of the second lowest choir). Beelzebuth is also addressed as prince of the seraphim in witchcraft litanies.Jules Garinet: Historie de la Magie en France (1818)
/ref> Beelzebub and Azazel were cherubim before their fall. Thomas Aquinas in '' Summa Theologica'' states that Satan belongs to this choir, not to the seraphim. ''Paradise Lost'' cites the demons Adramelec and Asmodai. Some sources mention Astaroth as well.Sebastian Michaelis: ''The Admirable History of the Possession and Conversion of a Penitent Woman''

Witchcraft litanies mention Belial.

See also

* Classification of demons
* Christian demonology
* Dynamics of the celestial spheres
* Fallen angel
* Heavenly host
* Hierarchy of angels
* Islamic angelic hierarchy
* Jewish angelic hierarchy
* Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones
* Zoroastrian angelic hierarchy

References

Bibliography

* Barker, Margaret. ''An Extraordinary Gathering of Angels''. M Q Publications, 2004.
* Copeland, Mark
Ministering Spirits: Angels In The Old Testament
''Executable Outlines''. 2004.
* Copeland, Mark

''Executable Outlines''. 2004.
* Fares, Aymen

''Spiritual.com.au Pty. Ltd''. 2000.
*
* Tatum, Johnny

''Worldnet Grace Ministries''.
* Tatum, Johnny

''Worldnet Grace Ministries''.
* The Bible
Searchable online version

* Pseudo-Dionysus the Areopagite

Further reading

* C. A. Patrides. "On the orders of angels" (Chapter one). ''Premises and Motifs in Renaissance Thought and Literature'' (Princeton, 1982). .

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