In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!
We have gathered here today, my beloved friends, to glorify the Archangel Michael of God with all the heavenly angelic host.
Briefly, the history of this holiday is as follows. Even in apostolic times, a false doctrine about angels was spread. The pagans raised them to the cult of idols, which they worshiped as gods. Some considered the Archangel Michael the god of the Jews and especially honored him.
And heretics appeared among Christians, especially in the Colossian and Laodicean Churches, who spread the false doctrine of Angels, worshiping them as gods. Some of them were sure that the visible world was created not by God, but by Angels, revering the Angels even above Christ the Son of God.
The Apostle Paul, wishing to dispel this false angel worship, wrote to the Colossians: “Let no one deceive you with self-willed humility ... intruding into what he has not seen ...” (Col. 2, 18-19). And the apostle Paul had the right to denounce the heretics in this way, because, as we know, he himself was caught up to the third heaven, heard there inexpressible words and saw the difference in angelic ranks.
This he explained to his disciple Dionysius the Areopagite. And on the basis of this it was created by the God-wise fathers Orthodox teaching about the Heavenly angelic hierarchy, consisting of nine angelic ranks.
False angel worship was so dangerous that even before the First Council, the holy fathers were forced to convene a local council in Laodicea in 319 or 321, at which the wicked angel worship was condemned by the 35th canon and the pious, correct veneration of angels as servants of God, guardians of the human race was established. and ordered to celebrate the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and other incorporeal Forces on November 8th.
The date of the celebration was not chosen by chance. November is the ninth month after March, which is considered the first month after the creation of the world.
In commemoration of the 9 angelic ranks, it is in November - the ninth month of the year - that the feast of the Angels is established. The 8th number indicates the day of the Last Judgment, in which the Angels will take a direct part. According to the belief of our Holy Church, on the basis of the words of the Savior Himself (Mt. 25:31; 13:39:49; 16:27; Mk. 13:26-27), Angels will judge us on the day of the Last Judgment. The Holy Fathers call the Day of the Last Judgment the eighth day.
To this day, time is measured in weeks. But the day of the Last Judgment itself will not be among the days of the last week, it will not be the first day of the new week either - it will be the last day of the world, the eighth day. Part of this day will relate to the life here and part to the future. Therefore, dedicating the eighth day of the ninth month to honoring and worshiping the holy angels, we implore them to be our leaders in this life, so that on the terrible eighth day, after their trumpet sound, we will be honored to stand with the elect. And this holiday is called the Angelic Council, because on this day we praise and honor all the holy angels for their service to our salvation.
It is called "The Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and others Heavenly Forces incorporeal” because the Archangel Michael was the leader of these angels faithful to God.
We know about the existence of the angelic world from the Holy Scriptures. That he was created by God even before creation visible world and a person. We know that the number of Angels is incalculably great and that the Wisdom of God established an amazing order in this Heavenly host, creating an angelic hierarchy, dividing all the Angels into nine ranks of three ranks in the hierarchy, subordinating the lower ranks to the highest.
Angels differ from each other both in enlightenment and in varying degrees of grace.
The highest hierarchy of those directly close to God is made up of Angels bearing names: Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. Seraphim, according to their name, have hearts that burn with love for God, and excite others to ardently love their Creator. Seraphim means "flaming".
Cherubim have the fullness of knowledge and the abundance of wisdom. They are illuminated by abundant rays of God's light. They are given to know everything to the extent that created beings can know.
Thrones - these Angels are so exalted and so illumined by grace that the Lord dwells in them and through them manifests His justice.
The second, middle hierarchy consists of Angels bearing the names: Domination, Strength and Power. The Angels of Domination teach people to rule over their will, to be above all temptation, and they also command those evil spirits who swore to destroy a person. Forces are Angels filled with divine strength. These are the spirits through which the Lord performs His miracles. God has given them the ability to send down the grace of miracles to the saints of God, who work miracles while living on earth. Authorities - Angels who have the power to tame the power of demons, to repel the enemy's temptations. In addition, they strengthen good ascetics in their spiritual and bodily labors.
The third, lower hierarchy also includes three ranks: Principles, Archangels and Angels. Beginnings - the rank of Angels, who are entrusted with managing the universe, protecting individual countries and peoples and managing them. These are the Angels of the People. Their dignity is higher than the Guardian Angels of individual people. From the book of the prophet Daniel, we learn that the care of the Jewish people was entrusted to Archangel Michael (Dan. 10:21). Archangels are the great heralds of the mysteries of God, of everything great and glorious. They strengthen the holy faith in people, enlightening their minds to the knowledge and understanding of the will of God.
Angels (the last, ninth rank of the hierarchy) are bright spiritual beings who stand closest to us and have special care for us. I will talk about them in more detail later. And now briefly about the Archangels.
From the Holy Scriptures, we know that there are seven Archangels, that is, senior Angels who rule over all the others. "
In the book of Tobit (12:15) we read that the Angel who spoke with him said: "I am Raphael, one of the seven Angels." And the Revelation of John the Theologian speaks of seven spirits who are before the throne of God (Rev. 1:4). The Holy Church refers to them: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Yehudiel and Barahiel. Tradition includes Jeremiah among them.
Archangel Michael is the first of the supreme Angels, the champion of the glory of God. He is often depicted in military attire with other angels faithful to God. Or one is depicted in the clothes of a warrior with a sword or a spear in his hand, trampling underfoot a dragon or an ancient serpent - the devil.
So he is depicted in memory of the fact that once in heaven there was a great battle between the Angels - the servants of God and evil spirits - the angels who fell away from God and became the servants of Satan.
