Christ in Paradise surrounded by two Seraphim & two Cherubim
Angelic hierarchy: Seraphim & Cherubim (angels of the highest order)
Florence, Baptistery - Mosaic above the central great mosaic with Christ in majesty
The hierarchy of angels belongs to the oldest mosaics within the cupola, as they were made in concentric cycles beginning at the top. [1240-1300 AD]
Original photo by courtesy of wikimedia, Marie-Lan Nguyen
Pseudo-Dionysius (On the Celestial Hierarchy) and Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica) drew on passages from the New Testament, specifically in the Galatians 3:26-28, Matthew 22:24-33 Ephesians 1:21-23 and Colossians 1:16, to develop a schema of three Hierarchies, Spheres or Triads of angels, with each Hierarchy containing three Orders or Choirs. Although both authors drew on the New Testament, the Biblical canon is relatively silent on the subject, and these hierarchies are considered less definitive than biblical material.
Angelic hierarchy
1 First Sphere
o 1.1 Seraphim
o 1.2 Cherubim
o 1.3 Thrones
2 Second Sphere
o 2.1 Dominions or Lordships
o 2.2 Virtues or Strongholds
o 2.3 Powers or Authorities
3 Third Sphere
o 3.1 Principalities or Rulers
o 3.2 Archangels
o 3.3 Angels
3.3.1 Personal guardian angels
Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_angelology
Christ in Paradise surrounded by two Seraphim & two Cherubim
Angelic hierarchy: Seraphim & Cherubim (angels of the highest order)
Florence, Baptistery - Mosaic above the central great mosaic with Christ in majesty
The hierarchy of angels belongs to the oldest mosaics within the cupola, as they were made in concentric cycles beginning at the top. [1240-1300 AD]
Original photo by courtesy of wikimedia, Marie-Lan Nguyen
Pseudo-Dionysius (On the Celestial Hierarchy) and Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica) drew on passages from the New Testament, specifically in the Galatians 3:26-28, Matthew 22:24-33 Ephesians 1:21-23 and Colossians 1:16, to develop a schema of three Hierarchies, Spheres or Triads of angels, with each Hierarchy containing three Orders or Choirs. Although both authors drew on the New Testament, the Biblical canon is relatively silent on the subject, and these hierarchies are considered less definitive than biblical material.
Angelic hierarchy
1 First Sphere
o 1.1 Seraphim
o 1.2 Cherubim
o 1.3 Thrones
2 Second Sphere
o 2.1 Dominions or Lordships
o 2.2 Virtues or Strongholds
o 2.3 Powers or Authorities
3 Third Sphere
o 3.1 Principalities or Rulers
o 3.2 Archangels
o 3.3 Angels
3.3.1 Personal guardian angels
Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_angelology