The Orders of the Celestial Hierarchy The Celestial Hierarchies Miscellaneous Facts
The Nine Rulers of the Christian Hierarchy Explantion of the Christian Hierarchy
According to many different sources, including the Bible, St. Ambrose,
pseudo-Dionysius and Pope Gregory, the celestial hiercarchy consists of either seven, nine,
ten, or eleven choirs or orders. Eventually Aquinas "blessed" the Dionysian hieracrchy of nine,
three sets of three, making it acceptable to the church and, therefore, the most familiar of the hierarchies today.
The ten choirs of both The Greater Key of Solomon and the Mishna Torah are called the chaioth ha-Qadesh,
auphanim, aralim, chasmalim, Seraphim, malachim, elohim, bene elohim, kerubim, and ishim (ranked in that order).
See the chart below for more information.
The Celestial Hierarchies
Ranked from highest to lowest
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The Erelim and Ishim are considered to be the same in
Revelation of Moses in Studies and Texts in Folklore by M. Gaster.
The Erelim come from Isaiah 33:7 and the elim are derived from Exodus 15:27 and ezekiel 32:21.
The hashmallim
(or hamshalim) are often equated with the order of the Dominations.
The Hayyoths are equated with the
Cherubim in Exekiel 20. The
Ophanim are also equated with the
Cherubim; they are called the "many-eyed ones" or "wheels."
The Thrones are equated with the Ofanim and Arelim (erelim).
The Malakim and the Tarshishim are equated with the Virtues.
The Tafsarim (3 Enoch) are a group of Angels
often grouped with the Elim and Erelim. They are said to be "greater than all the ministering
Angels who minister before the throne of glory."
The Bene Elohim (sons of god) are equated with the Ishim and, according to The Zohar
they are a subdivision of the Thrones.
Other hierarchic orders, mentioned in various religious and secular sources, include Ardors, Authorities,
Sanctities, Voices, Regents, Apparitions, Acclamations, Sovereignties, Gonfalons, Warriors, and others.
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Christian Angelic Hierarchy
(names) are their Cabalistic names
First Order: This order and its three
choirs control the balance of the universe and
the manifestation of divine wills, that they carry out.
First Choir - Seraphim
Second Choir - Cherubim
Third Choir - Thrones {Ophanim (Auphinim)}
Second Order: This order and its three
choirs represent the power of God and
they govern the planets, especially Earth.
They also carry out the decrees of the angels
of the First Order and oversee those of
the Third Order.
Fourth Choir - Dominions {Hasmalim (Chasmalim)}
Fifth Choir - Virtues (Malachim)
Sixth Choir - Powers (Chaioth ha Quaddosh)
Third Order: This order and its three
choirs protect and guide humanity,
and bring our prayers to the Divine Presence.
Seventh Choir - Principalities {Erelim (Arelim)}
Eighth Choir - Archangels (Elohim)
Ninth Choir - Angels (Bene Elohim)
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