Sometimes he is depicted with a copy, the top of which is decorated with a white banner with a cross. This is a special difference between the Archangel Michael and his army, which means moral purity and unwavering loyalty to the Heavenly King. »
Archangel Gabriel is the herald of the fate of God and the servant of His omnipotence. He is sometimes depicted with a branch of paradise in his hand or with a lantern, inside of which a candle burns, in one hand and with a mirror in the other. A candle closed in a lantern means that often the fates of God are hidden until the time of their fulfillment, but after fulfillment they are comprehended only by those who carefully look into the mirror of their conscience and the words of God.
Raphael is depicted with an alabaster vessel filled with healing oil. The name Raphael means "mercy", "help to all who suffer."
Uriel - the Archangel of God's light and fire - is depicted with a lightning bolt down. He illuminates with the fire of fiery love, enlightens the minds of people with the revelation of useful truths. It can be said about him that he is a special patron of people who have devoted themselves to the sciences.
Selaphiel - Archangel of prayer. Depicted either with a rosary in his hands, or in a prayerful pose with his hands clasped in reverence to his chest.
Yehudiel - "Praise God." Depicted with a golden crown in one hand and a whip of three cords in the other. The crown is to encourage people who strive for the glory of God, and the scourge is to protect them in the name of the Holy Trinity from enemies.
Barahiel - Archangel God's blessings, during earthly life sent to those who work to receive heavenly, eternal blessings.
These are the Archangels.
And now for the Angels.
Among the host of Angels is the Guardian Angel of each of us. And so, all of us, my dears, should strive to get to know our Guardian Angel as best as possible, to know enough to feel his presence near us. And for this we need to know about him as much as possible.
Our Church teaches that God created angels in His own image. These are incorporeal, intelligent, purest beings, similar to the spirit. They are generously endowed by God with natural gifts: intelligence, the ability to know and love both their Creator and people, and to be a living example of God's perfections. They are faithful servants of God, doers of His will. Not only are they able to understand and converse with each other, but they also understand the language of our souls, and therefore we can turn to them in our prayers. And this is the guarantee of close direct communication available to each of us with our Guardian Angel.
We are sinful people, and with our bodily eyes we do not see Angels, although they are always present in churches for our services. We do not see our Guardian Angel either, although he is constantly near us. But we need to learn to feel with our souls and see with our spiritual eyes the presence of our heavenly patron.
The belief of our Church that every Christian has his own Guardian Angel is based on the testimony of Holy Scripture and the teachings of the Holy Fathers. The Lord Himself in the Holy Gospel points us to this: “Be careful, do not despise any of these little ones: for I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).
And the lives of the saints tell us the same thing. They tell us how the great saints of God and the venerable fathers both saw and talked with their Angels. We can find many evidence of this among the hermits (especially the Egyptians), as well as from the lives of the ascetics of later centuries and those very close to us.
According to the teachings of the Church, each of us in the holy minutes of Baptism is given by God a Guardian Angel, and he accompanies us, protecting us in all our life path and is always in close proximity with us.
Saint Basil the Great teaches that with each of the faithful (that is, believers) there is an Angel who, as a schoolmaster and shepherd, manages his life.
Like Basil the Great, St. Anastasius of Sinai, expressing the teaching of the Church, says: “To those who have been vouchsafed Baptism, God has given angels who care for them and assist them.”
But, although we, due to our sinfulness and spiritual impurity, do not see the Angels, as the saints see them, we believe that they surround us, enlighten our minds in the knowledge of God, instruct in love for God and for people, encourage us to pray and to all that is holy, pure, and sublime. They fill our soul with inner peace.
The Holy Fathers - Dionysius the Areopagite, John of Damascus, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and a number of others - who left us the doctrine of the Heavenly angelic hierarchy, pointed out that our Guardian Angels, ministers and organizers of our salvation, occupy the ninth, that is, the very last rank in the hierarchy.
But don't let that discourage any of us. Although they are at the very bottom of the hierarchy and, therefore, more distant from God than others, but if we were able to see them, we would be amazed at their beauty, their nobility and could not bear the delight and surprise.
We are happy, my dears, from the realization that the Guardian Angels are the servants of our salvation, that we are not alone in our earthly life, in our labors for the salvation of our immortal soul. We know for sure that our helpers are with us, protecting us from all sorts of troubles encountered on the path of life, and from the wrath of God deserved by each of us. Our Guardian Angel is a creature that loves us endlessly. He loves us with all the fullness of his love. And his love is great, and its action is strong, because, contemplating God, he sees eternal love who wants our salvation.
Do not be embarrassed, my dears, by the fact that our Guardian Angel in the Heavenly angelic hierarchy occupies the ninth - last place. His ministry is great in the sight of God. He is intended to protect and save us, people, and man, as we all know, is the crown of God's creation.
Our Guardian Angel is like our second mother. He has the same concern for us, and even more. Mother takes special care of us while we are in infancy and childhood. Angel is our Guardian from the moment of our baptism until last days life is our caring schoolmaster. And, if we ourselves do not push him away from us during our earthly life, he will lead our soul to worship God when the time comes for the soul to part from the body.
Don't be embarrassed! - I repeat once again, by the fact that our Guardian Angel is in ninth place in the Heavenly hierarchy. If God sent an Angel to protect and protect a person, He at the same time gave him the strength to overcome enemies.
Our Guardian Angels are powerful in their personal virtues, powerful in the strength they receive from God, powerful in the prayers that they send for us to the Most High God.
Everything that is good, pure, bright in us: every good thought, every good movement of the heart, our prayer, repentance, good deeds - all this is born in us and is done at the suggestion of our invisible Guardian Angel. Acting through our conscience and our heart, it is he (our Angel) who keeps us from sin and temptation, it is he who helps us fight temptations, it is he who inspires us with fear of a serious fall into sin.
