Archangel Sarathiel

The Story

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Sarathiel (also written Saraphiel) is named in the Coptic doxology of the heavenly hosts among the seven holy archangels who stand before the throne of God: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Suriel, Sedakiel, Sarathiel, and Ananiel. In the Coptic Orthodox tradition these seven are the great princes of the bodiless powers, the ministering spirits whom God sends forth to serve those who shall inherit salvation.

Content

Scripture gives the wider vision of this angelic company. Saint John beheld “the seven angels which stood before God” (Revelation 8:2 (Revelation 8:2)), and the Book of Tobit records the archangel Raphael declaring himself “one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One” (Tobit 12:15 (Tobit 12:15)). The Church understands Sarathiel to belong to this same exalted order, a flame of the heavenly fire whose name, like those of his fellow archangels, ends in the syllable that means “of God” — for the holy angels possess nothing of their own but live wholly unto Him who created them.

The office of the archangels is to glorify the Most High without ceasing, to carry the prayers of the faithful before His throne, and to be sent as messengers and guardians for the salvation of mankind. In the Coptic heteni the Church beseeches the Lord to grant forgiveness of sins through the intercessions of the holy archangels and the heavenly orders; in this prayer the name of Sarathiel is lifted up together with his brethren. He stands among those mighty in strength that do the Lord’s commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word (Psalm 103:20 (Psalms 103:20)), and he watches over the children of the Church as a faithful servant of the divine will.

For this reason the Church does not preserve a separate earthly narrative for Sarathiel, as she does for the saints and martyrs, but commemorates him in the liturgy and the doxologies as one of the seven archangels who behold the face of the Father. His remembrance is therefore a liturgical witness: whenever the heavenly hosts are praised in the prayers of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Sarathiel is named among the holy princes who minister before God and intercede for His people. As the Synaxarium honors the angelic ranks who serve the throne of glory, the faithful entreat their prayers, that through the intercession of these blessed spirits they may be guarded from every snare and led at last into the kingdom of heaven.

May his intercession be with us. Amen.

Titles

Archangel of the Lord

Of the Seven Standing Before God

Messenger of the Most High

Of the Heavenly Hosts

Servant of the Divine Presence

Doxology · salutations to the Archangel

The Hymn

A best-effort translation for meaning — not the original poetic text.

Peace to you, Archangel Sarathiel, archangel of the luminous hosts.

The Church remembers you with Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Suriel, Sedakiel, and Ananiel in the praise of the heavenly orders.

Pray for us before the Lord, that He may grant forgiveness of sins.

Keep us in the fear of God and in the knowledge of His commandments.

Servant of the divine mystery, standing before the throne,

intercede for the people of Christ, that they may live in peace and joy.