Hierarchy of angels
belief that angels are ordered according to rank
In the angelology of different religions, a hierarchy of angels is a ranking system of angels. The higher ranking angels have greater power and authority than lower ones, and different ranks have differences in appearance, such as varying numbers of wings or faces.
Abrahamic religions
Judaism
The Jewish angelic hierarchy is established in the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Rabbinic literature, and traditional Jewish liturgy. They are categorized in different hierarchies proposed by various theologians. For example, Maimonides, in his Mishneh Torah or Yad ha-Chazakah: Yesodei ha-Torah, counts ten ranks of angels. The Zohar, in Exodus 43a, also lists ten ranks of angels. Jacob Nazir, in his Maseket Atzilut, also listed ten ranks of angels. Abraham ben Isaac of Granada, in his Berit Menuchah, also listed ten ranks of angels.
All of them are ranked with 1 being the highest, and all subsequent numbers being lower ranks.
Christianity
The most influential angelic hierarchy was that put forward by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite in the 5th or 6th century in his book De Coelesti Hierarchia (On the Celestial Hierarchy).
“Hierarchy of angels” enters the record as belief that angels are ordered according to rank. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Hierarchy, angels and belief can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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