When the Guardian Angel sees us walking the saving path, he tries in every possible way to encourage us, to affirm us on this path. If we fall into sin and stray from the path of salvation, what touching care he shows to bring back the lost sheep into the flock of Christ! At the same time, when, carried away by worldly bustle, we stop listening to him and fall into sin, the Angel departs from us for the time of our impenitence, weeps for us, watching us from the side, asks God for us to be patient and slow down with punishment. But at the same time, he does not stop knocking on the conscience in order to awaken repentance in us.
The Guardian Angel given to us is, as it were, our conscience expanded and revealed. He strives with all his might to save us, and we have no right to interfere with him in this. We must help him in his efforts to save us. We must ask him to enrich our minds with an abundance of holy thoughts, to strengthen in us the habit of pious reflections. We are obliged to love him as our elder and strong brother. But in fact, we so often forget about him, do not pray to him, offend his shrine with our sins, and he again and again shows his concern for us. He intercedes for us before the mercy of God, he pleads with God for our needs, and the Heavenly Father will never refuse him his requests.
Oh, if only we could know our Guardian Angel in such a way that it would burst from our chest: “Angel of God, Angel of heaven, Angel of my comforter, appear to me, open to my heart! Unfortunately for me, I still did not know you. Speak to my heart, it will listen to you, listen to your suggestions and fulfill them.
Let us try, my dears, to acquire such a state of mind in our souls.
But why do the Angels of God show such concern for people?
First, because they are God's servants and have been commanded by God to protect and save people. Secondly, they themselves are God's creations, and the words “Be merciful, even as your Heavenly Father is merciful” apply to them, as well as to people (Matthew 5:23). They understand this and try, imitating their Creator and God, to show both their mercy and their long-suffering towards people.
On earth, among people, there is a vast field of activity for Angels in their desire to imitate God. And therefore, with what desire and with what joy they bring the rich gifts of God to people on earth! They come to us to nourish an unfortunate person with the bread of grace, to give him a few drops to drink from the source of heavenly pleasures, to help a person break the bonds of sin and lead him triumphantly to the house of the Heavenly Father. They give help to the needy, strengthen the weak, resurrect the dead, that is, they lead to sincere contrite repentance of sinners, resurrecting them for eternal life.
What joy it gives them to save souls whom Christ has redeemed with His own blood, and who (with their help) will share with them their glory and their blessedness!
If we were even a little more sensitive, we would notice how carefully our Guardian Angel helps us return through repentance to the path of salvation. He not only encourages us to repent, but he also promises to remind us of all our sins, all life's mistakes and oversights.
He tells us, “When you are about to repent, I will stand by your side and remind you of your sins because I have been a witness to them. I only stood at some distance from you when you sinned, but I saw all your bad deeds and regretted and wept for them.
And how good it would be if a person could answer these words of his Angel: “Your suggestions, my Guardian Angel, penetrate into my hardened heart, and from the depths of the abyss, which I myself dug with my sins, I cry out to you: bring me to my Heavenly Father!”
Firmly remember, my dears, that when you go to bring your repentance to a servant of the Church, your Guardian Angel will be with you. And how he will rejoice when he sees that a sincere confession has cleansed your soul from sins.
Our Guardian Angels, messengers to us from God, freely and quickly make the way from God to us and from us to God (if only our deeds do not interfere with this). They come from God to us to bring us His grace; they also ascend from us to God in order to convey to Him our prayers and thanksgiving.
How close our Guardian Angel should be to each of us! What confidence we must have in him! During our lifetime, we can tell him the most intimate secrets of our souls. Those secrets that we would not entrust to the closest people. And this is because in the Guardian Angel we see the wisest in advice, the most disinterested in love and help, tender in affection for us, caring in our needs.
That is why our Church, during divine services, as if on our behalf daily lifts up a prayer: “The angel is peaceful, faithful mentor, guardian of our souls and bodies, we ask the Lord.” Why this daily petition, if, as already mentioned, God gave everyone his Guardian Angel?
The reason is in ourselves. We, by our carelessness and our sins, force him to simply depart from us, for he, being himself holy, does not tolerate sin.
Oh, how we need it in all the circumstances of our life! And how happy is the person who makes his way before the face of God under the guidance of his Guardian Angel. His life is pure and calm. Such a person is afraid of even the shadow of sin, so as not to offend his Angel.
But woe to us if by our actions we force him from our intercessor to become our accuser. According to the teachings of the Church, the Guardian Angel will appear before each of us at the mysterious, terrible, sacred and inevitable moment of our death.
Then we will beg and beg him not to leave us. He did not leave us during the ordeals, because we would be very scared without him. And how deeply we will regret then that during our lifetime we ourselves moved away from him, forgot to pray to him, especially in moments of danger.
And how blessed those of us will be who have accustomed themselves during their lifetime to prayerfully turn to him: “My Guardian Angel! When the hour of my death comes, hasten to my aid in the separation of the soul from the body; be my comforter in the fight against death; take under your protection when I pass into the realm of eternity, when I leave this world and enter into a world unknown to me; encourage me with your presence... May I see you at my right hand, standing, bright, quiet, my intercessor...” th day after death and will not leave in the afterlife.
Here, very briefly, of course, is the main thing that I wanted to tell you about our Guardian Angels.
All of the above obliges each of us to reverently honor our Guardian Angel and pray to him. Contributors of today! I especially urge you, when you approach the holy chalice, remember that it is only because of our unworthiness that we do not see how many Angels surrounded the chalice with the Life-giving Body and Blood of Christ, and they rustle their wings inaudibly for us, singing the glory of Almighty God. And next to each of you is your faithful friend, whom you also do not see, and he advises: “Do not rush, do not rush and do not crowd those walking next to you (as, unfortunately, we often do), yield to the one who wants to get ahead of you. Walk in reverence."
This will please your Guardian Angel. I wish all of you, my friends, that you not only love your Guardian Angel as something inaccessibly high and holy, but that each of you, to the best of your spiritual strength and capabilities, feel your Guardian Angel constantly standing next to you - your closest and most sincere friend.
