angelology
Study of celestial messengers
Angelology is the branch of theology concerned with angels—their nature, hierarchy, and role in divine order.
The term applies to systematic study within religious traditions, particularly Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, which share traditions about angelic beings.
It also describes belief systems that incorporate angels more loosely: Her angelology includes guardian angels and spirit guides.
Supreme angelic order
- cherubimHebrew plural for certain angels
- archangelsSupreme divine messengers
- thronesMonarchs' ceremonial chairs
- dominionsTerritories under sovereign rule
virtues · powers · principalities · guardian · choirs · orders · ranks
Hebrew name, divine comparison
Limbs for flight
- haloLuminous ring overhead
- gloryExalted honor and praise
- radianceGlowing luminous quality
- seraphicAngelically pure and beautiful
ethereal · incorporeal · immortal · luminous · transcendent · heavenly · celestial · divine
Visible appearance of deity
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
- annunciationFormal public proclamation
- visitationOfficial or formal visit
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
guardianship · protection · guidance · veneration · Aquinas · Talmud · Enoch · apocrypha
seraphim
Supreme angelic order
- cherubimHebrew plural for certain angels
- archangelsSupreme divine messengers
- thronesMonarchs' ceremonial chairs
dominions · virtues · powers · principalities · guardian · choirs · orders · ranks
Michael
Hebrew name, divine comparison
wings
Limbs for flight
seraphic · ethereal · incorporeal · immortal · luminous · transcendent · heavenly · celestial · divine · immaterial
theophany
Visible appearance of deity
- intercessionActing on another's behalf
- annunciationFormal public proclamation
- visitationOfficial or formal visit
revelation · guardianship · protection · guidance · veneration · Aquinas · Talmud · Enoch · apocrypha · pseudepigrapha
angelologymaterialism
Prioritizing goods over spirit
naturalism · physicalism · empirical study · physics · biology