Who are cherubim in Orthodoxy? Who are Seraphim and Cherub? Seraphi we are in the Christian tradition the highest angelic rank, closest to God

Peace to you, Alexey!

"CHERUB. The word cherub appears for the first time in the book. Genesis in the following words: “And (God) placed in the east of the Garden of Eden a cherubim with a flaming sword, after the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, to guard the way to the tree of life” (3:24). Then it talks about cherubim during the construction of the Tabernacle during the time of the prophet Moses () and during the creation of the Temple of Solomon (, 8:6-7,). Their depiction in human form, but with wings, and the placement of these images in the Holy of Holies above the Ark of the Covenant and the atonement, with their faces bowed to it, allows us to see that they, as the highest spiritual beings, are awarded special closeness to God, standing before His throne , reverently serve Him, always ready to fulfill His will, penetrating into the secrets of our salvation (,). In the Psalms of David (17:11, 79:2), and in other priests. writers (, 22:11,) The Lord appears to be seated on cherubim, which also shows their special closeness to God. Prophets Moses and Ezekiel and Evangel. John speaks of them as real beings, and they are placed together with the angels and among the angels (, 17:11, 4:6-9, 5:11). Cherubim constitute a special, highest order in the heavenly hierarchy, distinct from angels (5:11-14, 7:11). They seem to be the intellectual forces closest to God, endowed by God with special perfections and having their own special ministry. Cherub guards the mysterious tree of life in the Garden of Eden. Cherubim overshadow the Ark of the Covenant and purgatory, delving into the mysteries of salvation (). Cherubim surround the throne of the Almighty and the Lamb in heaven, and incessantly day and night they glorify His infinite perfections, not only in the great work of creation, but also in our redemption. There is completeness in them higher life and the highest reflection of the glory of God (4:6-8)."
(c) Biblical Encyclopedia of Archimandrite Nikephoros

Lucifer, who later became the devil (Satan) was a cherub:

“You were an anointed cherub to overshadow, and I appointed you to do so; you were on the holy mountain of God, walking among the fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, until iniquity was found in you. Because of the vastness of your trade, your inner being was filled with unrighteousness, and you sinned; and I cast you down as unclean from the mountain of God, and drove you, the overshadowing cherub, out of the midst of the fiery stones. Because of your beauty your heart was lifted up, because of your vanity you destroyed your wisdom; Therefore I will throw you to the ground, I will hand you over to shame before kings.”
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Moreover, God calls him “the overshadowing cherub,” which suggests that he was one of the two cherubim who guarded the Law of God in the ark in the Heavenly Sanctuary:

“Behind the second veil was a tabernacle called the “Holy of Holies,” which had a golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, where there was a golden vessel with manna, Aaron’s rod that blossomed and the tablets of the covenant, and above it the cherubim of glory overshadowing the atonement ( i.e., the Ark of the Covenant), which does not need to be discussed in detail now.”
(TO )

Unfortunately for all of us, he later rebelled against this Law. Since then, he has been whispering in everyone’s ear: “no, you won’t die” () if you break just one of the commandments,” “we are holy and rational beings, filled with the Holy Spirit, we ourselves can decide what to observe and what not, what what is evil and what is good.”

Sincerely,
Alexander

Read more on the topic “Heaven, Angels and Celestials”:

Although they are ethereal, they have their own strict and complex system of subordination. At the turn of the 5th and 6th centuries, the treatise “O” was created, the authorship of which has not yet been established. In this text, which is most often attributed to the theologian Dionysius the Areopagite, the structure of the system of heavenly forces is presented quite fully.

The heavenly one includes nine angelic ranks, which are divided into three stages, degrees, and “spheres.” By the way, on ancient icons the heavenly inhabitants are actually depicted as spheres. The first degree includes fiery and flaming seraphim. These are six-winged creatures closest to the divine throne.

Seraphim glorify God, burn with love for the Creator and awaken the same feelings in others.

Second in the hierarchy are the cherubim. The unknown author of the work presents them as creatures with four faces and four arms. These are intercessors who spread knowledge about God. The mission of the cherubs is to constantly contemplate the Creator. They also convey to the world deep divine wisdom received from a higher source.

Of the representatives of other celestial spheres, the most notable are archangels and angels. The first are heavenly teachers and bosses for representatives of the lower levels. But the angels, according to Christian tradition, are in the heavenly hierarchy closest to the earthly world. Their task is to inform people about the Creator’s intentions, as well as to guide everyone on the path of a holy life full of virtue.

What does the Bible say about cherubim?

The Old Testament contains a mention of a cherub who is armed with a sword and guards the entrance to Eden. There is also a description of these creatures as the means of transportation of God himself. “He who sits on the cherubim” is how God is sometimes called in Old Testament.

In the speech of the prophet Ezekiel, the cherub appears before listeners and readers in sparkling clothes decorated with stones.

There is no exact description of the appearance of cherubim in biblical texts. It only says that these creatures have faces and wings. They symbolize the throne of the mighty God and serve as his protection. Cherubim are also mentioned in the passage of the Testament where God informs Moses of the commandments that will be revealed to him and then transmitted to the people of Israel.