And I sincerely wish you all this feeling with all my heart. Amen.
We know about the existence of the Heavenly angelic world from the Holy Scriptures. About the fact that he was created by God even before the creation of the visible world and man. We know that the number of Angels is incalculably great and that the Wisdom of God established an amazing order in this Heavenly host, creating an angelic hierarchy, dividing all the Angels into nine ranks of three ranks in the hierarchy, subordinating the lower ranks to the highest.
Angels differ from each other both in enlightenment and in the difference in the degree of grace.
higher hierarchy Those directly close to God are Angels bearing the names: Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. seraphim according to their name, they have hearts burning with love for God, and excite others to ardently love their Creator. Seraphim means "flaming".
Cherubim have fullness of vision and abundance of wisdom. They are illuminated by abundant rays of God's light. They are given to know everything to the extent that created beings can know.
Thrones- these Angels are so exalted and so illumined by grace that the Lord dwells in them and through them manifests His justice.
Second, middle hierarchy consists of Angels bearing the names: Dominions, Powers and Powers . Angels dominance they teach people to dominate their will, to be above any temptation, and they also command those evil spirits who swore to destroy a person. Forces- Angels filled with Divine Fortress. These are the spirits through which the Lord works His miracles. God has given them the ability to send down the grace of miracles to the saints of God, who work miracles while living on earth. Authorities- Angels who have the power to tame the power of demons, to repel the enemy's temptations. In addition, they strengthen good ascetics in their spiritual and bodily labors.
Third, lowest, hierarchy also includes three ranks: Beginnings, Archangels and Angels . Beginnings- the rank of Angels, who are entrusted with managing the universe, protecting individual countries and peoples and managing them. These are the Angels of the People. Their dignity is higher than the Guardian Angels of individual people. From the book of the prophet Daniel, we learn that the care of the Jewish people was entrusted to the Archangel Michael (see: Dan. 10, 21). Archangels- great evangelizers of the Mysteries of God, of everything great and glorious. They strengthen the holy faith in people, enlightening their minds to the knowledge and understanding of the will of God.
(last, ninth rank of the hierarchy) - light spiritual beings who stand closest to us and have special care for us.
We know from Holy Scripture that there are seven archangels, that is, senior angels who rule over all the others. In the book of Tobit we read that the angel who talked with him said: "I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels" (Tob. 12, 15). And the Revelation of John the Theologian speaks of seven spirits who are before the throne of God (see Rev. 1:4). The Holy Church refers to them: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Yehudiel and Barahiel. Tradition includes Jeremiah among them.
1. archangel Michael- the first of the supreme Angels, the Defender of the glory of God. He is often depicted in military attire with other angels faithful to God. Or one is depicted in the clothes of a warrior with a sword or a spear in his hand, trampling underfoot a dragon or an ancient serpent - the devil. So he is depicted in memory of the fact that once in heaven there was a great battle between the Angels - the servants of God and evil spirits - the angels who fell away from God and became the servants of Satan. Sometimes he is depicted with a copy, the top of which is decorated with a white banner with a cross. This is a special difference between the Archangel Michael and his army, which means moral purity and unwavering loyalty to the Heavenly King.
2. Archangel Gabriel- the herald of the fate of God and the servant of His omnipotence. Depicted sometimes with a branch of paradise in his hand. Or with a lantern, inside of which a candle burns, in one hand and with a mirror in the other. A candle closed in a lantern means that often the fates of God are hidden until the time of their fulfillment, but after fulfillment they are comprehended only by those who carefully look into the mirror of their conscience and the words of God.
3. Archangel Raphael- depicted with an alabaster vessel filled with healing oil. The name Raphael means "mercy", "help to all who suffer".
4. Archangel Uriel- Archangel of light and fire of God- depicted with a lightning bolt down. It is illumined by the fire of fiery love, enlightens the minds of people with the revelation of useful truths. It can be said about him that he is a special patron of people who have devoted themselves to the sciences.
5. Archangel Selaphiel- Archangel of prayer. Depicted either with a rosary in his hands, or in a prayerful pose with his hands clasped in reverence to his chest.
The celebration of the Council of the Archangel Michael of God and other incorporeal Heavenly Powers was established at the beginning of the 4th century at the Local Council of Laodicea, which was several years before the First Ecumenical Council. The Council of Laodicea condemned and rejected the heretical worship of angels as the creators and rulers of the world and approved the Orthodox veneration of them. A holiday is celebrated in November - the ninth month from March (from which the year began in ancient times) - in accordance with the number of 9 ranks of the Angels. The eighth day of the month points to the future Council of all the Powers of Heaven on the day of the Last Judgment of God, which the holy fathers call "the eighth day," for after this age, which goes by weeks of days, the "Oth Day" will come, and then "the Son of Man will come in His Glory and all the holy angels with him" (Matthew 25:31).
The Angelic ranks are divided into three hierarchies - the highest, the middle and the lowest. Each hierarchy is made up of three ranks. The higher hierarchy includes: Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. Closest to the Most Holy Trinity are the six-winged Seraphim (Flaming, Fiery) (Isaiah 6:2). They burn with love for God and incite others to it.
After the Seraphim, the Lord will have many-eyed Cherubim (Genesis 3:24). Their name means: an outpouring of wisdom, enlightenment, because through them, shining with the light of the knowledge of God and the understanding of the mysteries of God, wisdom and enlightenment are sent down for true knowledge of God.
Behind the Cherubim - God-bearing by the grace given to them for service, the Thrones (Col. 1, 16), mysteriously and incomprehensibly bearing God. They serve the justice of God.
The average Angelic hierarchy is made up of three ranks: Dominions, Forces and Powers.
