What do we know about the twenty-four presbyters (Rev. 4:4)?

The words “priest” or “elder,” or the Greek-derived word “presbyter,” refer to priestly ministry. Thus, the early Church understood the twenty-four priests to be a priestly rank among the ranks of heaven, dedicated a day for their commemoration, and considered them to be at the forefront of the heavenly hosts, second only to the four living creatures.

We get a sense of their importance in the early Church from the words of St. Cyril of Jerusalem : “The Fathers commanded all Christians to commemorate them when they witnessed their dignity and elevated glory. They are incorporeal, for they are close to God the Pantocrator, before Him at all times, interceding for the whole creation, crying out with the four living creatures saying, “holy, holy, holy” … What is more noble than this position of which they are counted worthy? The angels and all the heavenly hosts stand before the just Judge, but they are seated on luminous thrones, clothed in regal attire, with crowns of honor upon their heads, holding golden censors in their hands filled with the prayers of the saints; and they bow down before the true Lamb, asking Him for the forgiveness of the sins of humanity. They never cease their praise and rejoicing before the Lord of Sabaoth (Hosts) together with the four living creatures …”

However, according to St. Ambrose , we ought not to think of descriptions of the thrones and those sitting on them in a material way but only as mere expressions of their exalted honor and joy.⁶⁹¹ According to Ibn Al-Assal , their white attire indicates their splendor, glory, righteousness, and holiness. Victorinus of Pettau believes that these priests are heavenly beings and at the same time are symbols of the prophets of the Old Testament who surround

690 St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies 3.11.8 (ANF 1:428).

691 St. Ambrose of Milan, Exposition of the Christian Faith 5.6.73 (NPNF II/10:294).

the Lord, proclaiming by the spirit of prophecy, His incarnation, passion, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.⁶⁹² In the doxology of the Twenty-Four Presbyters, we chant, “For great is the honor, of the incorporeal saints, the priests of Truth, the twenty-four presbyters. Because they are close to God, and near to His throne, they praise Him unceasingly, by day and by night. They sit upon twenty-four thrones, with crowns upon their heads, and with golden bowls in their hands, full of chosen incense. Which are the prayers, of the saints who lived on the earth, and they offer them, unto the true Lamb. And those who lived on the earth, their names will be revealed, they will ask the Lord for them, for they are close to God. Intercede on our behalf, the priests of the Truth, the twenty-four presbyters, that He may forgive us our sins.”