Often such fabulous creatures appear before Bible readers in human form, complete with wings. These mysterious creatures those close to the Creator serve him faithfully and are ready to fulfill the divine will at any moment. Cherubim are one of those heavenly forces for whom the secret of the path leading to the salvation of mankind has been revealed.

Celebration of the Council of the Archangel Michael and others Heavenly Powers disembodied was established at the beginning of the 4th century at the Local Council of Laodicea, which took place several years before the First Ecumenical Council. The Council of Laodicea, by its 35th canon, condemned and rejected the heretical worship of angels as creators and rulers of the world and approved their Orthodox veneration. The holiday is celebrated in November - the ninth month from March (with which the year began in ancient times) - in accordance with the number of the 9 ranks of Angels. The eighth day of the month indicates the future Council of all the Heavenly Powers on the day of the Last Judgment of God, which the holy fathers call the “eighth day,” for after this age, which runs in weeks of days, the “eighth 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 - highest, middle and lowest. Each hierarchy consists of three ranks. The highest hierarchy includes: Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. Closest Holy Trinity the six-winged Seraphim (Flaming, Fiery) are coming (Isa. 6, 2). They burn with love for God and encourage others to do so.

After the Seraphim, the many-eyed Cherubim stand before the Lord (Gen. 3:24). Their name means: outpouring of wisdom, enlightenment, for through them, shining with the light of knowledge of God and understanding of the mysteries of God, wisdom and enlightenment are sent down for true knowledge of God.

Behind the Cherubim come the God-bearing Ones by grace given to them for service, the Thrones (Col. 1:16), mysteriously and incomprehensibly bearing God. They serve God's justice.

The average Angelic hierarchy consists of three ranks: Dominance, Strength and Authority.

Dominions (Col. 1:16) rule over the subsequent ranks of Angels. They instruct God-appointed earthly rulers in wise governance. Dominions teach one to control one's feelings, tame sinful lusts, enslave the flesh to the spirit, dominate one's will, and overcome temptations.

The powers (1 Pet. 3:22) fulfill the will of God. They work miracles and send down the grace of miracles and clairvoyance to the saints of God. The forces help people to obey, strengthen them in patience, and bestow spiritual strength and courage.

The authorities (1 Pet. 3:22; Col. 1:16) have the power to tame the power of the devil. They ward off demonic temptations from people, confirm ascetics, protect them, and help people in the fight against evil thoughts.

The lower hierarchy includes three ranks: Principalities, Archangels and Angels.

The principalities (Col. 1:16) rule over the lower angels, directing them to fulfill Divine commands. They are entrusted with managing the universe, protecting countries, peoples, tribes. They began to instruct people to give everyone the honor due to their rank. They teach superiors how to perform job responsibilities not for the sake of personal glory and benefits, but for the sake of the honor of God and the benefit of others.

Archangels (1 Thessalonians 4:16) preach great and glorious things, reveal the mysteries of faith, prophecies and 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 God's intentions and instruct people to lead a virtuous and holy life. They protect believers, keep them from falling, raise the fallen, never leave us and are always ready to help if we wish.

All ranks of the Heavenly Powers are common name Angels - in essence of their ministry. The Lord reveals His will to the highest Angels, and they, in turn, enlighten the rest.

Over all nine ranks, the Lord placed the holy Archangel Michael (his name translated from Hebrew as “who is like God”) - a faithful servant of God, for he cast down from Heaven the proud Lucifer with other fallen spirits. And to the rest of the Angelic Powers he exclaimed: “Let us take notice! Let us become good before our Creator and not think anything displeasing to God!” According to Church tradition, recorded in the service of Archangel Michael, he took part in many Old Testament events. During the Israelites' exit from 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 pursuing the Israelites. Archangel Michael protected 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 of Antiochus Iliodor and in protecting from the fire the three holy youths - Ananias, Azariah and Mishael, who were thrown into the oven to be burned for refusal bow to the idol. (Dan. 3, 92 – 95).

By the will of God, the Archangel transported the prophet Habakkuk from Judea to Babylon to give food to Daniel, imprisoned in the den of lions (kontakion akathist, 8).

Archangel Michael forbade the devil to show the body of the holy prophet Moses to the Jews for deification (Jude 1:9).

Saint Archangel Michael showed his power when he miraculously saved a youth thrown into the sea by robbers with a stone around his neck off the coast of Athos (Athos Patericon).

Since ancient times, Archangel Michael has been glorified for his miracles in Rus'. In the Volokolamsk Patericon, the story of the Venerable Paphnutius Borovsky from the words of the Tatar Baskaks about the miraculous salvation of Novgorod the Great is given: “And since Veliky Novgrad was never taken from the Hagarians ... sometimes, by God's permission, it was a sin for our sake, the godless Hagaryan king Batu captured the Rosi land and burned and went to the New City and God and the Most Pure Mother of God covered it with the appearance of Michael the Archangel, who forbade him to go to it. He went to the Lithuanian cities and came to Kyiv and saw the great Archangel Michael written above the doors of the stone church and the prince pointed with his finger: “Forbid me from going to Veliky Novgorod.”