Dominions (Col. 1, 16) rule over the subsequent ranks of Angels. They instruct earthly rulers appointed by God in wise management. Dominions are taught to control feelings, to tame sinful desires, to enslave the flesh to the spirit, to dominate one's will, to overcome temptations.
Forces (1 Pet. 3:22) fulfill the will of God. They work miracles and send down the grace of wonderworking and clairvoyance to the saints of God. Forces help people in bearing obediences, strengthen them in patience, bestow spiritual strength and courage.
Authorities (1 Pet. 3:22; Col. 1:16) have the power to tame the power of the devil. They repel demonic temptations from people, affirm ascetics, protect them, and help people in the fight against evil thoughts.
The lower hierarchy includes three ranks: Principals, Archangels and Angels.
The beginnings (Col. 1, 16) rule over the lower angels, directing them to the fulfillment of Divine commands. They are entrusted with managing the universe, protecting countries, peoples, tribes. The Principles instruct people to give each one the honor due to his rank. Leaders are taught to do official duties not for the sake of personal glory and benefits, but for the honor of God and the benefit of others.
The archangels (1 Thess. 4:16) preach the great and glorious gospel, reveal the secrets of faith, prophecy and the understanding of the will of God, strengthen the holy faith in people, enlightening their minds with the light of the Holy Gospel.
Angels (1 Pet. 3:22) are closest to people. They proclaim the intentions of God, guide people to a virtuous and holy life. They keep believers, keep from falling, raise the fallen, never leave us and are always ready to help if we wish.
All ranks of the Heavenly Forces bear the common name of Angels - in essence of their ministry. The Lord reveals His will to the highest Angels, and they, in turn, enlighten the rest.
Above all nine ranks, the Lord placed the holy Archangel Michael (his name is translated from Hebrew - "who is like God") - a faithful servant of God, for he cast down from Heaven a puffed-up den with other fallen spirits. And to the rest of the Angelic Powers, he exclaimed: "Let's pay attention! Let's become good before our Creator and do not think anything displeasing to God!" According to Church tradition, captured in the service of the Archangel Michael, he took part in many Old Testament events. When the Israelites left Egypt, he led 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 appeared, destroying the Egyptians and Pharaoh, who were persecuting the Israelites. Archangel Michael defended Israel in all disasters.
He appeared to Joshua and revealed the will of the Lord to take Jericho (Joshua 5:13-16). The power of the great Archangel of God appeared in the destruction of 185 thousand soldiers of the Assyrian king Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:35), in the defeat of the wicked leader Antiochus Iliodor, and in the protection from fire of the three holy youths - Ananias, Azarias and Misail, who were thrown into the oven to be burned for refusal worship an idol. (Dan. 3, 92 - 95).
By the will of God, the Archangel transferred the prophet Habakkuk from Judea to Babylon in order to give food to Daniel, who was imprisoned in the den with lions (kontakion of the akathist, 8).
Archangel Michael forbade the devil to reveal to the Jews the body of the holy prophet Moses for deification (Jude 1:9).
The Holy Archangel Michael showed his strength when he miraculously saved a boy thrown into the sea by robbers with a stone around his neck off the coast of Athos (Paterik of Athos).
Since ancient times, the Archangel Michael in Russia has been glorified by his miracles. In the Volokolamsk Patericon, the story of the Monk Pafnuty Borovsky from the words of the Tatar Baskaks about the miraculous salvation of Novgorod the Great is given: and go to the New City and God and the Most Pure Mother of God covered it with the appearance of Michael the Archangel, and forbid him to go to him. : "Forbid me to go to Veliky Novgorod"".
Intercession for the Russian cities of the Most Holy Queen of Heaven has always been carried out by Her appearances with the Host of Heaven, under the leadership of the Archangel. Grateful Russia sang the Most Pure Theotokos and the Archangel Michael in church hymns. Many monasteries, cathedral, palace and town churches are dedicated to the Archangel. In ancient Kyiv, immediately after the adoption of Christianity, the Archangel Cathedral was erected and a monastery was built. Archangel cathedrals stand in Smolensk, Nizhny Novgorod, Staritsa, a monastery in Veliky Ustyug (beginning of the XIII century), a cathedral in Sviyazhsk. There was no city in Russia where there would not be a temple or a chapel dedicated to the Archangel Michael. One of major temples the city of Moscow - the temple-tomb in the Kremlin - is dedicated to him. Numerous and beautiful are the icons of the Chief of the Higher Forces and his Cathedral. One of them - the icon "Blessed Host" - was painted for the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, where the holy warriors - Russian princes - are depicted under the leadership of the Archangel Michael.
The Archangels are also known from Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition: Gabriel is the fortress (strength) of God, the herald and minister of Divine omnipotence (Dan. 8, 16; Lk. 1, 26); Raphael - God's healing, healer of human ailments (Tov. 3, 16; Tov. 12, 15); Uriel - fire or light of God, enlightener (3 Ezra. 5, 20); Selaphiel is God's prayer book, inciting to prayer (3 Ezra. 5, 16); Jehudiel - glorifying God, strengthening those who work for the glory of the Lord and interceding for recompense for their deeds; Varahiel - the distributor of God's blessing for good deeds, asking people for God's mercy; Jeremiel - elevation to God (3 Ezra. 4, 36).
On the icons, the Archangels are depicted in accordance with the nature of their service:
Michael - tramples the devil underfoot, holds a green date branch in his left hand, in his right hand - a spear with a white banner (sometimes a flaming sword), on which a scarlet cross is inscribed.
Gabriel - with a paradise branch brought by him to the Blessed Virgin, or with a luminous lantern in right hand and a jasper mirror on the left.
Raphael - holds a vessel with healing potions in his left hand, and with his right hand leads Tobias, carrying a fish.
Uriel - in his raised right hand - a naked sword at chest level, in his lowered left hand - "fiery flame".
