Guardian Angel as a personality and problems of his depiction in Orthodox iconography

The Guardian Angel icon is truly of great importance for every Orthodox Christian. A person’s heavenly patron constantly makes sure that he goes through life’s difficulties without major losses.

Each believer has his own and is determined based on his date of birth. You can always turn to the Guardian Angel in difficult situations and he will never refuse a request. The Heavenly Patron becomes the link between man and the Lord.

On behalf of the Almighty, he carefully monitors the earthly existence of people, reveals to them the will of Heaven and allows them to sinlessly follow the path destined for him.

Guardian Angel by date of birth in Orthodoxy

All believers have a Heavenly Patron from the very first moment of their birth.

For example, Seraphim of Sarov and Saint Sylvester help those born in winter; these people should seek protection from them.

Believers who correspond by date of birth, which falls at the end of autumn and before the beginning of winter, are destined for their own Heavenly Patron. Saints Barbara and Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker will always hear their prayers.

Appealing to John the Theologian, as well as to Saints Stephen and Tamara, will always give spring people the opportunity to receive help from them.

Based on the time of birth, which generally corresponds to the signs of the zodiac, it is easy for every believer to determine his Angel.

Without a doubt, you should also read the article describing the icons of Jesus Christ.

Icons of Angels and Archangels

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Icons of the Patron Saint by date of birth of a person

After taking into account the date of birth, a personal Heavenly Patron has been established, it is necessary to place his icon in the house, and also constantly pray to it in the Temple.

The image prevents a person from sinning, protects him from the hardships of life, and preserves his life and health.

In cases where things are not going well, a person needs to pray not only to the Lord and the Mother of God, but also to his Guardian Angel.

Icons of the Guardian Angel in the online store of Orthodox icons Svyatsy.

Guardian Angel as a personality and problems of his depiction in Orthodox iconography

Images of Angels can already be found in the Roman catacombs, although without the usual wings. Although winged creatures are known even in pre-antique times. However, in early Christian monuments there are no images of the Guardian Angel.

Guardian angel. Proris V.V. Filatova.

His iconography, which spread from the 16th to 17th centuries in Russia, usually presents us with “a young man dressed in a white tunic, sometimes in a tunic and himation, or a cloak, the main attributes being a cross and a naked sword”[1].

No matter how much we searched, we never found the iconography of the Guardian Angel in 11th-century Byzantine art, fundamental to the Orthodox world. That “temple guard” from Sofia of Constantinople, which is mentioned by Fr. Georgy Florovsky[2], is, according to V.N. Lazarev, Archangel Gabriel[3], which is much more like the truth. The measure and mirror in our hands testify: before us is one of the Archangels, but not the “guardian of the temple.”

The heavenly powers were depicted quite often, but not the Guardian Angel.

This is interesting. Since a fair question arises: if the prayer that the Orthodox read in the morning rule (“Holy Angel, stand before my accursed soul...”) was written by St. Macarius the Great in the 4th century, and the canon to the Guardian Angel was compiled by Metropolitan John Mauropodos of the Euchaites in the 11th century, then which icon did the worshipers turn to?

The actual lack of literature on this topic is puzzling. Some authors touch upon it only descriptively. No problem. And sometimes erroneously: we have already spoken about one such article by a famous Soviet art critic in periodicals[4].

Since everything except God has its own beginning, we need to find out: when, according to the teachings of the Church, is a Guardian Angel assigned to a person? Beginning with Tertullian and Origen, early Christian authors gave very different answers. But the final prayer of the canon to the Guardian Angel says absolutely unambiguously: “from holy baptism” - new birth by water and the Spirit... Moreover, song 7 of this canon indicates for what period: “from God given to me forever,” that is, the Guardian Angel accompanies every Christian from St. baptism and before the end of the earthly journey, but also after, “in the terrible hour of death, be persistent with me, my good guardian,‹…› when the imam passes through the airy ordeal” (prayer of the akathist to the Guardian Angel), since the deceased “is usually accompanied by two angels‹ …›. The duty of these angels (Guardian Angel and counter angel - V.K.) is to accompany the soul of the deceased on his way to the afterlife.”[5]. And at the Last Judgment, the Guardian Angel will appear before Christ, begging for the forgiveness of the person he is protecting, and in case of forgiveness, he will become the latter’s inseparable friend in eternity.

There is an opinion that that friend and Angel is the saint whose name we bear. Hence, they say, name days are called Angel's Day.

This is clearly a fallacy. It is easily refuted by the morning rule: one prayer is read to the Guardian Angel - a completely different one to the saint in whose name the Christian is baptized.

No, the face of the Guardian Angel is hidden from mortal people. It opens visibly only at the moment of separation of the soul from the body. This alone is enough for a negative answer to the question: “Does the iconography of the Guardian Angel have a right to exist?” Otherwise, the icon painter would have to die and be resurrected... And if he were to be resurrected, he would only depict his Angel. Where are the guarantees that his Angel is at least visually the same as the Angel of each of us? This question is valid even for saints who have seen their Guardians with their own eyes.[6] After all, if “it is not known whether the Angels are consubstantial with each other, it is possible that each of them is a special creation of God, a special spiritual world” [7], then how much more urgent is it to raise the question of the “hypostasis” of the Angels: is our Guardian some kind of functional force , faceless, or rather, monotonous and transcendental - or is it still a specific person called to serve?

The conversation about categorical personality analysis is difficult; here everything rests on subtle subtleties. And in man, the difference between nature and personality is no easier to grasp than to distinguish between one nature and three Persons in God.

