al (Godwin 149). The focus of this paper
will be on the angels of heaven who make up the heavenly hierarchy and the fallen angles of hell.
The creation of the angelic hierarchy is attributed to Pseudo-Dionysius. St Ambrose is
responsible for the categories of angels which were taken from traditions whose origins are lost in
time (Bloom 59). There are three hierarchies, each with three orders. The Upper Triad:
Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones. The Middle Triad: Dominations, Virtues, and Powers. The
Lowest Triad: Principalities, Archangels, and Angels (Guiley 17).
The Upper Triad: The first triad seems to be centered around a central core of purity and light,
closest to God. It is only in the third choir, the last choir of the triad that matter begins to appear.
The First Choir - Seraphim: These angels are the highest of God's angelic order. Their
names mean "burning ones" (Lang 49). The only mention of Seraphs in the bible is Isa
6:2. They circle the throne of God chanting in Hebrew the Trisagion "Kadosh, Kadosh,
Kadosh," which is "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is full of His
Glory" (Godwin 25). The Seraphim are identified with the serpent or dragon. They are in
direct communion with God and are of such pure thought and light, they resonate with "the
fire of love" (Guiley 17). They are known as the "fiery flying serpents of lightning," who
"roar like lions" (Godwin 25). When these angels appeared to the prophet Isaiah, he
described them as flaming angels above the throne of God: "Each had six wings: two
covered the face, two covered the feet and two were used for flying" ( Lang 49). It is said
that the archangel Michael was a Seraph. The Seraphim chief is said to be either Metatron
or Lucifer; others are said to be Kemuel, Nathanael, and Gabriel (Bloom 61). Their
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