Angels and Evangelism (Mission)

On the day after the Annunciation, our Holy Church honors Archangel Gabriel, because he announced the Incarnation of the Son and Word of God to His Holy Mother.^[1]. Regarding the action of the “official” angel, it is worth mentioning that it was he who appeared to the prophet Daniel to explain to him the visions he had seen^[2] and even announced the birth of John the Baptist to his father Zechariah^[3]. According to St. Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople, the name “Gabriel” means “God and man”, which is why he especially served the mystery of the incarnate economy of the God-Man Logos^[4].

On the occasion of the feast of the Assumption of Archangel Gabriel, we will refer to the angels and their work.

What does an angel mean?

“Angels or Messengers were called in the old times those who brought an announcement, a piece of news. In a similar way they were called Angels or Angels of God, the spiritual beings who carry, who touch, who make known the will of God to man or what God wants to reveal to man, showing His love and His will for the salvation of man.”^[5].

Who created them?

The symbol of our faith, known to all as the “Creed”, which was drawn up by the Holy Fathers of the First and Second Ecumenical Synod, mentions God the Father, the first Person of the Holy Trinity, as the “shepherd of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible”. St. John Damascene in his doctrinal work entitled “Edict of the Orthodox Faith” notes: “He – that is, God – is the poet and creator of angels, having brought them from non-being to being and created them, according to the image related to him, as nature incorporeal, something like spirit or incorporeal fire”^[6].

What is it?

“An angel is a substance that is mental, animated, self-governing, disembodied, a minister of God, who has received immortality in nature by grace, of which substance only the creator knows the kind and the term.”^[7].

The 9 Orders of Angels

According to St. Dionysius the Aeropagite there are the Seraphim, the Cherubim and the Thrones, the Lordships, the Powers and the Authorities and the Principles, the Archangels and the Angels^[8].

The demons

They too were Angels, but they chose apostasy. St. John Damascene informs us: “All wickedness was devised by them – the demons – as well as unclean passions. And they have been given the concession to offend man, but they cannot compel anyone; to us there is the possibility of accepting or not accepting the offence. Therefore for the devil and the demons the unquenchable fire has been prepared, the eternal hell, and for those who follow him.” He further adds: “It is necessary to know that what death is for men, for the angels it is the fall, for after the fall there is no repentance for them, just as there is no repentance for men after death.” ^[9]. In addition, St. Gregory Palamas exclaims: “While the Angels were appointed to serve the Creator by power, and were only appointed to begin, but were not commanded to exist in those after them, unless they were sent for this purpose by the Almighty, Satan wished to begin with pride in spite of the Creator’s opinion. And having forsaken his order with his fellow angels, he is justly forsaken by the truly vital and illuminating source, and is clothed with death and eternal gloom.” ^[10].

The Angels in the Bible

But before referring to their work, we ought to meet them in the Bible – Old and New Testament – thus discovering through their works their contribution.

Angel appears to Abraham and prevents the sacrifice of Isaac. Angels save Lot’s family. Angel is sent by God to raise Gideon to be the leader of Israel. Raphael accompanies Tobit in ministries and in the difficulties of his life. Angel is with the three children in the furnace and they, instead of burning, cool themselves. Angel punishes Eliodoro. Angels of God strengthen Judas the Maccabee. Then, in the New Testament, an angel foretells the birth of John, as mentioned above. Gabriel stars in the Annunciation. Angels participate in the joy of earth and heaven and evangelize the incarnation of the Savior. Angel preaches the resurrection of Jesus to the martyrs. Angels participate in the Ascension. Angel guides Apostle Philip on the missionary paths of his life. Angel informs Cornelius that his prayers have been answered by God. Angel saves Peter, Angel and Paul ^[11].

