Heavenly powers, bodiless powers, heavenly hosts or angels. There are many names for the great and holy beings we celebrate on November 8th. The Feast of the Synaxis of Michael the Archangel and Other Heavenly Powers. Sometimes this feast is also called Michaelmas.
This feast day was established before the 1st Ecumenical Council, at the Council of Laodicea. The council agreed to celebrate the heavenly hosts in November, as the the 9th month after the creation of the world. (See our article on March 25th here). The significance of the 9 relates to the fact that we acknowledge 9 ranks of angels. Also, the 8th day of November was chosen because the Church Fathers often refer to the Last Judgment as the 8th day.
In this article we will cover the knowledge we have about angels and where it comes from, ways to celebrate the feast, as well as prayers to guardian angels, and tropars for the feast day.
About Angels
What We Know… According to the Catechism
According to the Catechism, the heavenly powers are servants and messengers of God (329). “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.” (328) We call them angels because they are doing God’s will, but spirit is a more accurate term to describe their nature (329). Angels are spiritual creatures which have will and intelligence, they are immortal, and are created through and for Christ, for the sake of salvation (330-331). And the Church benefits from help of angels, we join with angels in our liturgies, and human life surrounded by intercession of angels (334-336). The Catechism of the Catholic Church also lists some of the work of angels in regard to the divine plan and biblical presence. (332)Consensus Of Theologians, And Points Of Scripture, Tradition, And Commentaries Of St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bonaventure, Etc.
It is commonly understood that angels occupy space, contain space, but are not limited to space. So angels move by exercising power through the use of their will, in one location as opposed to another. Angels can temporarily take on material form for the sake of their mission, such as when Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Theotokos to announce the incarnation. Angels are referred to as being in a hierarchy, which is understood as a sacred order of beings. The existence of choirs are a “small t” tradition.- The roles of the 3 hierarchies:
- 1st: adoration of the divine presence, contemplating God in his infinite goodness, and the proper end of all things
- 2nd: to receive knowledge/illumination/truth from 1st Hierarchy, and to govern the material world and the cosmos
- 3rd: to receive knowledge/illumination/truth from 2nd Hierarchy as to what needs to be done, to carry it out with particular attention to humans, and to serve and direct humanity
- 3 hierarchies, with 3 choirs in each
1st Hierarchy
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- 1 – Seraphim “(burning) Love of God”
- Unceasing praise and perpetual contemplation of God
- Also known for purification (coal/lips of Isaiah)
- Even though their first task is to God, they may still serve man
- 6 wings, 3 pairs (face/ feet/ arms)
- 2 – Cherubim “Truth of God”
- Contemplation of God
- Pass down truth, charity, and harmony
- Gen 3:24 / Ex 25:18
- Intercessors for life of Christian perfection
- 3 – Thrones
- Humility, firmness, simplicity, steadfastness to God
- Colossians and Revelation
- Lower hierarchies receive illumination through the Thrones
- 1 – Seraphim “(burning) Love of God”
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2nd Hierarchy
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- 4 – Dominions (or Lordships)
- Has dominion over lower hierarchy
- They are given power to command
- They preside over virtues and powers
- And they make known the commands of God to lower hierarchy
- Govern sense
- 5 – Virtues
- In Ephesians and 1 Peter
- Move the cosmos
- And we recognize Virtues in miracles
- Do everything in alignment with the power/energy of God
- 6 – Powers (or Authorities) (Warrior Angels)
- Well directed for fighting demons/evil
- Name refers to power of God: the irresistible but not tyrannical power of God
- Eph 6:12 shows that the angels that fell from heaven still have their created power, only now they are utilizing it for evil
- Chastisements from God come through the powers
- 4 – Dominions (or Lordships)
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3rd Hierarchy (deals most closely with humanity)
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- 7 – Principalities (Princely)
- About obedience to proper authority
- So they are responsible for shift in governing powers
- Also, most fallen angels probably came from this choir
- Principalities wear a crown and carry a sceptre in icons
- Their duty is to carry out the orders given to them by the Dominions
- They also bequeath blessings to the material world
- Therefore, their task is to oversee groups of people as the educators and guardians of the realm of earth.
- They are also therefore responsible for inspiring living things to subjects such as art or science.
- 8 – Archangels
- Officers of lowest hierarchy / In Thessalonians and Jude
- Deliver messages and preside over the multitude
- Michael (associated with God the Father)
- Gabriel (connected to Son) (words of Hail Mary)
- Raphael (associated with the Holy Spirit) “God heals” (Tobit/healing)
- 9 – Angels
- Lowest choir
- Guardian angels are in this choir (probably)
- And they comfort, guard, and support man
- Matthew 18:10 – goal is friendship with angel, communication in love (Guardian angel loves you more than any human being, because they are infused with love directly from God, and their created purpose is to guide you home)
- The angel has all knowledge needed for your sanctification
- 7 – Principalities (Princely)
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Would it be appropriate to add “many-eyed” to the description of Cherubim?
Yes it would be!