The Seraphim are the highest order of angels in the celestial hierarchy, dwelling in
the immediate presence of God and serving as caretakers of His throne. Their name means "burning ones," reflecting both their appearance
(blazing with divine light) and their nature (burning with love for God). According to the prophet
Isaiah's vision, each seraph has six wings:
with two they cover their faces (in reverence before God's glory), with two they cover their feet (in humility), and with two they fly
(in readiness to serve).
The seraphim appear in the Book of Isaiah, chapter 6, during the prophet's throne vision. Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty
throne, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Above Him stood the seraphim, calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!"
This threefold declaration of holiness emphasizes God's absolute purity and separateness from all creation. The seraphim's song caused the
foundations of the temple to shake and the house to fill with smoke. When Isaiah, overwhelmed by his own sinfulness in the presence of
holiness, cried out in despair, one of the seraphim flew to him with a burning coal taken from the altar. The seraph touched Isaiah's
lips with the coal, purifying him and declaring his guilt removed and sin atoned for.
Role and Function
Worship
The primary function of the seraphim is the perpetual worship of God. They ceaselessly proclaim God's holiness, declaring the
Trisagion ("Holy, holy, holy"). This threefold repetition is understood by Christian tradition as a reference to the
Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each equally deserving
of the praise "Holy." Their worship is not mere duty but overflowing love; they burn with passion for God's glory.
Purification
Seraphim serve as agents of divine purification. In Isaiah's vision, a seraph cleansed the prophet's lips with a burning coal, symbolizing
the purging of sin and the sanctification necessary to stand in God's presence. This purifying fire represents God's holy love that consumes
all impurity. Christian mystical tradition sees the seraphim as inflaming human hearts with divine love, burning away attachment to sin.
Guardians of the Throne
The seraphim stand at the very throne of God, the closest of all creatures to the divine presence. Their position reflects their supreme
holiness and their role as guardians of God's majesty. They mediate between the overwhelming holiness of God and the rest of creation,
veiling His glory so that it does not consume all who approach.
The seraphim's perpetual cry of "Holy, holy, holy" emphasizes the central attribute of God: His absolute holiness. God's holiness is His
transcendent purity, His utter separateness from all evil, His perfect moral beauty. The seraphim's own covering of their faces demonstrates
that even the highest angels cannot fully behold God's unveiled glory. This reveals that God is infinitely beyond all creation.
The seraphim embody perfect love—they are "on fire" with love for God. Their worship is not obligation but ecstatic joy. They model the
purpose for which all creatures were made: to love God supremely and worship Him eternally. Saint Francis of Assisi was said to have been
visited by a seraph when he received the stigmata, reflecting the seraphic love that unites the soul to Christ's passion.
Celestial Hierarchy
In the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite (5th-6th century), the seraphim occupy the highest rank in the ninefold celestial hierarchy.
The three highest orders—seraphim, cherubim, and
thrones—are characterized by their direct contemplation of God and their role as
channels of divine love, wisdom, and power to the lower orders.
vs. Cherubim: Seraphim emphasize love and worship; cherubim emphasize knowledge and guarding
vs. Archangels: Seraphim remain at God's throne; archangels are sent on missions to humanity
vs. Regular Angels: Seraphim are of a higher, more glorious order, closer to God
Cultural and Artistic Depictions
In Christian art, seraphim are typically depicted as figures with six wings, often red or golden in color to represent divine fire. They
may be shown entirely covered by wings, with only a face visible, or in human form surrounded by flames. In iconography, seraphim appear
around the throne of Christ, especially in depictions of the Last Judgment
or the Heavenly Liturgy. Their color is traditionally red, symbolizing divine love and sacrificial fire.
"In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!' And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!' Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.'"
Source: Book of Isaiah, Old Testament (c. 8th century BCE) - The only explicit biblical reference to seraphim
"And before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind... And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!'"
Source: Book of Revelation, New Testament (c. 95 CE) - The Four Living Creatures with six wings singing "Holy, holy, holy" like the seraphim
"As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings... And their wings were spread out above; each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies."
Source: Book of Ezekiel, Old Testament (c. 6th century BCE) - Vision of the cherubim/living creatures
"At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne... And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind... And day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!' And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 'Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.'"
Source: Book of Revelation, New Testament - The perpetual worship in Heaven
Psalm:103:20-21
"Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will!"
đź“š Primary Sources: Divine Fire and Purification
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Hebrews:12:29
"For our God is a consuming fire."
Source: Epistle to the Hebrews, New Testament (c. 60-90 CE)
Malachi:3:2-3
"But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord."
Source: Book of Malachi, Old Testament (c. 5th century BCE) - God's purifying fire
"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Source: First Epistle of Peter, New Testament (c. 60-64 CE) - Fire as refinement