From all of the above it follows that the Angels have a double task. The first and foremost is the unceasing praise of God. St. John Damascene emphasizes, “In heaven they dwell and have one work, to praise and serve God according to His divine will.” ^[12]. Furthermore, according to Saint Gregory Archbishop of Thessaloniki, the Angels: “become partakers and spectators not only of the Trinitarian glory, but also of the luminosity of Jesus, which was also revealed to the disciples on Tabor”^[13]. However, they did not know nor do they know the whole plan of God, since according to the Apostle Paul:”Unto the least of all the saints was this grace given, to evangelize among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to enlighten all men concerning the economy of the mystery which is kept from everlasting in the Word, through Christ, who created all things through Jesus Christ, so that the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the authorities and powers in the heavenly places through the church.”^[14]. But and according to the Apostle Peter: “Now I announce to you by those who have been evangelized to you in the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven, to whom the angels have bowed down in desire.”^[15]. For as the greetings to Our Lady acclaim, “Hail, the height of man’s calculations, hail, the depth of the angels’ eyes,” the angels from the Church learned God’s plan and from the Church it is proclaimed everywhere^[16].

Their work, St. Basil clarifies, apart from “contemplating the call of God and glorifying him perpetually”, is also “the return and diligence towards us men”.^[17]. Besides, the sublime Paul also clarifies their ministry and their relationship with people by stating that: “ticket ministering spirits sent into ministry for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation”^[18]. David in Psalm ⁹⁰ confirms centuries before Paul’s teaching: “His angels are appointed for thee to keep thee in all thy ways, to guard thee in thy hand, lest thou cut thy foot against a stone; lest thy shield and thy king survive, and trample upon lions and dragons.”^[19].

For this ministry the Fathers of the Church emphasize:

John Damascene: “The angels are powerful and ready for the fulfillment of the divine will, and are immediately everywhere where the divine beckon calls them, with the speed of nature, and they guard parts of the earth, and lead in nations and places, as commanded by the Creator, and save those things which concern us and help us, but according to the divine will and command they are above us and are always near us.”^[20].

Basil the Great: “The Angels as helpers of fellow believers and faithful witnesses of the truth are received”^[21].

John Chrysostom: “All the heavenly Powers love the salvation of the common race of men. “For the common good of the commonwealth of mankind.” ^[22].

A worthy reference and comforting truth in every man’s struggle for the Salvation of both his soul and that of other people is the existence and, of course, the help of the guardian angel! According to St. Chrysostom, “each of us has an Angel” ^[23]. And according to Basil the Great, “Everything that trusts in the Lord an angel is interceding. The Angel both prophesies from the front and backs away and does not leave the unguarded on either side.”^[24]. Our Holy Church has established that at Vespers (evening prayer) the prayer to the guardian angel is read, which reveals how close relationship each person has or ought to have with his Angel. Let us read it literally:

“Holy Angel, the savior of my wretched soul and of my suffering life, do not forsake the sinner, nor turn away from me for my extremity; give not place to the evil demon that overthrows me the oppression of this mortal body; hold my wretched and afflicted hand, and lead me in the way of salvation. Yea, holy Angel of God, the guardian and covering of my wretched soul and body, forgive me all that I have afflicted thee all the days of my life, and whatsoever I have sinned this day; cover me this night, and keep me from all influence of the object, Lest in any sin I offend God; and plead for me unto the Lord his Lord, that he may quicken me in his fear, and make me worthy to be a servant of his goodness. Amen.” ^[25].

The relationship – therefore – between angels and mission is direct. And this is revealed by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself who confesses that: “Joy is set before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” ^[26]. And especially now (after the incarnation) the holy angels, seeing the infinite love that God had and has for man, cooperate with greater sympathy and more interest in our salvation.^[27].

In closing, I quote the words of Professor Voulgarakis, who in an article in the magazine “Always the Nations” said: “From the work of the angels for the salvation of men in general, and from their direct contribution to the missionary work, a great example is projected to us for imitation. And this example is all the greater if we consider that the angels, unlike us, have no responsibility for the original sin into which the firstborn fell. And yet angels, disregarding untimely imputations of responsibility to men, were, are, and will be given for the great work of saving men, as an expression of their holiness which is perfected in love. That love which brought God to earth and led the apostles into the world. That same love that moves modern missionaries to evangelize salvation.” ^[28].

