What does St. Jacob of Sarug say about the cherubim as the chariot of God?

He says, “In the prophecy, it is written that God rode upon the cherubim and flew … The cherubim are joined to God. If He forsook them, they would collide and fall. It is He who upholds them that they may fly swiftly. His great strength carries the cherubim who carry Him. He carries the whole world — who can carry Him? The whole creation depends upon His hidden signal, and He controls it. What chariot is sufficient to convey Him? He is above the heights and beneath the depths and embraces all things. Such a chariot falls short of His great power by all accounts, for it is He who upholds the creation and does not let it fall.”

He also says, “He is not borne by the cherubim or by any chariot. But for the sake of His economy, He joins it to Himself, for the sake of the mysteries to which it is joined. He set aside a place for it that it may dwell in its own realm; that the exalted ranks might draw near to it with praise … He fashioned for Himself something like a palanquin, that He may appear upon it, and that all may gather before it and delight in its appearance … The multitudes crowd around the door of the Great King. Myriads of myriads serve Him, each according to their kind; and they send up to Him voices of glory indeed. Fear-inspiring glory and brilliance emanate from the chariot and unite the heavenly creatures to the great Glory.

“They stand, rank upon rank, serving Him. He beholds all their soldiers gathered in one place. And the eyes of the children of light rest upon the chariot, inclining neither this way nor that way away from the vision of glory. The cherubim who bear Him rejoice and the

680 See St. Jerome, The Homilies of Saint Jerome, Volume 1 (1–59 on the Psalms) Homily 7 (FOTC 48:54).

681 St. Jerome, On Ps ., hom 10.

seraphim are sanctified when they behold Him in the realm of the Holy. He delights in the ranks of the heavenly as though they are at the door of the royal house. All of them cry out, rejoicing in the vision of His exalted place … In the brilliance of His light, the multitude delight in His blessings. The powers and the rulers of the powers glorify Him with all their lives. For they were made worthy to behold, in His exalted realm … All of them attend closely to this hidden place, which He chose as the place of His rest. They cry out, glorifying His honor. The ranks of the heavenly confess as they are arrayed before His chariot. The cherubim bless Him, being joined to Him and carrying Him. And the multitudes glorify Him, for they have gathered together for His glorification … All these benefit from their connection with the chariot, but He has no need for a chariot.”