Unclean spirits increase the passions in us, making use of our negligence, and inciting them. But the angels decrease our passions, inciting us to the perfection of virtue.
- St. Maximus the Confessor, Chapters on Love
Eastern Orthodox Tradition mentions “thousands of archangels” (anaphora, Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom) however, only seven archangels are venerated by name. The seven Archangels that we venerate by name are: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jegudiel, and Barachiel.
Archangel Michael became the head of the entire heavenly host. For his zeal in working for God he is honored by the Church even to this day.
Archangel Gabriel is the messenger of God’s Providence, the attendant of miracles and divine Mysteries. When we are overcome with doubts, when it seems to us that we have been abandoned by everyone and there is no help from anywhere, we can pray to him.
Archangel Raphael is a merciful healer. He has the power to expel demons.
Archangel Uriel means the light or the fire of God. This archangel enlightens the minds and the hearts of the faithful with the light of divine truths and the fire of divine love.
Archangel Salaphiel is the patron of prayer. He is our primary teacher of prayer. We can pray to Archangel Salaphiel for the Lord to grant us this gift of divine prayer.
Archangel Jegudiel is the patron, defender and helper of all those who toil. Archangel Jegudiel is depicted on icons with a crown of victory in his hands. Such crowns will be earned by those of us who will endure to the very end, who will worthily bear the light yoke of Christ.
Archangel Barachiel is the angel of God’s blessings. While asking God to bless all our good efforts, let us also appeal to Archangel Barachiel for help. He can give us strength to carry our blessed crosses.
If you are interested to find out more information aout the Holy Archangels, you can click here (the site I found the info) and here. Let us all ask for their intercessions, in order to help us with our spiritual struggle.
God bless you!
The Synaxis of the Chief of the Heavenly Hosts, Archangel Michael and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers: Archangels Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jehudiel, Barachiel, and Jeremiel was established at the beginning of the fourth century at the Council of Laodicea, which met several years before the First Ecumenical Council. The 35th Canon of the Council of Laodicea condemned and denounced as heretical the worship of angels as gods and rulers of the world, but affirmed their proper veneration.
A Feastday was established in November, the ninth month after March (with which the year began in ancient times) since there are Nine Ranks of Angels. The eighth day of the month was chosen for the Synaxis of all the Bodiless Powers of Heaven since the Day of the Dread Last Judgment is called the Eighth Day by the holy Fathers.
On the one hand, it is certain that angels are portrayed as men (males) in the Old Testament, often as priestly characters (Revelation).
However, angels are obviously not gendered, as the Lord comments:
NIB Matthew 22:30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.
For this reason, it is interesting to notice how angels are depicted in Orthodox Christian icons. Depending on how one looks at them, they can be seen as neither male nor female. This is done on purpose, because angels are part of the invisible creation, as St. Paul says:
For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him and for Him (Col. 1:16)
Being part of the invisible creation makes them spiritual beings rather than physical beings. It is for this reason that they are called the bodiless powers.Since angels have no physical body they cannot be either male or female.
In one of my previous posts Messengers of God, I had mentioned that Seven of the high-ranking Angels have been revealed to us: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Salathiel, Jegudiel, and Barachiel.
Here there is a prayer to one of the Archangels, Archangel Salathiel, “The Command, Communicant or Prayer of God”:
O Pure and Holy Archangel St. Selaphiel, you bow before the Almighty Lord offering angelic salutations of praise and thanksgiving. Guide us in our prayer. Like you, we would like to unceasingly pray and worship God the right way. May our lives be like incense pleasing to God. While awaiting for the inevitable time of separation frmo this material world, may we praise the Holy Trinity in the spirit of true love and humility throughout the days of our life in eternity. Obtain for us these favors _________ and present to God the Father all these petitions through Jesus Christ our Lord together with the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
At the blog Finding The Way To The Heart, you can find a prayer to every single Archangel.
“When the stars were made, all my Angels praised Me with a loud voice” said the Lord to Job (Job 38.7)
We have all heard about Angels … from the very beginning of man they have been there. God placed a Cherubim with a flaming sword to guard the entrance of Paradise (Gen 3:24); Jacob saw Angels in his vision (Gen 23:12); Genesis 32:1-2; Psalms 148:2; Psalms 90:11; the Prophet Isiah saw Seraphim surrounding the Throne of God; the Prophet Ezekial saw Cherubim in his vision of the House of God. The New Testament also contains many references to angelic beings, example Luke 1:11, 12 and 19. Seven of the high-ranking Angels have been revealed to us:
Michael, “Who is Like God” (Dan 10.13)
Gabriel, “Man of God” (Luke 1.19 and 26)
Raphael, “The Help of God” (Tobit 3.17 and 12.12-15)
Uriel, “The Fire of God” (III Esdras 4.1 and 5.20)
Salathiel, “Prayer of God” (III Esdras 5.16)
Jegudiel, “Praise of God”
Barachiel, “Blessing of God”
* * * *
“Grace be unto you and peace from Him, which is, and which was, and which is to come, and from the seven spirits which are before His Throne” writes Apostle John the Theologian in Apoc. 1.4.
