*Apart from the creation of the perceptible world and the creation of man, did God also create other, logical beings ?

Indeed.  God also created another world - a spiritual one that transcends the perceptible one – as well as other beings, that are intelligent, logical and self-governing.

*From where have we learnt about the hyper-perceptible cosmos?

We have read of it and of the existence of angels, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

*Where in the Old Testament do we read of the existence of angels?

- In Genesis, specifically in verses 16:7-11, it mentions that an angel had appeared to Hagar. (This is the first reference to angels; however, various other references to angels also appear in the Book of Genesis):

“And the angel of God found her at the water spring in the desert –the spring on the road to Sur. And the angel of the Lord said to her: ‘Hagar, handmaid of Sara, from where have you come, and where are you travelling to?’ And she said: ‘From the person of Sara my mistress I am fleeing.’ And the angel of the Lord said to her: ‘Turn back to your mistress and submit yourself to her hands.’ Then the angel of the Lord said to her: ‘I shall multiply your seed, and its multitude will be innumerable.’ And the angel of the Lord said to her:  ‘Behold, you are with child in your womb, and you shall give birth to a son, and shall call him Ismael, for the Lord has responded to your humility’.”

-In Deuteronomy 32:8, where Moses mentions angels, we read:

“When the One on High partitioned nations, on distributing the sons of Adam He placed the boundaries of nations according to the number of the angels of God.”

-References to angels are also found in all of the Books of the Holy Bible.  In the Book of Job we read the following remarkable points:

“And it came to be on that same day, and behold, angels of God came and stood before the Lord, and the devil came with them.” (Job 1:6)

and further down:

“When the stars were made, all My angels glorified Me with a loud voice.”  (Job 38:7)

 and:

“...then, also send forth angels angrily, to humble every hubrist!”    (Job 40:11)

-References to angels can also be found in the Book of Realms (aka “Kings”), the Book of Numbers, etc. ^[14]

*Where in the New Testament is the creation of the hyper-perceptible cosmos mentioned?

There are many places in the New Testament that mention angels or benevolent spirits, as well as devils and evil spirits. In particular, the Apostle Paul says the following, regarding the creation of the various angelic ranks:

“...for everything was made by Him; all that is in the heavens and upon the earth; the visible and the invisible - whether the Thrones, whether Dominions, whether Principalities, whether Powers – all were made by Him and report to Him.” (Coloss.1:16)

*Why are the angels referred to as spirits?

They are called spirits because they are spiritual by nature, and because they are  incorporeal, without bodies.

*Where does it say in the Holy Bible that the angels are incorporeal?

In Luke’s Gospel the following can be found:

“Look at My hands and My feet, that it is I; touch Me, and see how a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see Me having.”  (Luke 24:39)

When urging the Ephesians to don the full armour of God so they can confront the methods of the devil, the Apostle Paul said the following:

“For our fight is not towards blood and flesh, but towards the powers, towards the world rulers of darkness of this age; towards the spiritual ones of wickedness in the skies above.  For this, take up the armour of God, so that you will be able to resist in that wicked day, and remain resisting them in every way.”  (Eph.6:12-13)

*What do the Fathers of the Church say, about the spiritual nature of angels?

The Fathers of the Church say that the angels do not partake of the dense, earthen material. This was opined by the Fathers during the 7^th Ecumenical Council (in 787 AD) which was convened in Nicaea of Bithynia, and mentions the following: 

“ [...] Therefore, these precious and venerable icons, as we have mentioned, are to be honoured, greeted and venerated honorifically; that is, the icons of .......... and of the holy and incorporeal angels. [...]”  (Ref. Sacred Canons)

Saint Basil the Great ascribes to the angels a body that is “airy and fiery”. In the 16^th chapter of his work “On the Holy Spirit” he mentions the following: 

“The Angels have a much ‘finer’ (=not dense) body, as they are not entirely incorporeal, like God is. This is why, when they go to a certain place, they become visible - with the actual form of their body – but only when they reveal themselves to saints.”

Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John of Damascus consider the angels incorporeal as compared to humans:

“They are referred to as ‘incorporeal’ and ‘immaterial’ when compared to us, because every created thing that is compared to God - Who is the only incomparable One - is seen as somewhat dense and material, given that only the divine is actually immaterial and incorporeal.”^[15] 

Saint Hilarion says that:

“Each and every created thing is necessarily also corporeal.” ^[16]

Origen regards the angels as ‘fine-bodied’ ^[17] and the same view is repeated in many other Fathers.^[18]

*Are the angels subject to sin?

Yes, they are, because every logical and morally independent creation which has the potential to decide freely, is subject to sin.  Consequently this also applies to the angels.

Saint John of Damascus says the following:

“So, the nature of the angels is logical, intelligent, and self-governing; it is changeable in its opinions – that is, voluntarily changeable – given that everything created is also changeable.” ^[19]

*What does the Holy Bible say about this?

The Holy Bible says that some of the angelic Orders had fallen into a sin.