Selaphiel - in a prayer position, looking down, hands folded on his chest.
Jehudiel - in his right hand he holds a golden crown, in his coat - a scourge of three red (or black) ropes.
Barahiel - many pink flowers on his clothes.
Jeremiel - holds scales in his hand.
The authorities cast out demons, the Beginnings send lightning, the Archangels teach.
Thanks to Hollywood, we are well aware of the demons of the army of the devil, and know very little about the army of God. Despite the fact that the angels of the Lord are much more powerful, stronger and very little like figurines of children with wings, looking at us from the counters with tenderness.
For example, seraphim - the closest angels to the Lord - are huge creatures with six wings the size of multi-storey building, several faces and many eyes. And the prophet Daniel, who pacified the lions, even lost consciousness when he saw an angel in front of him! “His body is like a topaz, his face is like a kind of lightning. His eyes are like burning lamps, his hands and his feet are like shining brass.” Seeing such a guardian angel near him, he suddenly wants to sin - so that, God forbid, not to upset him! By the way, only five ranks of angels are allowed to be depicted in icon-painting canons.
The army of the Lord has a strict hierarchy. Nine ranks, divided into three faces: the upper (seraphim, cherubim and thrones), the middle (dominations, powers, authorities) and the lower (beginnings, archangels and angels). There is no sinful envy between them and the desire to “sit another”. Angelic ranks are different colors of a single picture of the great artist - the Creator. The chief apostle of languages, Paul, told about them to his disciple, Dionysius the Areopagite, who, on the basis of the stories, compiled the book “On the Heavenly Hierarchy”.
seraphim
Seraphim means "fiery", "fiery". Of all the ranks of heaven, the Seraphim are the closest to God. They feel in all their strength and depth incomprehensible to us that God is Love - merciful, immeasurable, which humbled Himself for the sake of the human race to the cross and death. This love always leads the seraphim into sacred awe and horror, makes their whole being tremble. They cannot endure this great Love. They cover their faces with two wings, their legs with two wings, and fly with two wings, crying out in fear and trembling: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord of Hosts!” When the prophet Isaiah, seeing the Lord sitting on the throne surrounded by seraphim, began to lament: “Oh, I am a cursed man, with unclean lips,” one of the seraphim flew to him. “He has in his hand a burning coal, which he took with tongs from the altar, and touched my mouth and said: Behold, he will take away your iniquities and cleanse your sins.” Burning with love for God, they kindle the fire of this love in the hearts of people, inspiring them to preach. It is they who "burn the hearts of people with their words."
Cherubim
It was a cherub with a fiery sword that expelled Adam and Eve from paradise, who set out to rip off the veil that hides the secrets of Divine Wisdom. For the cherubim, God is the luminous Wisdom, in which it is at least dangerous to doubt, because their jealousy is so great. Cherubim incessantly delve into the Divine Mind, sing of it in their songs, contemplate the Divine mysteries, penetrate them with trepidation. In the Old Testament, cherubim are depicted crouching over the Ark of the Covenant. Cherubim look with tenderness, fearfully at the Divine Wisdom, explore it, learn from it and, as it were, cover its secrets with their wings, keep them. They are extremely strict towards those who dare to penetrate the unknown mysteries of heaven, as if saying: “Be afraid to test with your mind what you have to believe!” Cherubim - "multi-eyed". From the unceasing contemplation of the Divine Wisdom, they see and know everything perfectly and bring knowledge to people (from the word "know" - to know).
Thrones
Has it ever been that a clap of thunder, or a flash of lightning, or the height of mountains, or the greatness of worship, made you want to fall on your knees, or burst into tears, or simply soar into the sky? Such holy minutes are not without the influence of the Thrones.
No, of course, they are not like earthly thrones made of gold, silver or ivory. Heavenly Thrones - reasonable, living bearers of the greatness and glory of God! They feel, contemplate God as the King of Glory, who creates judgment and truth, "the Great, Strong and Terrible God." Thrones are not only filled with this majesty and glory, but they also make others feel it. As if pouring it into human hearts, filling us, mere mortals, with waves of greatness and glory. They seem to connect us to their mood. Yes, if the Thrones visited us more often, we would have fewer troubles. They would send us a feeling of the greatness of God and our own insignificance, we would not be so exalted, not knowing our own prices, almost considering ourselves a god. But alas, the glory of God in its entirety is available only to the Thrones.
domination
If for the Seraphim God is Love, for the Cherubim it is Wisdom; for the Thrones - the King of Glory, then for the Dominions God is the Provider. Dominations contemplate God precisely as a Provider, they sing of His care for the world. They penetrate into the manifold cares of God, as He dresses "the clouds of heaven, prepares rain for the earth, grass and cereals vegetate on the mountains for the service of men." The Dominions marvel at how God, so great, embraces everyone and everything with His care; keeps and protects every blade of grass, every midge, the smallest grain of sand.
Contemplating God as the Provider - the Builder of the world, the Dominion and people are taught to organize themselves, they teach us to take care of the soul, to provide for it. They inspire a person to dominate his passions, over various sinful habits, to oppress the flesh, giving scope to the spirit. Dominions must be prayerfully invoked to help those who want to free themselves from any passion or habit, but cannot do this due to weakness of the will. Dionysius the Areopagite suggests praying to people who want to get rid of such weakness: “Holy Lords, strengthen my weak will in the fight against sin, let me rule over my passions!”. “And, believe me, such a prayerful invocation will not remain fruitless,” Dionysius writes further. “Now help and strength will be sent to you from the host of Dominions.”
Forces
For the Forces, God is the Miracle Worker. “You are God, work miracles” - this is what constitutes the subject of their constant praise and glorification. Remember, when we are witnesses of some obvious miracle of God, for example, the sight of a blind man, the restoration of a hopelessly ill person, we come to indescribable delight and tenderness. And it is given to the Forces to see such miracles that our mind cannot even imagine. They can delve into the very depths of these miracles, their highest goal is revealed to them.