The Convocation of Archangel Gabriel is commemorated March 26 of each year.

Apolytikon
Sound d’. The Exalted One on the Cross.

Pheronimony with a fitting impregnation, subdue in the flesh of the Word, as generals of the Prodigal Orders, whereby you proclaim the Virgin Mary, hailing her, for you arrest God, who delivers us to save those who praise you, Gabriel Archangel.

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^[1] Bishop Agathangelos of Fanari, Synaxaristis of the Orthodox Church, , “Apostolic Deaconry”, vol. 3, Athens 2005, p. 255.

^[2] Daniel 8, 16.

^[3] Luke. 1, 13.

^[4] St. Nicodemus, Synaxaristis, ed. “Orthodox Kypseli”, vol. 4, Thessaloniki 2003, p. 137.

^[5] Γ. P. Sotiriou, The Taxiarchis, published by “I.N. Taxiarchos”, Mytilene 1991, p. 11.

^[6] John Damaskinos, Edition of the Orthodox Faith, published by “Pournara”, Thessaloniki 2009, pp. 100-101.

^[7] John Damaskinos, Edition of the Orthodox Faith, published by “Pournara”, Thessaloniki 2009, p. 101.

^[8] Dionysius Areopagitus, On the heavenly hierarchy 62, PG 3, 204AB.

^[9] John Damaskinos, Edition of the Orthodox Faith, published by “Pournara”, Thessaloniki 2009, p. 109.

^[10] Venedictus Ieromonachos, Palamikon Fund, published by the Synod of Spyridon hieromonachos, Mount Athos 2007, p. 46.

^[11] Γ. P. Sotiriou, The Taxiarchis, “I.N. Taxiarchos”, Mytilene 1991, pp. 35-70.

^[12] Ioannou Damaskinos, Edition of the Orthodox Faith, published by “Pournara”, Thessaloniki 2009, p. 105

^[13] Venedictus Ieromonachos, Palamikon Fund, published by the Synod of Spyridon hieromonachos, Mount Athos 2007, p. 32.

^[14] Ephesians 3, 8-10.

^[15] 1 Peter 1,12.

^[16] Stergios Sakkou, “O most holy Mother!”, ed. “Christian Elpis”, Thessaloniki 2010, p. 63.

^[17] Γ. P. Sotiriou, The Taxiarchis, “I.N. Taxiarchos”, Mytilene 1991, p. 18.

^[18] Hebrews 1:14.

^[19] Psalter, published by Apostolic Deaconry, Athens 2005, p. 111.

^[20] John Damaskinos, Edition of the Orthodox Faith, published by “Pournara”, Thessaloniki 2009, p. 103.

^[21] Benedictus Hieromonkachos, Basilian Fund, published by the Synod of Spyridon Hieromonkachos, Mount Athos 1998, p. 34.

^[22] Venedictus Ieromonachos, Chrysostomic Fund, published by the Synod of Spyridon hieromonachos, Mount Athos 2002, p. 63.

^[23] Venedictus Ieromonachos, Chrysostomic Fund, published by the “Synod of Spyridon hieromonachos”, Mount Athos 2002, p. 62

^[24] Venedictus Hieromonkachos, Basilian Fund, published by the Synod of Spyridon Hieromonkachos, Mount Athos 1998, p. 32.

^[25] The Great Orology, published by Apostolic Deaconry, Athens 2007, p. 192.

^[26] Luke 15:10.

^[27] P.Evsevios Matthopoulos, The destiny of man, published by “Zoi”, Athens 2006, p. 61.

^[28] Ilias Voulgarakis, Always the Nations, Issue 31, third trim. 1989, pp. 23-24.