1. The Celestial Hierarchy
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
The word of God has provided nine designations for the heavenly beings, angels, archangels, transcendent principalities, authorities, powers, dominions, divine thrones, cherubim, seraphim, always and forever near God and with God.
The first sphere angels who serve as heavenly counsellors, for ever around God, united with him
Seraphim, fire-makers, carriers of warmth
Cherubim, fullness of knowledge, outpouring of wisdom
Thrones, of equal order with the cherubim and seraphim
The middle rank of the heavenly hierarchy. The second sphere angels who work as heavenly governors.
Dominions, a lifting up which is free, unfettered by earthly tendencies
Holy Powers, unshakeable courage in all its God-like activities
Holy Authorities, harmoniously, unfailingly uplifted toward the things of God
The final rank in the hierarchy, the third sphere angels who function as heavenly messengers.
Heavenly Principalities, who possess a God-like, princely hegemony, the power to receive to the full mark of the Principle of Principles
Archangels, who commune with the most Holy Principalities and with the Holy Angels
Angels, who possess the final quality of being an angel, they too make known the enlightenment proceeding from the Deity.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
From 'De Celestia Hierarchia' by Dionysius the Pseudo-Areopagite
adapted by the composer
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