Representations for Russian cities of the Most Holy Queen of Heaven were always carried out by Her appearances with the Heavenly Host, under the leadership of the Archangel. Grateful Rus' sang the Most Pure Mother of God and Archangel Michael in church hymns. Many monasteries, cathedrals, 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 established. The Archangel Cathedrals stand in Smolensk, Nizhny Novgorod, Staritsa, monastery in Veliky Ustyug (beginning of the 13th century), cathedral in Sviyazhsk. There was no city in Rus' where there was not a temple or chapel dedicated to the Archangel Michael. One of the main temples city ​​of Moscow - a temple-tomb in the Kremlin - dedicated to him. The icons of the Chief of the Supreme Powers and his Cathedral are numerous and beautiful. 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 the Holy Scriptures and Holy Tradition: Gabriel - the fortress (power) of God, the herald and servant of Divine omnipotence (Dan. 8, 16; Luke 1, 26); Raphael - healing of God, 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, encouraging prayer (3 Ezra 5, 16); Jehudiel - glorifying God, strengthening those who work for the glory of the Lord and interceding for reward for their exploits; Barachiel is a dispenser of God’s blessing for good deeds, asking people for God’s mercy; Jeremiel - exaltation to God (3 Ezra 4, 36).

On the icons the Archangels are depicted in accordance with the type of their ministry:

Michael - tramples the devil underfoot, in his left hand he holds a green date branch, in his right hand - a spear with a white banner (sometimes a flaming sword), on which a scarlet cross is inscribed.

Gabriel - with a branch of paradise brought by him Holy 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 he leads Tobiah, who is carrying a fish.

Uriel - in his raised right hand - a naked sword at chest level, in his lowered left hand - a “flame of fire”.

Selaphiel - in a prayer position, looking down, hands folded on his chest.

Jehudiel - holds a golden crown in his right hand, and a scourge of three red (or black) ropes in his shuitz.

Barachiel - on his clothes there are many pink flowers.

Jeremiel holds scales in his hand.

See angel palm cherub... Dictionary of Russian synonyms and similar expressions. under. ed. N. Abramova, M.: Russian Dictionaries, 1999. handsome cherub, cherub, handsome, angel, handsome Dictionary of Russian synonyms ... Synonym dictionary

Angel of the highest rank. Dictionary foreign words, included in the Russian language. Pavlenkov F., 1907. CHERUB Heb. cherubim, plural number from cherub. The highest angelic rank. Explanation of 25,000 foreign words that have come into use in the Russian language, with... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

CHERUB, cherub, husband. (from other Hebrew plural ka rubim). In religious mythology, an angel of the highest rank (church). “Before him is the messenger of heaven, a cherub.” Lermontov. || Image, doll with wings, used. as a decoration or toy. “Every gift (with... ... Dictionary Ushakova

CHERUB, the highest angelic rank accepted by our church. little, caress, caress. Hello baby, angel. Cherubic wings. The Cherubim or church song begins with the words: Like the Cherubim. Cherubic incense, incense burnt, after censing in... ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

cherub- light (Ice); pure (Lermontov, Rosenheim) Epithets of literary Russian speech. M: Supplier of His Majesty's court, the Quick Printing Association A. A. Levenson. A. L. Zelenetsky. 1913... Dictionary of epithets

"Cherub" redirects here. See also other meanings. Cherub, mosaic, Cathedral of Cefalu Cherubim (actually, Hebrew כרובים‎, cherubim, already in the plural form, however, in Russian and a number of other European languages ​​it was historically established in ... ... Wikipedia

cherub- ah, usually plural. cherubs/we, m. 1) In Jewish and Christian mythology: angel-like guardian creatures included in one of higher categories in the heavenly hierarchy of angels. He enters, the messenger of heaven, a cherub (Lermontov), ​​looks in front of him. 2) outdated, old... Popular dictionary of the Russian language

cherub- a, m. In the Christian religion, an angel of the highest rank. What's the use of it? Like a certain cherub, He brought us several songs of heaven... // Pushkin. Mozart and Salieri //; He enters, the Messenger of Paradise, a cherub, looks in front of him. // Lermontov. Demon // ◘ … Dictionary of forgotten and difficult words from works of Russian literature of the 18th-19th centuries

cherub- A type of so-called heavenly powers, depicted in the form of a child’s head with wings on the sides. Source: Pluzhnikov, 1995 See also: Seraphim Illustrations: Detail of the design of the door of the Savior Cemetery Church in Bezhetsk, Tver region. Fragment... ... Dictionary of Temple Architecture

The word cherub appears for the first time in the book. Genesis in the following words: And (God) placed in the east of the Garden of Eden a cherub with a flaming sword, after the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, to guard the way to the tree of life (Gen. 3:24). Then it talks about... ... Bible. Dilapidated and New Testaments. Synodal translation. Biblical encyclopedia arch. Nikifor.

Books

• Cherub, Dashkova Polina Viktorovna. If two different people destined to wear one face if sweet life responds with the pain of previous sins, if the twice-born responds to the name of the unborn, if some thirst for revenge, others -...