Ranks of Angels
Angels
This is the first of the nine ranks of Angels. There are no prerequisite requirements
Heavenly Host Basics:
Task 1. List the Ranks of Angels
- a. Angels
- b. Archangels
- c. Principalities
- d. Powers
- e. Dominions
- f. Virtues
- g. Thrones
- h. Cherubim
- i. Seraphim
Task 2. Know the Motto
- a. “Be Holy, for God is Holy” (Lev. 11:45)
Task 3. Know the Slogan
- a. “Do Good to all” (Gal 6:10)
Prayers
Task 4. Recite the Lord’s Prayer
- a. See Appendix B – Common Orthodox Prayers
Task 5. Recite “O Heavenly King”
a. See Appendix B – Common Orthodox Prayers
Fasting
Task 6. Do not eat before Liturgy
Charity
Task 7. Light a candle for the poor
Task 8. Give old clothes and/or toys to charity
Scripture
Task 9. Read and discuss the story of Creation (Gen 1 & 2)
Task 10. Read and discuss the story of the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise (Gen 3)
Task 11. Read and discuss the story of Cain and Abel (Gen 4)
Task 12. Read and discuss the story of Jesus’ Birth (Luke 2:1-21)
Task 13. Read and discuss the story of Jesus’ Baptism (Mt 3:13-17)
Elective
Task 14. Do 1 of the Electives
Archangels
Prerequisite: Achieve the rank of Angel
Notes:
Accumulative: Knowledge gained in the lower ranks must be retained, and may be tested before advancement to higher ranks.
Repetitive: Some requirements, such as “Light a candle for the poor” are found in multiple ranks. These requirements must be repeated for each rank achieved.
Prayers
Task 1. Recite “ It is truly meet”
- a. See Appendix B – Common Orthodox Prayers
Task 2. Recite the Prayer to Your Guardian Angel
- a. See Appendix B – Common Orthodox Prayers
Task 3. Recite the Jesus Prayer
- a. See Appendix B – Common Orthodox Prayers
Fasting
Task 4. No technology before Liturgy
Charity
Task 5. Light a candle for the poor
Task 6. Help with parish charities
Task 7. Give old clothes and/or toys to charity
Scripture
Task 8. Read and discuss the story of Noah (Gen 6-9)
Task 9. Read and discuss the story of Jonah (Jonah 1-4)
Task 10. Read and discuss the story of the Three Holy Youths (Daniel 3)
Task 11. Read and discuss the story of the Wedding in Cana (Jn 2:1-12)
Task 12. Read and discuss the story of Christ’s resurrection (Mk 16)
Elective
Task 13. Do 1 of the Electives
Principalities
Prerequisite: Achieve the rank of Archangel
Notes:
Accumulative: Knowledge gained in the lower ranks must be retained, and may be tested before advancement to higher ranks.
Repetitive: Some requirements, such as “Light a candle for the poor” are found in multiple ranks. These requirements must be repeated for each rank achieved.
Prayers
Task 1. Recite the Trisagion Prayers
- a. See Appendix B – Common Orthodox Prayers
Fasting
Task 2. Describe the reasons for fasting
Task 3. Describe the typical rules of fasting
Task 4. Describe the fasts of the Church
- a. Annual Fasts
- i. Lent
- ii. Apostles Fast
- iii. Dormition Fast
- iv. Advent
- b. Weekly Fasts
- i. Wednesday
- ii. Friday
Charity
Task 5. Light a candle for the poor
Task 6. Help with parish charities
Task 7. Give old clothes and/or toys to charity
Scripture
Task 8. Read and discuss the stories of King David
- a. David and Goliath (1Kgdms 17)
- b. David and Saul (1Kgdms 24)
Task 9. Read and discuss the story of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37)
Task 10. Read and discuss the story of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32)
Elective
Task 11. Do 1 of the Electives
Powers
Prerequisite: Achieve the rank of Principality
Notes:
Accumulative: Knowledge gained in the lower ranks must be retained, and may be tested before advancement to higher ranks.