The Apostle Jude says that:

“Also, the angels that did not keep to their incipience, but by having abandoned their domicile, He reserves eternal bonds in pitch darkness for them, on the grand day of judgment.”  (Jude 1:6)

Our Lord Jesus Christ said the following :

“And He said to them: ‘I saw satan^[20] falling out of the sky like a bolt of lightning.” (Luke 10:18)

*How are the angels named, who kept to their incipience?

Those angels are referred to as ‘benevolent spirits’ – as opposed to those who didn’t keep to their incipience, who are called ‘evil spirits’ and ‘devils’.

*Are the benevolent angels now prone to sin?

No, they are not, because their tenacity in love and their communion with God, and their free inclination towards good, as well as their (benevolent) choice somehow  made it a moral and natural necessity for them.  Thus their choice is forever the good – which is none other than God Himself, Who sanctifies them and preserves them forever benevolent.  As such, those angels have become unchangeable.

Saint Dionysios the Areopagite says that:

“The angels are unmoving towards evil, but not immobile. After the Resurrection of Christ they became fully immobile – not by nature, but by Grace.  For them, salvation was their remaining unchangeable – which made them no longer fear any change towards the worse, and the perdition that will ensue.  That is how the angels received their unchangeable state – that is, to thereafter have knowledge of the path to salvation, the elevation and the likeness to Him.... which is humility – the opposite of pride.”

*Is there any possibility now for the evil spirits to return to God?

No, there is no such possibility; first of all, because their own will has identified with evil, which is why they always think of and choose evil. Then, because they became and remained enemies of God.  And thirdly, because they had chosen to depart from God, and that departure of theirs signified eternal death.  That which is death for the sinner is for the wicked angels their fall from their incipience. 

*How many are the angelic Orders – the Orders of the heavenly hierarchy?

The angelic orders are nine, and are divided into three triadic subdivisions. 

The first triad:  Seraphims – Cherubims – Thrones

The second triad: Dominions – Authorities – Powers

The third triad: Principalities – Archangels - Angels

*What do the Scriptures  say about the number of angels?

The Scriptures say that the number of angels is very large:

“thousands of thousands and myriads of myriads” (Daniel 7:10).

That there are more than twelve legions of angels:

“or do you think that I cannot just now call upon My Father, and He will present Me with more than twelve legions of angels?”  (Matth. 26:53).

That they comprise a multitude:

“And suddenly there came with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts glorifying God and saying: ‘Glory to God on high and peace on earth, with good expectation among men.”  (Luke 2:13).

That there are “myriads of angels”:

“but you have come to the mount of Zion and city of the living God – of heavenly Jerusalem – and of myriads of angels.”  (Hebr.12:22).

*What do the Scriptures say about the power of the angels?

The Scriptures say that the power of the angels is immense and can be applied to both the spiritual and the material world.

They are referred to as “powerful angels” and as “prominent in power”:

 “and to you who are troubled may there be comfort with us upon the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven, along with His mighty angels” (2 Thess.1:7)

“bless the Lord, all of you, His powerful angels, who obey His word, who listen to the voice of His words...” (Psalm 103:20)

“And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord came out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand” (2Realms (aka ‘Kings’) 19:35).

*What are the angels’ occupations?

Angels look upon God’s person and worship Him, but they also minister to the wills of Divine Providence:

(Matth. 18:10)

(Rev. 5:11)

(1 Peter 1:12)

(Gen. 28:12)

(Acts 12:7,23)

(Psalm 91:10-12)

(2 Realms (‘Kings’) 19:35)

(Matth. 13:30-39 and 25:17).

*Are angels immortal by nature?

No, they are not. Angels are immortal by Grace, since they are God’s creations.

John of Damascus specifically says :  “Angel is an immortal, intelligent essence – not by nature, but by Grace, because every thing that has by nature a beginning, also has an end.  Only God – Who has always existed and Who even transcends the ‘always’ – is literally immortal.” ^[21]

*What are the various meanings of the word “angel” in the Holy Bible?

It means:  

Ordinary envoys   (Job1:14, Luke 7:24 and 9:52),

Prophets  (Isa. 42:19, Malach. 3:1), 

Priests   (Malach. 2:7), 

Preachers in the New Testament  (Rev.1:20), 

Personless agents, for example a pillar of cloud  (Exod.14:9),

A plague (2 Sam. 24:16,17), 

Winds (Psalm 104:4),

Pestilences – a name ascribed to the malevolent angels (Psalm 78:49),

“a thorn in the flesh.... a Satan angel” in Paul’s flesh  (2 Cor.12:7),

 “Angel of His Person”   -  the second Person of the Holy Trinity:

And

 “Angel of the Testament” (Isa. 63:9, Malach. 3:1).

The word “angel” is mainly applied to the logical and heavenly beings (Matth. 25: 31).

*What were the Cherubim?

The Cherubim were perfect creatures that were comprised of four parts, that is, of a human, an ox, a lion and an eagle.

The prominent aspect of this creature was the human one, however, the number of faces, legs and arms differed, depending on the circumstances.

(Ezek. 1:6, cmp also Ezek. 41:18, 19, Exod. 25:20).

*What is the etymology of the name ‘Seraphim’, and what to the Scriptures say about it?

