Seraphim
The six-winged seraphim stand closer than all before God, as the prophet Isaiah saw, saying: "And the seraphim stood around Him, each having six wings" (Isaiah 6:2). They are fire-like since they stand before God: "For our God is a consuming fire" (Heb 12:29); "His throne was a flame of fire" (Dan 7:9); "the appearance of the Lord was like a blazing fire" (Ex 24:17). Standing before such glory, the seraphim are fire-like, as it said: "Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire" (Ps 103:4). They are aflame with love for God and kindle others to such love, as is shown by their very name, for "seraphim" in the Hebrew language means flaming.
See also
Sources
Angels |
First Hierarchy: Seraphim | Cherubim | Thrones |
Second Hierarchy: Powers | Dominions | Principalities |
Third Hierarchy: Virtues | Archangels | Angels |