The publishing house "Alilo" presents a collection of akathists that includes hymns of praise — non-sessional (akathist) prayers — to the holy Archangels. Each of the Lord's Archangels comes to the aid of Christians in different trials and circumstances of life.
In the words of the psalm, "In the beginning, O Lord, You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands," the word "heavens" refers to the nine ranks of angels. One of these nine ranks is precisely the order of the Archangels.
The Archangels are the greatest heralds of God's will: they make known to people great, divine events; they reveal what is to come; they convey the will of God; they strengthen faith in human hearts; they help in times of trial; and they go before us in the accomplishment of good deeds.
Holy Scripture names eight Archangels. They are:
Archangel Gabriel, who guards the gates of Paradise;
Archangel Michael, herald of joy and prophet;
Archangel Raphael, who carries people's prayers up to God;
Archangel Uriel, who brings down God's blessing upon every deed and undertaking in this world;
Archangel Selaphiel, who moves us to prayer and asks God for people's salvation and healing (as his very name suggests);
Archangel Jehudiel, who crowns the righteous and chastises sinners;
Archangel Barachiel, who instructs and sets us upon God's path;
Archangel Jeremiel, who helps people examine their lives and return to God.
Each of these akathists — most of which have been newly composed and are being published for the first time — is addressed to one of the Archangels. The collection also includes, for the first time, an akathist prayer to the guardian angel who watches over and protects a person's life.
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