True prayer always reaches heaven. The angels carry it to the right place and the answer comes. Its basis is Truth, and “Not My will, but that of the Father Who sent me.”
-Mother Gabriel
The great vitures are three: humility, obedience, and love.
When there is no love and obedience to the local bishop, everything is ruined.
No one can hold two watermelons under one arm. That is, no one can seek offices and be humble at the same time. Which one of those bishops that Church or the Start clare anti canonical goes to become a male nurse in a hospital? No one, because they don’t have humility and obedience. But if some bishop would do just that, then all the people would admire him and readily believe that our Orthodox faith is a faith of works. Let then all the preachers of the world come together and go preach everywhere. They won’t have such an effect as the example of that bishop, since works are superior to any preaching.
We cannot have boldness before God when we are not obedient, humble. Our heart must be simple in order to receive the word of God. No selfishness or hard-heartedness. Simplicity of heart makes us similar to God and to the saints. Everything is simple. The simple man is neither wicked nor can he think something wicked. He is resettles. He is like a child. His prayer is readily received. He prays for the others and for his sins.
How can you not weep when you see how much you’ve grieved God, the Angels and the Saints, who wait for you in Heaven and benefit you while on earth?
-Father Dimitrios Gagastathis
Demons often transform themselves into angels of light and take the form of martyrs, and make it appear to us during sleep that we are in communication with them. Then, when we wake up, they plunge us into unholy joy and conceit. But you can detect their deceit by this very fact. For angels reveal torments, judgments and separations; and when we wake up we find that we are trembling and sad. As soon as we begin to believe the demons in dreams, then they make sport of us when we are awake too. He who believes in dreams is completely inexperienced. But he who distrusts all dreams is a wise man. Only believe dreams that warn you of torments and judgments. But if despair afflicts you, then such dreams area also from demons.
The Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel is celebrated on the day after the Annunciation, and a second time on July 13. It was instituted in the ninth century, perhaps to celebrate the dedication of a church at Constantinople. Originally, the Feast was observed on October 16.
Troparion (Tone 4)
Gabriel, commander of the heavenly hosts,
we who are unworthy beseech you,
by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory,
and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you:
“Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commander of the powers on high!”
“An Angel of peace, a faithful guide and guardian of our souls and bodies let us ask of the Lord,” we pray during services. The Orthodox Church believes every child receives from God a Guardian Angel. The Lord Jesus Christ said: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you, their angels in heaven always behold the face of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).
The Blessed Augustine writes, “The angels, with great concern, and with untiring eagerness, reside with us at every hour and in every place. They help us, they foresee our needs, serve as mediators between God and ourselves, lifting up to Him our groans and sighs … Accompanying us in all our travels, they go in and out with us, attentively watching if we deport ourselves with piety and honor among the evil species, and with what effort do we seek the Kingdom of God.” A similar thought is expressed by Basil the Great, “With every believer there is an angel, which, as a child’s leader and pastor, directs his life.” And in confirmation of this he quotes the Psalm that says about God that “He commands His angels regarding you to guard you in all your paths … The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (Psalm 91:11, 34:7). Bishop Theophan the Recluse instructs in one of his letters, “We must remember that we have a Guardian Angel and turn to him in our thoughts and heart. This is good during peaceful times and especially so during turmoil. When such contact with the angel is missing, he has no means of influencing us. For example, if one approaches quicksand or an abyss, and has plugged his ears and closed his eyes, how can anyone help him?”
Thus should a Christian remember his good angel, who for the span of all his life concerns himself with him, rejoicing in his spiritual achievements, and grieves over his downfalls. When a person dies, the angel takes his soul to God. Having found itself in the spirit world, according to many accounts, the soul recognizes its Guardian Angel.
The following is a short morning prayer to the Guardian Angel (from the Russian prayer book):
Angel of God, my holy protector, given to me from heaven by God for my protection, I fervently beseech you: enlighten me and preserve me from all evil, instruct me in good deeds and direct me on the path of salvation. Amen.
Addendum by Dr. Steven Bushnell