Authorities
Like red-hot iron, the Authorities are imbued with the fire of God's omnipotence and become its bearers. The authorities are unbearable for the devil and put his hordes to flight. Therefore, it is important for those demon-possessed and those who have despondency to pray daily: “Holy authorities, with the power given to you by God, drive away from the servant of God (name) or the servant of God (name) the demon who torments him (or her)!”. Called upon in simplicity of heart, the Authorities will come to the rescue, and the demon-possessed will feel lightness in his soul.
Beginnings
“I saw four angels standing on the four sides of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth,” testifies St. John in Revelations. “It is given to them to harm the land and the sea.” Lightning often strikes blasphemers, hail breaks one field, not another. Who gives the unreasonable element a reasonable direction? Started. They are peoples towards the highest good goals, which the Lord Himself indicates and predetermines. They raise, as much as they can, those who willingly obey them, to God, as to their Beginning.
Archangels
These are heavenly teachers. They teach people how to arrange their lives in accordance with the will of God. Different paths of life are before man: there is the path of monasticism, the path of marriage, and there are various kinds of service. What to choose? Here the archangels come to the aid of man. To them the Lord reveals His will concerning man. Archangels know what awaits a person on this or that path of life. They deviate from one path, and direct a person to another, teach them to choose the right path. Whoever has broken his life, hesitates, you need to call on the help of the archangels: “Archangels of God, determined by God Himself to teach us, admonish, teach me which path to choose, I’ll go stink, but please my God!”
According to the teaching of the Orthodox Church, there are seven archangels.
Archangel Michael (Who is God?)
(Hebrew מיכאל, Michael - “Who is like God”; Greek Αρχάγγελος Μιχαήλ) is the main archangel, who is one of the most revered biblical characters.
For fidelity, he was appointed by God as an official over all the ranks of holy angels. Therefore, it is depicted in a warlike form, with a spear or a flaming sword in his hand, having a defeated spirit of malice under his feet. The white banner adorning the top of his spear means the purity and fidelity of the angels to the King of Heaven. The cross, with which the spear ends, makes it clear that the battle with the kingdom of darkness and victory over it is done in the name of the Cross of Christ, is done through patience, humility and self-sacrifice.
Michael's name is mentioned several times at the end of the Book of Daniel:
- “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood against me for twenty-one days; but behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I stayed there with the kings of Persia” (Dan. 10:13).
- “However, I will tell you what is written in the true scripture; and there is no one to support me in this but Michael your prince” (Dan. 10:21).
- And also in the prophecy about the Last Judgment and the role of Archangel Michael in it:
“And at that time Michael will rise, the great prince, who stands for the sons of your people; and a time of trouble will come, such as has not happened since the existence of people, until now; but at that time all of your people will be saved who are found written in the book.
(Dan. 12:1) - Christian tradition also identifies the following references to unnamed angels with the actions of Archangel Michael:
- appearance to Balaam: “and the angel of the Lord stood in the way to hinder him” (Numbers 22:22);
- appearance to Joshua: “and behold, a man stood before him, and in his hand was a naked sword,” and further on he is called the Leader of the host of the Lord (Josh. 5:13-15);
- the destruction of 185 thousand soldiers of the Assyrian king Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:35);
- the salvation of the three youths in the fiery furnace: "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel and delivered his servants" (Dan. 3:95).
Archangel Gabriel (Fortress of God)
(heb. גבריאל - the power of God) Mentioned in the following biblical books: Dan. 8:16, 9:21 and Luke. 1:19, 1:26.
Sometimes he is depicted with a paradise branch in his hands, which he brought to the Virgin Mary on the day of the Annunciation, and sometimes with a lantern, inside of which a candle burns, and with a mirror (mirror) from a jasper, as a messenger of God's fate about the salvation of mankind.
In the Bible it is called an angel, but in the tradition of the Christian church it acts as an archangel - one of the highest angels. In the Old and New Testaments, he appears as a bearer of joyful gospels. He announces to the priest Zechariah in the temple, when offering incense, the birth of John the Baptist, the Virgin Mary in Nazareth - the birth of Jesus Christ. It is considered the guardian angel of the chosen people. Kabbalists consider him the teacher of Patriarch Joseph. According to the teachings of Muslims, the Prophet Muhammad received his revelations from him. It is depicted on icons with a candle and a jasper mirror as a sign that the ways of God are not clear until the time, but are comprehended over time by studying the word of God and obedience to the voice of conscience.
Archangel Gabriel is commemorated in Orthodox Church March 26 and July 13 (according to the Julian calendar).
Archangel Raphael ("God's help and healing")
(ancient Hebrew רפאל, Rephael - “the Lord healed”). Mentioned in the book of Tobit (3:16; 12:12-15).
Physician of human ailments. He holds a vessel with medicine in his left hand, and a pod in his right hand, that is, a clipped bird feather for anointing wounds.
Archangel Barahiel ("Praise of God")
Not mentioned in the Bible, known only from the "revelation" of Amadeus of Portugal.
The Holy Archangel Barachiel, the distributor of God's blessings and intercessor, asking us for God's good deeds: is depicted carrying white roses on his chest on his clothes, as if rewarding, at the command of God, for the prayers, labors and moral behavior of people and foreshadowing bliss and endless peace in the Kingdom of Heaven. White roses are a symbol of God's blessing.
Archangel Salafiel ("servant of prayer")
(ancient Hebrew שאלתיאל - “prayer to God”). Mentioned only in the apocryphal 3rd Book of Ezra (3 Ezra 5:16).
