The Orders of the Celestial Hierarchy
According to Various Sources and Authorities

St. Ambrose
(in Apologia Prophet David, 5)

    Seraphim
    Cherubim
    Dominations
    Thrones
    Principalities
    Potentates (Powers)........
    Virtues
    Archangels
    Angels

St. Jerome

    Seraphim
    Cherubim
    Powers
    Dominions (Dominations)
    Thrones
    Archangels
    Angels

Gregory the Great
(in Homilia)

    Seraphim
    Cherubim
    Thrones
    Dominations
    Principalities....................
    Powers
    Virtues
    Archangels
    Angels

Pseudo-Dionysius
(in Celestial Hierarchy;
also Thomas Aquinas in
Summa Theologica

    Seraphim
    Cherubim
    Thrones
    Dominations
    Virtues
    Powers
    Principalities.....................
    Archangels
    Angels

Constitutions of the Apostles
(in Clementine Liturgy of the Mass)

    Seraphim
    Cherubim
    Aeons
    Hosts
    Powers
    Authorities
    Principalities....................
    Thrones
    Archangels
    Angels
    Dominions

Isidore of Seville
(in Etymologiarum)

    Seraphim
    Cherubim
    Powers
    Principalities
    Virtues
    Dominations
    Thrones
    Archangels
    Angels
...Note: In Isidore of Seville’s..................,,,...
De Ordine Creaturarum,
only seven orders are listed, and the
sequence is thusly:

    Thrones
    Dominations
    Principalities
    Potentates (Powers)
    Virtues
    Archangels
    Angels

The Seraphim are not listed; the Cherubim
are mentioned in a footnote.

Moses Maimonides
(in Mishne Torah)

    Chaioth ha-Qadesh............
    Auphanim
    Aralim (Erelim)
    Chashmalim
    Seraphim
    Malachim
    Elohim
    Bene Elohim
    Kerubim
    Ishim

The Zohar
(Exodus 43a)

    Malachim
    Erelim
    Seraphim
    Hayyoth
    Ophanim
    Hamshalim
    Elim
    Elohim
    Bene Elohim......................
    Ishim

Maseket Azilut

    Seraphim
    Ofanim
    Cherubim
    Shinnanim
    Tarshishim
    Ishim
    Hashmallim
    Malakim
    Bene Elohim
    Arelim

The chiefs of the orders given are:

Shemuel (Kemuel or Jehoel) for Seraphim
Raphael and Ofaniel for Ofanim
Cherubiel for Cherubim
Zedekiel (Zadkiel) and Gabriel for Shinnanim
Tarshiel and Sabriel for Tarshishim
Zephaniel for Ishim
Hashmal for Hasmallim
Uzziel for Malakim
Hofniel for Bene Elohim
Michael for Arelim


John of Damascus
(De Fide Orthodoxa)

    Seraphim
    Cherubim
    Thrones
    Dominions
    Powers
    Authorities (Virtues)
    Rulers (Principalities).......
    Archangels
    Angels

Berith Menucha

    Arelim
    Ishim
    Bene Elohim
    Malakim
    Hashmallim.......
    Tarshishim
    Shinnanim
    Cherubim
    Ofanim
    Seraphim

....It will be noted that in the Berith Menucha,
the Seraphim are ranked last and (10th).
The chiefs of the orders are:

Michael for Arelim
Zephaniah for Ishim
Hofniel for Bene Elohim
Uriel for Malakim
Hasmal for Hashmallim
Tarshish for Tarshishim
Zadkiel for Shinnanim
Cherub for Cherubim
Raphael for Ofanim
Jehoel for Seraphim


Dante

    Seraphim
    Cherubim
    Thrones
    Dominations
    Virtues
    Powers
    Archangels
    Principalities.....................
    Angels

Barrett
The Magus

    Seraphim
    Cherubim
    Thrones
    Dominations
    Powers
    Virtues
    Principalities.....................
    Archangels
    Angels
    Innocents
    Martyrs
    Confessors


    The Erelim and the Ishim are sometimes considered the same. The Erelim are derived from Isaiah 33:7. The Elim are derived from Exodus 15:27 and Ezekiel 32:21.
    The Hashmallim (or Hamshalim) are often equated with the order of Dominations.
    The Hayyoths are equated with the Cherubim (Ezekiel) 20).
    The Ophanim are also equated with the Cherubim; they are referred to as the ”many-eyed ones” or ”wheels”.
    The Thrones are equated with the Ofanim or Arelim (Erelim).
    The Malakim and the Tarshishim are identified with the Virtues.

    The Tafsarim (3 Enoch) constitute an order of angels grouped usually with the Elim and Erelim; they are regarded as ’greater than all the ministering angels who minister before the Throne of Glory.”
    The Bene Elohim (sons of God) are sometimes equated with the Ishim. According to The Zohar, they belong to a subdivision of the order of Thrones.

    Other hierarchic orders, mentioned in various sources, religious and secular, include Ardors, Authorities, Sanctities, Voices, Regents, Apparitions, Acclamations, Sovereignties, Gonfalons, Warriors, etc.


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