Repetitive: Some requirements, such as “Light a candle for the poor” are found in multiple ranks. These requirements must be repeated for each rank achieved.
Prayers
Task 1. Start saying a prayer before meals (or describe the prayers you already say).
- a. For example:
- i. Christ our God bless this food and drink of these thy servants for Thou art blessed and glorified now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Task 2. Recite the Nicene Creed
- a. See Appendix B – Common Orthodox Prayers
Fasting
Task 3. Begin to fast from dairy and/or meat on fast days.
- a. Some families may vary their dietary fasting for a variety of reasons. Speak to your parents and Rector about your intended fasting practices.
Charity
Task 4. Light a candle for the poor
Task 5. Help with parish charities
Task 6. Give old clothes and/or toys to charity
Task 7. Begin to tithe (give 10%) on money that you might receive
- a. From your allowance
- b. From gifts you receive
- c. From money you earn
Scripture
Task 8. Read and discuss Malachi Chapter 3 (this discusses tithing)
Task 9. Read the Gospel of Mark
Service to others
Task 10. Clean up after yourself at parish meals
Elective
Task 11. Do 1 of the Electives
Virtues
Prerequisite: Achieve the rank of Powers
Notes:
Accumulative: Knowledge gained in the lower ranks must be retained, and may be tested before advancement to higher ranks.
Repetitive: Some requirements, such as “Light a candle for the poor” are found in multiple ranks. These requirements must be repeated for each rank achieved.
Prayers
Task 1. Start saying prayers before bed (or describe the prayers you already say).
- a. For example:
- i. Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my soul and body. Do thou thyself bless me, have mercy upon me, and grant me life eternal. Amen
Fasting
Task 2. Reduce the use of technology during the fasts.
Charity
Task 3. Light a candle for the poor
Task 4. Help with parish charities
Task 5. Give old clothes and/or toys to charity
Task 6. Begin to tithe (give 10%) on money that you might receive
- a. From your allowance
- b. From gifts you receive
- c. From money you earn
Scripture
Task 7. Read and discuss the Book of Genesis
- a. In particular
- i. Creation
- ii. Expulsion from the garden
- iii. Cain and Abel
- iv. Noah
- v. Tower of Babel
- vi. Sodom and Gomorrah
- vii. Abraham
- viii. Isaac
- ix. Jacob (Israel)
- x. Joseph
Service to others
Task 1. Clean up after yourself at parish meals
Elective
Task 8. Do 1 of the Electives
Dominions
Prerequisite: Achieve the rank of Virtues
Notes:
Accumulative: Knowledge gained in the lower ranks must be retained, and may be tested before advancement to higher ranks.
Repetitive: Some requirements, such as “Light a candle for the poor” are found in multiple ranks. These requirements must be repeated for each rank achieved.
Prayers
Task 1. Say morning prayers using a prayer book of your choice, for at least seven days in a row
- i. There are many Orthodox prayer books available. Check with your parents and Rector for recommendations.
Task 2. Say evening prayers, using a prayer book of your choice, for at least seven days in a row
Fasting
Task 3. Fast from dairy and meat during Lent
- a. Some families may vary their dietary fasting for a variety of reasons. Speak to your parents and Rector about your intended fasting practices.
Charity
Task 4. Light a candle for the poor
Task 5. Help with parish charities
Task 6. Give old clothes and/or toys to charity
Task 7. Continue tithing (10%) on money that you might receive
- a. From your allowance
- b. From gifts you receive
- c. From money you earn
Scripture
Task 8. Read and discuss the Gospel of John
- a. In particular
- i. The parallel to Genesis (In the beginning…)
- ii. Wedding in Cana
- iii. Healing the royal official's son in Capernaum
- iv. Healing the paralytic at Bethesda
- v. Feeding the 5000
- vi. Walking on water
- vii. Healing the man blind from birth
- viii. Resurrection
Service to others
Task 2. Clean up after yourself at parish meals
Task 3. Help the younger kids clean-up after themselves at parish meals
Elective
Task 4. Do 1 of the Elective
Thrones
Prerequisite: Achieve the rank of Dominions
Notes:
Accumulative: Knowledge gained in the lower ranks must be retained, and may be tested before advancement to higher ranks.
