Hierarchy of angels

Three choirs of angels and the archangels who rule over them as depicted in Meteorologica Cosmica

In the angelology of different religions, a hierarchy of angels is a ranking system of angels. Higher ranks have greater power or authority over lower ranks, and with different ranks having differences in appearance, such as varying numbers of wings or faces.

The most influential Christian angelic hierarchy was put forward around the turn of the 6th century AD by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite in his work De Coelesti Hierarchia (On the Celestial Hierarchy). He claimed to be an important figure who was converted by Paul the Apostle, who authored most of the New Testament, and his work enjoyed greater influence than it would have if he had used his actual name, until Erasmus publicized doubts about the age of the work in the early 16th century. In his 1623 work, Meteorologica Cosmica, occultist Robert Fludd established that specific archangels rule over each choir.

Angels are organized into nine orders, or Angelic Choirs. It is mirrored in some ways by the hierarchy of Hell, which organizes demons into categories and ranks them according to ability.

The nine orders

Pseudo-Dionysius (On the Celestial Hierarchy) and Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologiae) drew on passages from the New Testament, specifically Ephesians 1:21 and Colossians 1:16, to develop a schema of nine Choirs of angels, which were later expanded by other authors. These have been incorporated into writings concerning the 72 Kabbalistic angels.

A 10th choir is sometimes added to the standard nine. This additional choir contains non-angels: the Innocents, Martyrs, and Confessors. It is balanced by an additional degree of infernal spirits: the Witches, Apostates, and Infidels.

Number	Choir	Ruling Archangel	Divine Name	Ruling Planet	Corresponding Demon Degree
1	Seraphim	Metatron	Ehieh	Primum Mobile	False Gods
2	Cherubim	Archangel Raziel and Jophiel	Iah	Starry Heaven	Spirits of Lies
3	Thrones	Archangel Zaphkiel	Elohim	Saturn	Vessels of Iniquity
4	Dominions	Archangel Zadkiel	El	Jupiter	Revengers of Evil
5	Powers	Samael and Camael	Elohim gibor	Mars	Deluders
6	Virtues	Archangel Michael	Eloah	The Sun	Aerial Powers
7	Principalities	Archangel Haniel	Jehovah Sabaoth	Venus	Furies
8	Archangels	Archangel Raphael	Elohim Sabaoth	Mercury	Accusers
9	Angels	Archangel Gabriel	Sadai	The Moon	Tempters and Ensnarers