A prayer book that encourages people to pray. He is depicted with his face and eyes bowed down, and his hands pressed with a cross on his chest, as if tenderly praying.
Archangel Yehudiel (Praise God)
This name is known only from the "revelation" of Amadeus of Portugal, his name is not mentioned in the canonical texts.
Depicted holding a golden crown in his right hand as a reward from God for useful writings holy people, and in the left hand - a scourge as a punishment for sinners for laziness.
Archangel Uriel ("the light of God, or God is the light")
(ancient Hebrew אוּרִיאֵל - “the light of God, or God is light”). Mentioned in the apocryphal 3rd book of Ezra (3 Ezra 4:1; 5:20).
According to the apocrypha - the Third book of Ezra, the archangel Uriel was appointed by God to guard Paradise after the fall and exile of Adam. According to Orthodox theologians, Uriel, being the radiance of divine fire, is the enlightener of the darkened, the unbelievers and the ignorant, and the very name of the archangel, corresponding to his special ministry, means "Fire of God" or "Light of God."
According to the icon-painting canon, Uriel "is depicted holding a naked sword in his right hand against his chest, and a fiery flame in his left."
Archangel Jeremiel ("Height of God")
Mentioned only in the Third Book of Ezra (3 Ezra 4:36.).
The Biblical Encyclopedia of Archimandrite Nikifor reports the following about him:
In the 3rd book of Ezra (4:36) the Archangel Jeremiel (the height of God) is also mentioned. He was present at the first conversation of the Archangel Uriel with the priest Ezra and answered the latter's question about the signs preceding the end of the sinful world, and about the beginning of the eternal kingdom of the righteous.
Based on the meaning of the name (Jeremiel - “Height of God”), theologians believe that he is sent from God to man in order to promote the exaltation and return of man to God. He is depicted holding a scale in his right hand.
Angels
According to St. John Chrysostom, "the whole air is filled with angels." They are so close to us that they surround us everywhere, they look at us from everywhere and “come before the priest during the performance of the terrible Sacrifice.” You can recognize the presence of a Guardian Angel by your inner mood. When your soul is light, your heart is light, quiet, peaceful, when your mind is occupied with contemplation of God, when you repent, you are touched, then, therefore, the Angel is near.
Why can't an angel appear in a visible way? In order not to frighten, not to confuse us with his appearance, for he knows how cowardly, timid and timid we are in front of everything mysterious. An angel once appeared to the prophet Daniel in a visible way and he told what happened to him at the same time. “On the twenty-fourth day of the first month,” says the prophet, “I was on the banks of the great river Tigris, and lifted up my eyes, and saw: behold, a man clothed in linen, and his loins were girded with gold. His body is like a topaz, his face is like a kind of lightning; his eyes are like burning lamps, his hands and feet are like shining bronze, and the voice of his speech is like the voice of a multitude. And I looked at this great vision, but there was no fortress left in me ... And I heard the voice of his words; in a daze I fell on my face and lay face to the ground, and became dumb, my insides turned in me, and there was no strength in me, and my breath stopped in me. Daniel, who embarrassed the lions and had strength higher than human, could not bear the presence of the celestial and fell down lifeless. The angel needed to encourage the prophet so that he would not die of fear.
What you need to know about archangels.
Michael
Archangel Michael (who is like God) was the first to rebel against Satan when he rebelled against God. After that, the proud angel, who had departed from the Lord, was cast out of heaven. It is considered the supreme archangel, the patron saint of the heavenly host, the archangel. Depicted in a warlike form, with a spear or sword in his hand, having a dragon under his feet, that is, the spirit of malice.
Gabriel
Archangel Gabriel (the power of God) reveals the secret knowledge of the Creator: he shows the secrets of the coming prophet Daniel, brings the Good News to the Virgin Mary and warns her of her imminent death, announces to Zacharias the birth of his son, John the Baptist (Zacharias pays for unbelief with dumbness).
Archangel Gabriel is often depicted on icons with a blossoming paradise branch or lily. There are also images with a spherical mirror in hand, and sometimes with a candle inside the lamp. He is often depicted on the northern doors of the iconostasis. Archangel Gabriel is one of the shield holders on the Coat of Arms of the Russian Empire.
Raphael
Archangel Raphael (God's help and healing) - the archangel of mercy and help to those in need, the archangel of mercy and compassion. Raphael is considered the patron saint of healers and all those who care about the weak of this world. That is why on icons he is traditionally depicted holding a vessel (alavastre) with medical agents (medicine) in his left hand, and a pod in his right hand, that is, a clipped bird feather for anointing wounds.
Uriel
Archangel Uriel (Light of God) is traditionally depicted with a sword in his right hand, and in his left hand with a flame. As an angel of light, he enlightens the minds of people with the revelation of truths; as an angel of divine fire, he ignites hearts with love for God and destroys in them impure earthly attachments. Uriel is considered the patron of sciences and all good knowledge. But one should not be blinded by scientific light, one should not forget about divine fire. The mind is puffed up, love alone creates (1 Cor. 8, 1).
Salafiel
Salafiel (servant of prayer) is an archangel who warms hearts for prayer, encourages and helps in prayer. A person is weak and vain, it is not so easy to open one's heart. Archangel Salafiel is often depicted on icons praying, giving Christians an example of righteous prayer.
Egudiel
Archangel Egudiel (God's praise) is depicted holding a golden crown in his right hand, and a scourge of three red ropes in his left. The work of this archangel with a host of his angels is to encourage with the reward of eternal blessings and protect in the name of the Holy Trinity and the power of the Cross of Christ people who work for the glory of God. Every deed is done through labor, and many deeds are done with special and difficult labor, but every good deed will be done properly under the protection and patronage of this archangel. A good deed is a feat. And the harder the job, the higher the reward. That is why Egudiel is depicted with a crown - a reward for any honestly working Christian.