The name signifies something that burns, shines,  dazzles and is mentioned in the Bible only once:

“ I (Isaiah) saw the Lord seated on a tall and raised throne, and the house was filled with His glory. And Seraphim(s) stood around Him – six wings on the one and six wings on the other one; and with the two (wings) they covered the face, and with two (wings) they covered the legs, and with (the other) two (wings) they flew. And each one cried to the other and said:  ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Shabbaoth; Full is all the earth of His glory!”  And the lintel above the door was dislodged by the loud  voice that they cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: ‘Woe is me, the wretch; I am overwhelmed, for, being a man and having unclean lips and dwelling among a people with unclean lips, yet I have seen with my eyes the King, Lord Shabbaoth!’ Then one of the Seraphim(s) was sent to me, and it held in its hand a live coal, which it had taken with tongs from the altar. And it touched my mouth with that, and said to me:  ‘Behold, this has touched your lips and it has removed your lawlessness, and is purging your sins’.”   (Isa. 6:2-6).

* Is there evidence that the angels belong to different Orders?

Yes, the texts of the Holy Bible: 

*Gabriel is discerned by the mention that he "stands before God" – evidencing that he holds a certain high position:  

“And replying to him (Zacharias), the angel said to him: ‘I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I have been sent to you to also announce to you these things..."   (Luke 1:19)

*Michael is discerned as one of the Principalities:

“And the ruler of the Persian realm stood opposite me for twenty-one days, and behold, Michael – one of the chief  Principalities – came to help me...”   (Daniel 10:13).

*Additionally, the adjectives ‘archangels’, ‘thrones’, ‘principalities’, ‘powers’ also testify to the existence of Orders:

"As for the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord shall rebuke you!”  (Jude 9)

“...and He sat at His right hand in the heavens, above all principalities and authorities and powers and dominions and every named name, not only of this age but also of the future one.”  (Ephes.1:20-21)

******

Notes:

[14] Moses does not mention anything related to the creation of the angels in Genesis and especially in the chapters on the creation of the world, because his purpose is to present the creation of the visible world (See Chrysostom and Ps. 8:4, Jobius the Monk in the Library of Photius, cod. 222, p. 591).

Athanasius (Q. 4) says: 'Because Moses did this, so that he would not give the Jews an excuse for idolatry (cf. Theodore, Q. 2 In Genesis and Chrysostom in Genesis, Homil. 1).

As for the time at which the angels were created is concerned, the opinions of theologians are divided. Origen believed that the creation of angels preceded the creation of humans and the perceptible world. Gregory the Theologian, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, John of Damascus and other Fathers teach that angels were created before the visible creations. Theodoret accepts that the angels were created on the first day, as it is said at the beginning of Genesis, that is, God created the heavens and the earth on the first day. Saint Epiphanius agrees with this opinion. From Job 38:1 it is concluded that the angels existed on the fourth day, for the Lord says to Job: 'When the stars were made, then all my angels glorified me with a loud voice.' The distinction of the multitude of angels into orders or orders (Dan. 7:10, Matthew 26:53, Luke 2:13, Hebrews 12:22, Rev. 5:11) is testified not only by the Fathers (Clement of Rome 6:1, 6:16, 7:2, Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechisms 6:6, 7:11, 11:11, 17:23, Gregory the Theologian Homily 34, Damascene Version of the Orthodox Faith II:3, and especially Dionysius the Areopagite in On the Heavenly Hierarchy 6 and others) and the Holy Bible which distinguishes:  Angels (I Pet. 3:22ff), Archangels (1 Thess. 10:16, Jude 9), Cherubim (Gen. 3:24; Rev. 4, 5, 6), Seraphim (Isaiah 6:2,1), Powers (Eph. 1:21; Rom. 8:31), Thrones, Principalities, Powers and Dominions (Eph. 1:21; Col. 1:16; Rom. 8:31; Dan. 10:13); That is why the Fifth Ecumenical Council condemned Origen, who said, among other things, that all angels had the same nature and power, and only those of those who apostatized were divided into classes (See 5th Ecumenical Council, Canons 2 and 14). See. Also Dan. 7:10, Ps. 96:1, 102:20, 148:2, Rev. 4:1, 7:11-12, Basil the Great. On Psalm 27, On Isaiah 6, Gregory the Theologian Homily 34, Theodore's Epitome of Divine Dogmas 7, John of Damascus Edition of the Orthodox Faith II, 10. Ps. 101:20.

[15] John of Damascus, Orthodox Faith Edition, 2:18.

[16] See In Matthew, chap. 2.

[17] On Principalities, I.1.7 and II..

[18] See Pedalion (Rudder) of Nicodemos, p. 131 note. 1.

[19] John of Damascus, Orthodox Faith Edition, 2:18.

[20] Satan means the enemy, the enemy of God and men, of goodness and every kind of virtue, as well as the source of every kind of wickedness in the world. The word Satan is mentioned 5 times in the Old Testament and 25 times in the New. There are also an equal number of references to the word devil.

       [21] John of Damascus, Edition of the Orthodox Faith, II, 16.

Translation A.N.