GUARDIAN ANGEL Translated by Seraphim Larin
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GUARDIAN ANGEL Translated by Seraphim Larin PREFACE These published thoughts have been written for every day of one month only. However, a pious reader can repeat reading them on the respective date of every month, during the whole year and indeed right throughout his entire life. In re-reading them attentively, the reader will undoubtedly stimulate new thoughts in his mind, which with every repetitive reading, will more and more affirm the reverential feelings in his heart toward his Guardian Angel. The sole purpose of this publication is to nourish these feelings in pious hearts. The Publisher 2 INTRODUCTION A traveller, journeying in faraway places, greets his friend with great elation, knowing that he came to be his guide. In our travels during our earthly life, beyond its boundary being eternity, we are given a true friend and escort; Heaven had sent him to direct us on the difficult path, where murky darkness surrounds us. If we wish to follow him, then he will safely lead us under his shield to our homeland. We know that our Heavenly Father commanded His Angels to preserve us along all our paths and defend us against all evil (Psalm 91:10-11). While we cannot see them with our earthly eyes, we can see them with eyes of faith. Is it possible that we are so enslaved by our senses that we don’t want to believe anything except that, which appears to us as crude objects? Or our hearts are so engaged in worldly matters that it loves nothing but riches and pleasures? God sent us His Angels as our companions and controllers of our lives. But in our contemporary times, this subject – that is so important and appertains to each and every one of us, occupies the minds of very few Christians. That’s why we will attempt to vivify their faith by expounding the Teachings of the Holy Scripture and Tradition about the Angels. Perhaps these explanations will serve as the source of living water with which they could refresh their souls. That there are intelligent beings other than us and higher than us, are a fact that is provided to us by the recorded witness of the very ancient universal beliefs of peoples. This truth has been distorted through the misuse and ignorance of the people, who became idolaters; but it’s totally preserved in all its purity by the people of God. All our holy books, beginning with the book of Genesis, and down to the Apocalypse, present us active Angels, executing the Almighty’s commands throughout the world and protecting all pious people with their shields. The Cherubim was posted with a flaming sword at the gates of earthly paradise, so as to bar entry to the human, who violated God’s commandment. Patriarchs were worthy enough to be visited by Angels. Abraham once entertained such Divine messengers. One of the Angels stayed his hand as he was about to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Jacob witnessed many Angels – going up and down the mysterious ladder, leading to the seated Lord (Genesis 28:12-13). An Angel accompanied the sons of Israel in the wilderness and led them to the Promised Land. Gideon and other judges of Israel understood the Lord’s dictates through the inspiration of these Heavenly Messengers; David use to call them to join him in singing his holy songs. Isaiah saw Heaven opened with the Lord seated on the altar, with 3 many Angels singing eternal praises to Him. Angel Raphael escorted young Tobias on his distant travels, brought him home and returned his venerable father’s sight. When the Israelites were in bondage in Babylon, 3 Jewish youths were thrown into a flaming oven. However, an Angel appeared among them and protected them against the flames. Prophet Daniel was delivered by an Angel from the lions jaws. Gabriel, being given a directive to announce the Saviour to the world, let the Prophet know of His imminent arrival; he descended into the temple, where Zacharias was incensing and foretold him of the birth of his son, who has been consecrated to be Messiah’s Forerunner. Gabriel sent to Nazareth to the Virgin Mary to announce that She will become the Mother of the Son of God. Shortly after, announced the good news to the shepherds about the birth of the eternal Child, and the Angels began to sing praises: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” (Luke 2:9-14). The Saviour, Who was proclaimed by the Angels, gave us awareness about the Angels, Himself. He tells us about brotherly love, which motivates them to rejoice in our salvation and with which, they guard us along all our paths in life. The Angels announce Christ’s resurrection to the holy women; on His ascension into Heaven, the Angels appeared to His Disciples and informed them that just as He had ascended into Heaven, so shall He come one day to judge the living and the dead. Do you need to be reminded how Apostle Peter was released from prison and from Herod’s clutches by an Angel? Should I tell you about Saint John the Theologian’s vision, and what he had written about the power and potency of Angels in their supervision of earthly kingdoms? I have to stop so as not to overstep the boundaries that I have previously set down. Thus, I shall not continue talking about the appearances of Angels to the Apostles, martyrs and many righteous individuals. However, the unbelievers will say: is it possible for these appearances to have taken place? Is it possible that an Angel, a spiritual being, assumes a visible human appearance, materialize and function before us? Who can prove that it’s impossible? Who is in a position to research the profundity of God’s great wisdom; determine the endless reproduction of the Almighty’s creations; mentally encompass the unfathomable escalade of creatures, in order to have the right to doubt the existence of beings, about which the Word of God attests? Our belief in the Holy Angels is based on events, witnessed by the Holy Gospel and confirmed by men of wisdom. Everyone is aware of Socrates’ opinion on the subject, as well as that of his famous student Plato and many other wise men of Greece and Rome. However, we regard the teachers of our Church as the true wise men. What wonderful teachings about Angels had been left to us by Saints Dyonisius Aereopagite, Gregory, Basil the 4 Great, John the Goldentongue, Augustine and many other religious writers, revered by our Church! This authentic witness by the Church Fathers and mentors has been unanimously confirmed by the Church Councils, and the Church always reminds us in Her Services, of the close union of Angels with humans. The Old and New Testaments continually speak about Angels. From all this, one can clearly see what participation the Angels adopt in their fulfillment of God’s will, and what manner of service they provide in relation to humans. However, my following deliberations will make this subject much clearer. Love that is inherent to God motivated Him to grant life to intelligent beings, capable of recognizing and loving Him, and participating in His blessedness. The initial result of this love was Angels. Having endowed them with rich gifts, He settled them into Heavenly habitats. However, although they were rich in acquirements, being creations, they could not be completely perfect. Only God, Creator of everything extant, is all-perfect. Tempted by the grandeur of their acquirements, some of the Angels succumbed to arrogance and pride. The Bible states that pride was the cause by which the Angels fell. Lucifer was the first Angel to become proud and turn against his Creator, while many others left God and followed him. But to leave God, means to divest life and submit to death. These Angels were the first to forsake the Lord, and the just Lord likewise abandoned them, leaving them to their own devices. So what happened from all this? Those Angels, strengthened by grace and prevailing humility, separated themselves from them and rejected them with horror; the rebels changed from Angels of light, into Angels of darkness. Only recently clothed in brilliance and glory, they became an object of revulsion and horror for the whole Heaven – and even for them, themselves; they, who have exalted the Almighty, began to utter blasphemy and curses. Chased by the force of God’s justice and tortured by their fury, they fell with the speed of lighting into an abyss of hell, akin to stars that have been snatched from the dome of heaven and falling into the limitless space of the universe. Those Angels that had remained faithful to God became completely blessed. They are illuminated with God’s glory, and the light of the Holy Of Holies encompasses them like a deep ocean. Arriving at a state of ecstasy and rapture from viewing all the richness of eternal beauty, they are lost in immeasurable love and in the intoxication of their blessedness; they praise and extol the Almighty God, Who directs torrents of joy into their hearts. Not imposing upon them any responsibilities that would see them leave the blessed Heavenly habitat, the Lord shares with them the governance of the world. He utilizes them as His faithful servants in Providence’s operations. He 5 sends them into the world to announce to people His directives, to fulfill His will. It’s for this reason that we call them Angels i.e.