Walking into the small chapel of
Agion Akindinon, in the city of Mytilene, on the island of Lesvos, located next
to the largest Orthodox Church on the island (St Therapon), the visitor comes
across a unique feature, i.e. the icons of four Archangels. There we see
Archangels Michael, Raphael, Uriel and Gabriel. These angels are interestingly
placed underneath the dome, showing that they are supporting the dome, i.e. the
Heavens. This depiction symbolically emphasises the importance of the angels in
the work of God towards creation, a reality also evident in Scripture and
Tradition.
The Archangels are one of nine
ranks, made up of three hierarchies with three ranks each. This reality was
first explained by St Dionysius the Aeropagite, who was one of the Seventy
Apostles, in his work On the Heavenly
Hierarchy. The Archangels bring us good news, revealing prophecies,
knowledge and understanding of God’s will. They strengthen our faith, reveal
the mysteries of the Heavenly Kingdom and God’s wishes, whilst also
enlightening our minds. St Paul refers to them, in 1 Thessalonians, where he
states: For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will
rise first. (4:16).
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