The 9 choirs of angels play an important role in God’s creation. Throughout the Bible, we see them accomplishing various tasks for God, including delivering messages to human beings.
Although the nature of angels remains mysterious to us, they traditionally are divided into 9 different kinds of angels, called “choirs” of angels.
1. Seraphim
Tradition places the seraphim as the highest ranking angels, the ones closest to God. They continuously praise God before His throne. The Scriptures mention the seraphim in Isaiah:
In the year that King Uzzi′ah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.” – Isaiah 6:1-3
The seraphim are on fire with God’s love, experiencing Him most closely. In fact, the name seraphim derives from the word meaning “burning.”
St. Thomas Aquinas writes about this fiery nature:
- Fire continuously moves upwards. Thus, the seraphim also always tend in the direction of God.
- Fire gives off heat that penetrates every aspect of things that approach it. The seraphim are on fire with a superabundant fervor and thus those subject to them also grow in fervor and cleanse themselves in the heat of God.
- Fire provides clarity, or brightness. Thus the seraphim, in their inextinguishable light, help enlighten others.
In more modern times, St. Francis of Assisi even saw a vision of a seraphim approaching him as he received the stigmata from Christ.
The glory of the seraphim should inspire us to also be on fire with Christ’s love and to spread it to others:
“I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!” – Luke 12:49
2. Cherubim
Tradition places the cherubim next in the hierarchy and are the most mentioned in the Scriptures. They first make their appearance in the Garden of Eden, guarding the way to the tree of life with flaming sword.
Cherubim appear in many decorations throughout the Old Testament. God orders that cherubim adorn the lid of the ark of the covenant and woven in the curtains around the tabernacle. Inside the Temple, King Solomon creates two large cherubim made of olivewood, overlaid with gold. In the Old Testament, they are usually associated with the presence of God.
Ezekiel describes the cherubim as having four faces: a man, a lion, an oxen, and an eagle. Each cherubim had four wings, with two covering their bodies. Underneath, they appeared to have the form of a man. This appears to match the description seen in the Book of Revelation.
The cherubim are associated with having an certain excess of knowledge or “fullness” of knowledge.
St. Thomas Aquinas divides it further:
- The perfect vision of God
- The full reception of the Divine Light
- Their contemplation in God of the beauty of the Divine order
- In regard to the fact that possessing this knowledge fully, they pour it forth copiously upon others
The cherubim magnify the glory of God in His presence, empowered through their knowledge of Him.
3. Thrones
Tradition puts thrones next in the hierarchy, mentioned by Paul:
[F]or in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. – Colossians 1:16
As the name suggests, thrones are associated with the actual throne of God. St. Thomas Aquinas writes of four descriptors:
- Like a seat raised above the earth, Thrones are raised up to the immediate knowledge of the types of things in God.
- Like a seat, Thrones are firm like any good seat through God.
- Like a seat, angels receive God and then can bear Him to inferior creatures.
- Like a seat ready to receive a sitter, Thrones are ready to receive God and serve Him.
The Book of Daniel also has a description of them:
As I looked, thrones were placed and one that was ancient of days took his seat; his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire. – Daniel 7:9
4. Dominions
Dominions are also mentioned by Paul:
[F]or in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. – Colossians 1:16
The dominions begin the second ring of angels, concerned with the government of the universe. They govern the angels who deal with the physical world below them in the hierarchy.
Like the saints, God allows the dominions to mediate His power. Traditionally, they help govern the movement of the stars, planets, and other objects in the universe.
5. Virtues
The virtues are traditionally known for overseeing the natural order, including the cosmic order and causality in the physical realm. Their name is not to be confused with virtue as a the habitual disposition to do the good.
According to Pseudo-Dionysius, their name refers to “a certain powerful and unshakable virility welling forth into all their Godlike energies, . . . mounting upwards in fullness of power to an assimilation with God; never falling away from the divine life through its own weakness, but ascending unwaveringly to the super-essential Virtue which is the Source of virtue.“
6. Powers
St. Paul refers to the powers that fell away from God:
For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:12
Traditionally, the powers united with God fight against the evil angels and forces and restrain them. St. Paul famously writes that even the evil powers cannot separate us from God’s love.
7. Principalities
Principalities begin the final ring of angels that deal mainly with the salvation of mankind. They deal with protecting institutions from evil such as nations, governments, cities, and institutions like the Catholic Church. Their authority mirrors the same an earthly prince would have.
Again, Paul mentions the principalities in his letter to Colossians:
[F]or in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. – Colossians 1:16
8. Archangels
The archangels are the most known of all the angels, especially Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. The word “archangel” appears only twice, in 1 Thessalonians and Jude. They deliver the most important messages to humanity from God.
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. – Revelation 12:7-9
In the angelic war before the creation of mankind, St. Michael defeated Satan and cast them into hell.
St. Gabriel delivered the key messages of Christ’s Incarnation to Mary and the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah.
Finally, St. Raphael helps heal Tobit’s blindness and is an intercessor for all kinds of healings.
Although the Catholic Church formally recognizes these three, Tobit implies there are seven archangels. Other traditions name them as Uriel, Selaphiel, Raguel, and Barachiel.
9. Angels
Finally, the lowest rank are angels, commonly referred to as “guardian angels.” They are the most involved in the well being of humanity, with each person having a guardian angel.
Guardian angels protect humans physically and spiritually.
See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 18:10
It is important for Christians to continually ask for their angel’s protection from the snares of the devil.
