Why do we celebrate feasts for the heavenly beings?

• a. Such feasts afford us the opportunity to reflect upon and to imitate the angels in their obedience to God, their love for others, and their glorification and thanksgiving to God for His works. It was said in the book of Revelation, “The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals, for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people

and nation. And have made us kings and priests to our God, and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:8–10).

• b. We see the heavenly presbyters praising the Lord, praying on our behalf, and offering our prayers before the divine throne.

• c. The incorporeal priests rejoice over our joy, and they feel that we are their brothers and partners in the heavenly life. Thus, the Lamb who was crucified for us, has united heaven and earth and made them one.

• d. The feasts of angels inspire us to understand the Lord’s work with us: “For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21).

• e. The focus of the word of God in both Testaments is the idea of “restoring the lost pearl” which is the image of God. It is only when this image is restored to humanity that we can share with the heavenly hosts and be counted as being among the heavenly hosts, honored before God and His angels.

• f. Within the two Testaments of the Holy Bible there is no single account of the ranks or the nature of heavenly beings. Our Creator and Savior does not want us to a have dry curiosity for mere knowledge; rather, He reveals mysteries to us according to our needs, for our edification, and according to the circumstances of our times, so that we may be able to enjoy His presence eternally.