Angels

• Nature of Angels:

  • Angels are spirits without bodies or gender (no male or female).
    (Psalm 104: “He makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.”)

  • Their nature is pure, holy, and completely obedient to God — they hear His word and carry it out instantly.

• Purity and Holiness:

  • Angels have no inner struggle between flesh and spirit; virtue comes naturally to them.

  • They are characterized by beauty, light, and swiftness — able to appear from heaven to earth in an instant.

• Fall and Distinction:

  • Some angels underwent a period of testing and fell, becoming demons.
    Those who remained faithful received a crown of righteousness and can no longer fall.

• Their Roles and Functions:

  • They continually praise God (Seraphim and Cherubim are dedicated to worship).

  • They serve through ministry, rescue, guidance, and annunciation.

  • There are angels of punishment (as in Revelation) and angels of good news (who appeared to Mary, the shepherds, and the Magi).

  • They performed miracles of deliverance: saving Daniel, freeing Peter, rescuing Lot, striking the Assyrian army, and stirring the healing waters in John 5.

• Ranks and Numbers:

  • Their numbers are countless: “ten thousand times ten thousand,” “the innumerable hosts.”

  • Ranks include Seraphim, Cherubim, and Archangels (Michael, Gabriel, Raphael… there are seven archangels in total).

• Relationship with Humans:

  • They surround and protect people: “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them” (Psalms 34 & 91).

  • One angel can guard a whole city or nation — not every person necessarily has an individual guardian angel.

  • Their role includes guidance: directing Abraham’s servant, appearing to Cornelius, and explaining visions to Daniel.

  • The Church invokes their intercession in prayers, builds churches in their names, and gives people names like Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.

• Illustrative Stories:

  • At Stephen’s martyrdom, his face shone like that of an angel.

  • A monk once left a divine vision to serve the poor, and Christ commended him — showing the angels’ compassion.

  • Angels sometimes appear in human form, with wings or even six wings as seen in Scripture and visions.

• Practical Spiritual Application:

  • The Church is called “the house of angels” because angels are present in worship and the Divine Liturgy.

  • Angels minister to believers through rescue, guidance, and proclamation — and in the last day, they will gather the chosen at Christ’s second coming.