Repetitive: Some requirements, such as “Light a candle for the poor” are found in multiple ranks. These requirements must be repeated for each rank achieved.
Prayers
Task 1. Recite the prayer before reading scripture – “Illumine our hearts…”
- a. See Appendix B – Common Orthodox Prayers
Fasting
Task 2. Fast from dairy and meat Wednesdays
- a. Some families may vary their dietary fasting for a variety of reasons. Speak to your parents and Rector about your intended fasting practices.
Charity
Task 3. Light a candle for the poor
Task 4. Help with parish charities
Task 5. Give old clothes and/or toys to charity
Task 6. Continue tithing (10%) on money that you might receive
- a. From your allowance
b. From gifts you receive
c. From money you earn
Scripture
Task 7. Read and discuss the Book of Exodus
- a. In particular
- i. Moses
- ii. Plagues of Egypt
- iii. Israelites in the wilderness
- iv. Quails and manna
- v. Ten Commandments
- vi. Golden Calf
- vii. Tabernacle
Service to others
Task 8. Clean up after yourself at parish meals
Task 9. Help the younger kids clean-up after themselves at parish meals
Elective
Task 10. Do 1 of the Electives
Cherubim
Prerequisite: Achieve the rank of Thrones
Notes:
Accumulative: Knowledge gained in the lower ranks must be retained, and may be tested before advancement to higher ranks.
Repetitive: Some requirements, such as “Light a candle for the poor” are found in multiple ranks. These requirements must be repeated for each rank achieved.
Prayers
Task 1. Say two pre-Communion prayers
Task 2. Stay for the post-Communion prayers
- a. This may be difficult during the church school year, but can be done in the summer months
Fasting
Task 3. Fast from dairy and meat on Fridays
- a. Some families may vary their dietary fasting for a variety of reasons. Speak to your parents and Rector about your intended fasting practices.
Charity
Task 4. Light a candle for the poor
Task 5. Help with parish charities
Task 6. Give old clothes and/or toys to charity
Task 7. Continue tithing (10%) on money that you might receive
- a. From your allowance
- b. From gifts you receive
- c. From money you earn
Scripture
Task 8. Read and discuss the Epistle to the Ephesians
Service to others
Task 9. Help with clean-up after a church meal
- a. This may be difficult during the church school year, but can be done in the summer months or after church school is over
Elective
Task 10. Do 1 of the Electives
Seraphim
Prerequisite: Achieve the rank of Cherubim
Notes:
Accumulative: Knowledge gained in the lower ranks must be retained, and may be tested before advancement to higher ranks.
Repetitive: Some requirements, such as “Light a candle for the poor” are found in multiple ranks. These requirements must be repeated for each rank achieved.
Prayers
Task 1. Help read the post-Communion prayers
- a. This may be difficult during the church school year, but can be done in the summer months
Fasting
Task 2. Follow the fasts fully (to the best of your ability)
- a. Some families may vary their dietary fasting for a variety of reasons. Speak to your parents and Rector about your intended fasting practices.
Charity
Task 3. Light a candle for the poor
Task 4. Help with parish charities
Task 5. Give old clothes and/or toys to charity
Task 6. Continue tithing (10%) on money that you might receive
- a. From your allowance
- b. From gifts you receive
- c. From money you earn
Scripture
Task 7. Read and discuss the Prophecy of Isaiah
Task 8. Read the OrthodoxWiki article on Isaiah (Isaiah - OrthodoxWiki)
Service to others
Task 9. Perform a church cleaning assignment for a week
- a. You may need to ask your parents for help with this
Elective
Task 10. Do 1 of the Electives