Seraphim
Position in the hierarchy: 1
Appearance: According to the Old Testament, seraphim have six wings. “With two wings they covered their faces, with two wings their feet, and with two wings they flew.” (Isaiah 6:2) Historically, artists also painted them as heads and wings. Paper
These are the creatures closest to God.
They are also known as “rays of the fire of love” to God, and some theologians say that they also use this heat for purification. “Then one of the seraphim flew towards me with a live coal in his hand, which he took from the altar with tongs; for he touched my lips, and said, “Behold, he has touched your lips. your iniquity is blotted out and your sins cleansed” (Isaiah 6:6-7). After the seraphim were cleansed with coal, Isaiah was able to talk to God.
Some scholars suggest that Lucifer, the fallen angel, was a seraphim. , although this has been hotly debated.
Cherub
Rank Position: 2
Appearance: Although Victorian renderings show them as children, this is not the case in traditional images. Some medieval artists associated cherubs with yellow or blue; while the seraphim, red.
Role: According to Dionysus, cherubs were associated with knowledge and reason.
The word cherub resembles expressions found in several ancient languages, suggesting that these angels may have roots in the Assyrian origin of the human-headed winged bull or human-headed winged lion. Person of Phoenician origin. .
The Old Testament explains how Moses built the Ark of the Covenant. “When Moses left his meeting place to speak with the Lord, he heard a voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim on the lid of the ark of the covenant. Thus spoke the Lord to him.” (Num 7:89)
thrones
Rank Position: 3
Appearance: They usually appear in Christian theology as a group of elders, as in the Apocalypse.
Role: Dionysus associates thrones with ideas of justice and peace. Some argue that the thrones are synonymous with the Ofanim, the Jewish hierarchy of angels, and that 1 Enoch describes them as surrounding God with seraphim and cherubim. Those Ophanim are believed to be wheels covered with eyes that carry the throne of God.
Many think that these are the same thrones described by Dionysus.
domains
Position in the Hierarchy:
Appearance: There are fewer depictions of this order in art, and the Bible passages do not specifically refer to their appearance. Domains are sometimes described as looking very similar to traditional angels, with a pair of wings and light golden lights.
Role: The Rulers of the Hierarchy are responsible for overseeing the activities of angels and lower ranks to carry out God’s work.
In medieval art, rulers are sometimes seen with scepters and crowns, reflecting their role in the hierarchy.
Virtues
Rank Position: 5
Appearance: Artists sometimes show them with red roses or lilies.
Role: Strength, power, endurance and virility are associated with virtues.
Scholars say that these celestial beings are in charge of performing miracles and giving signs to people.
They also find that this order cares for the weak and sick, helps people cope with their problems, and promotes patience and fortitude.
Powers
Rank Position: 6
Appearance: They often appeared in armor in medieval images.
Role: They are brave and fight against all things dark and sick.
They help people fight temptations and deal with the threat of demons.
Those who disagree with Dionysus’ celestial hierarchy say that this order simply refers to a characteristic of all angels, not a clear classification.
Principalities
Rank Position: 7
Appearance: The Principalities are more or less presented in the art and there is no direct reference to their existence in the Bible.
Role: As the name suggests, principalities deal with the governments and empires of Earth.
They also guard other creatures, making sure they do God’s work.
archangels
Position in the hierarchy: 8
Appearance: The only archangel to appear in the New Testament is Michael, who leads God’s army against Satan in Revelation. As such, art often depicts him with a sword.
Role: Although Michael’s teachings vary between Christian denominations, many groups see him as a protector and a force against evil.
Gabriel is widely considered an archangel, and some Christians also recognize Raphael in this category. As seen when Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus, archangels are tasked with carrying special messages from God.
Although Dionysus places him last in the hierarchy, the word archangel suggests that he is above all angels, and some scriptures interpret these beings in this way.
angels
Position in the Hierarchy: 9
Appearance: Although angels are often depicted in art with wings, halos, and dressed in white, there is no Biblical reference to confirm this appearance.
Role: In the sense given by Dionysus, angels are the group that most interacts with people, carrying messages between heaven and earth and vice versa.
For others, angels are the ones who protect individual people.
Traditionally angels are portrayed as devoid of will, which sets them apart from humans and fallen angels. The angels must carry out the will of God, transmitted by the celestial beings in the hierarchy above them.