Thrones
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- This page concerns the class of angels in the Christian tradition. For the band, see Thrones (band).
Thrones (also known as Ophanim, Wheels or Galgallin) are a classification of angels under many Christian angelic hierarchies. They are the carriers of the throne of God, hence the name. They are said to be great wheels covered in eyes.
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[edit] About the Thrones
Thrones are angels of the Sixth Order and are beings of tremendous power and movement. They are the keepers of higher more expanded energies. They ensure that these energies maintain connections and flows through the realms. They act as the conduits of the physical worlds and tend to be more stationary in their existence.
[edit] According to Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite
"The name of the most glorious and exalted Thrones denotes that which is exempt from and untainted by any base and earthly thing, and the super mundane ascent up the steep. For these have no part in that which is lowest, but dwell in fullest power, immovably and perfectly established in the Most High, and receive the Divine Immanence above all passion and matter, and manifest God, being attentively open to divine participations."
Thrones are known in scripture as the bringers of justice, but their status in hierarchy is often confused, sometimes placing them above the Seraphim, and sometimes placing them at the same level as the Cherubim. They do however, come in the second Choir, and are assigned to planets.
This position makes them some of the most powerful angels in service to the Lord. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, the Thrones have the task of pondering the disposition of divine judgments. In other words, they carry out or fulfill the divine justice of the Lord.
They create, channel and collect incoming and outgoing positive energies. Dispensation of justice is important to the Thrones and they send healing energies to victims while shining a light on injustice to bring it's presence to our attention.
Like their counterparts in the second angelic triad, they come the closest of all Angels to spiritual perfection and emanate the light of God with mirror-like goodness. They, despite their greatness, are intensely humble, an attribute that allows them to dispense justice with perfect objectivity and without fear of pride or ambition. Because they are living symbols of God's justice and authority, they are called Thrones and have as one of their symbols the throne.
[edit] Function and Philosophy
These Angelic Princes are often also called "Ophanim, Wheels or Galgallin." It is said that they were the actual wheels of the Lord's Heavenly Chariot (Merkabah). "The four wheels had rims and they had spokes, and their rims were full of eyes round about." They are also frequently referred to as "many-eyed ones."
God's spirit is conveyed in a certain manner to these angels, who in turn pass on the message to men and the inferior angels.
[edit] Characteristics
Having the most bizarre physical appearance of the celestial host, they are described as great wheels, covered with a great many eyes and glowing with light. One explanation given for this (besides them acting as God's chariot), is that they mark the end of the first Choir, where the emanations of God begin to take on more material forms and as such exist in a state of transition.
[edit] Names attributed to this Angelic Order
- Bodiel
- Jophiel
- Zaphkiel
- Oriphiel
- Raziel
- Astaroth
- Gressil
- Focalor
- Forneus
- Murmur
- Nelchael
- Phenex
- Purson
- Raum
- Samael
- Sonneillon
- Verrine
- Lauviah
[edit] External links
- AngelFocus - Dionysius Hierarchy of Angels
- Contemplation of the Angels of Merkabah (throne) Mysticism
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| Second Hierarchy | ||
| Third Hierarchy | ||
