Christian doctrine speaks of the existence of twelve archangels, who have their own classification and patronize various branches of human activity. In Orthodoxy, they occupy the highest hierarchical level among other incorporeal spirits, however, according to the system of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite, this is the lowest (eighth out of nine) rank.
In the Bible, only Michael was awarded this title, but the archangel Jehudiel also deserves to be mentioned as a little-known, but who played a significant role in the life of believers, the messenger of God.
Who is Jehudiel
The name of this heavenly warrior is known to few Christians as it is not found in God's Book. Everything that is known about him today is taken from Catholicism, biblical quotes and traditions.
It is believed that for the first time the archangel Jehudiel descended to the people of Israel to protect them from persecutors during a 40-year journey through the desert and punish the wicked infidels. A reminder of this is traditionally the Lord's appeal to Moses (Ex. 23; 20-21).
Many ancient legends and Catholic annals of the 15th-16th centuries tell about the deeds of the messenger of God, and his name first became known fromrevelations of Amadeus Potrugalsky. Literally translated from Hebrew, it means "Praise God." And for good reason: Jehudiel is considered the patron of those who work for the glory of the Lord - clergymen, rulers and judges.
And yet, despite the seemingly great role in the life of believers, the veneration of this human protector left the Catholic cult as early as the 17th century, but was transferred to the Life of the Saints by Dmitry Rostov.
However, few prayers addressed to the helper of God are known today, and the akathist to the archangel Jehudiel is completely impossible to find even on the Internet.
How the archangel is portrayed
Only thanks to the translations of Dmitry Rostovsky did it become known what Jehudiel looks like (according to Amadeus of Portugal, who in his revelations described his appearance in detail).
The face of the archangel is often written on icons designed to bestow protection. In his right hand he clutches a golden crown - a reward for good deeds, and in his left hand he holds a whip with three ends, symbolizing the punishment for sins, unbelief and laziness.
Thus, Archangel Yehudiel, whose icon is no longer found in any major temple, calls on Christians to be obedient to God's will and do things for the glory of the Lord.
Who patronizes Jehudiel
As mentioned earlier, Jehudiel is the defender of the faith, therefore, the more a person is devoted to God, the more favorable the archangel will be to him. Conversely, the weakening of religious beliefs leads to the loss of his patronage.
Besidesprotecting people in leadership positions, the archangel Jehudiel helps those employed in the arts (since talent is a gift from God) and those working for the good of society. And of course, "Glorifying the Lord" takes care of priests, patriarchs and monks, because by their actions they strengthen people's faith.
Therefore, Jehudiel honors work and creativity - it is in these areas that he assists. For these purposes, he has a golden crown in his hands, which the archangel will place on the forehead of the one who glorified God with his deeds after his death.
Archangel Jehudiel: a prayer addressed to him
Reading prayers is an integral part of the life of a believer. This action should be approached responsibly and wholeheartedly, because, despite the fact that the “Glorifying the Lord” hears the words addressed to him, the prayer will be much more effective if it is said sincerely and with the hope of fulfillment:
“Holy Archangel Jehudiel, eternal protector of those who have chosen the dear path of Christ, deliver from the terrible sin of laziness and give strength to good deeds. You are a great intercessor of the will and glory of God, help me to create in the name of the Father and the Son, strengthen my heart from black thoughts and thoughts from inconstancy, enlighten me, stupid! In the name of the Holy Trinity, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen!"
According to the rules, this prayer should be read on Saturdays, in the morning and in the evening before going to bed. But since it is only one, albeit in various variations, you can pronounce this appeal on other days, the main thing is to havewhile pure thoughts and sincere faith.
Symbolics
The main symbols of Yehudiel are a golden crown and a whip with three ends, in some images it is replaced by a rod. It has also become common for believers to assign other insignia to revered archangels, such as colors and shades, fragrances, or natural stones. The latter can be both precious and worthless in the jewelry industry.
However, it is not known for certain which stone suits the archangel Jehudiel. Today it is not customary to decorate icons with his face in any way, except for a gilded frame on top of the paint layer. But in the production of paints, sometimes ground stones are used: lapis lazuli, malachite or turquoise.
The color of the "Glorifying God" is attributed to purple, so if you want to decorate its image, you can use agate, amethyst or charoite.
