What are the Nine Choirs of Angels?

“Angel” means “messenger” in Greek and is the primary job of angels and does not describe who they are. They are actually spirits and are created by God to serve Him, to act as messengers, and to guard and guide each of us: “For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11) Angels are able to present our prayers directly to God: “The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel.” (Revelation 8:4) The concept of the Nine Choirs of Angels comes from the Bible, as there are biblical references for each choir, but it was St. Thomas Aquinas who reflected and philosophized on the scripture references and wrote about the Nine Choirs in his great work, Summa Theologica. He drew on his vast knowledge of philosophy and Scripture to form conclusions on the nature, powers, and ranking of the angels. Following is a short description of each of the nine choirs and their primary purpose in God’s plan.

The Choir of Dominions

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The Choir of Dominions (also called Dominations) are the angels of leadership, wisdom, order and authority. They oversee the universe and provide protection. Dominions are rarely seen by humans but are depicted as divinely beautiful beings with a pair of feathered wings and glowing orbs fastened to their scepters or swords. This very powerful choir is believed to administer God’s justice to the human world and to distribute the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is important to remember that angels are not divine but are always subject to the Holy Trinity: “[Christ is seated] far above every principality, authority, power and dominion.” (Ephesians 1:21)

The Choir of Cherubim

The Choir of Cherubim are angels of intense knowledge of God. “Cherubim” means “fullness of wisdom.” These angels are mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. Golden cherubim adorned the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:18-22) as well as the Temple of Solomon (1 Kings 6:23-28) and were vividly described in a vision to the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:1-28). A cherub was tasked to guard the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life with a fiery sword after Adam and Eve sinned and were banished. God has tasked this choir of angels with contemplation of His Divine Plan and the requirements for salvation. Their appearance is very unusual as they are described as having four heads and four wings.