“We are accustomed to considering these two expressions - personality and individual - almost synonymous,” writes V.N. Lossky, - we use both equally to express the same thing. However, in a certain sense, individual and personality have opposite meanings; “Individual means the eternal confusion of personality with elements belonging to general nature, while personality, on the contrary, means that which is different from nature.”

V.N. Lossky continues: “In our present state, being individuals ourselves, we perceive personality only through the individual. When we want to define, “characterize” a person, we select individual properties, “character traits” that are found in other individuals and can never be completely “personal”, since they belong to a common nature. And we, in the end, understand: what makes him “himself” is indefinable, because in his nature there is nothing that would actually relate to the personality, always unique, incomparable and “incomparable”[8].

Here is a mystery that comes from the unlimited creative abilities of the Creator of the world. It has no measurable “parameters”. Are there ways and quantities to measure mystery?

But mystery has its own antinomy - “individual properties.” This is where the concept of “individuality” arises - a set of qualities that express the essence of an individual. Human individuality is an unconditional existential value from God. It is not rejected, but is included in the Conciliar unity; which explains the requirement of “portrait resemblance” from an isographer when painting an icon of this or that saint, “for veneration (is given to an icon) not insofar as it lags behind the resemblance (with the prototype), but insofar as it represents a similarity (with it),” - explains St. Theodore the Studite. The very word eikon “image” goes back to eiko “I have a resemblance, I resemble.” The iconographic originals are full of indications such as “a shepherd, gray-haired, with the beard of John the Theologian,” “a rounded face, like His Mother,” “Nikolina’s hair,” etc. The skillful brush of a master, guided by the Creator, each time from the totality of such comparative features creates a single and unique image of a person - a personality, which is confirmed by the inscription on the icon: this is St. Basil the Great, not St. Gregory the Theologian. Therefore, in ancient times, the image was first approved by clergy and then consecrated with an inscription (the rite of consecration, as known today, did not exist until the 17th century: it was believed that it was the inscription that sanctified the icon; and even today’s rite of consecration is only an act of approval, and nothing more) .

Guardian angel. 19th century.

Lossky further says that Angel and man are “personal beings,” but man, for the famous theologian, “has a fuller, richer content of angelic spirits,” for he is placed “on the verge of the speculative and the sensual” and therefore “is involved in all spheres of the created universe.” .[9] Hence, as we see, the personality of an Angel and the personality of a person differ significantly, although both the Angel and the person are created in the image and likeness of God. Anthropology of St. Gregory Palamas testifies that the Angel, inferior in the perfection of the image, surpasses man in likeness. According to Lossky, “a personality that asserts itself as an individual and encloses itself within the limits of its private nature cannot fully realize itself—it becomes impoverished”[10]. God’s Angels have nothing like that, for they “are saturated with Divine grace and transmit it to the rest of creation”[11]. The very contemplation of the Divine, as far as possible for them, serves as food for them, according to the word of St. John of Damascus[12]

Can Angels here assert themselves in the status of individuals, and therefore, contain “themselves within the limits of their private nature”? They could... But they would just stop being Angels.

It is useless to delve into the question of angelic nature. The incomprehensible nature of the angelic world itself will not allow us to do this. And yet, the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, pointing to the complete incorporeality and invisibility of God, confirmed the position on the admissibility of depicting Angels on icons: “As for rational powers, they are not completely removed from corporeality and are not absolutely invisible, being gifted with subtle ones, airy or fiery bodies in which they repeatedly appeared and were visible.” The Fathers did not specify whether the Angels wear these subtle bodies temporarily or permanently. They only testified that the incorporeality of Angels is relative, that Angels appeared to people, and therefore they are, in a certain sense, depictable[13]. Rev. John of Damascus directly says that Angels are “describable; for while they are in heaven, they are not on earth; and sent by God to earth, they do not remain in heaven”[14].

The question of their depictability (as a churchly revered image) is why we decide that Angels are individuals. With his refutation, Rev. Theodore the Studite argued to the iconoclasts: “<…> the icon depicts not nature, but personality”[15]. Let us note: a specific personality, and not a symbolic one - there are no symbolic personalities of a person, as well as “persons in general”.

Confusing abstract formulas with people is a harmful activity.

Balaam and the Angel blocking his way. Fresco from the 4th century. Rome. Catacombs on Via Latina.

Church symbolism is rooted in historical reality. Yahweh himself ordered the cherubim and seraphim to be depicted on the lid of the Covenant Ark, which means that their face was revealed to Moses, as Patriarch Tarasius spoke about at the VII Ecumenical Council, which is confirmed in Scripture: “see and do Me in everything, as I will show you in grief" (Ex. 25:8); The Lord sent Archangels to people, the Angels written were those who appeared to the shepherds, announcing the Birth of the Savior of the world, those who announced the joy of the Risen One to the Myrrh-Bearing Women, and they were presented in a service, “functional” sense, and not as an image for which they pray. The symbolism of the Guardian Angel is not supported by anything - this is typically the head work of the icon painter, his “ideas”. And the result was a symbolic personality, unaddressed for prayer. The situation is actually according to Kant: “Let only our idea be correct, and then, despite the presence of obstacles standing in the way of its implementation, it will not be impossible.”

The question arises: what allowed Rev. Should Andrei Rublev depict the Holy Trinity in the form of Angels, symbolizing the three Hypostases? How legitimate is the symbolism here? Does this iconography comply with the 82nd rule of the Trullo Council?

That’s the point: “the image of the Trinity is not a hypostatic image of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but an image of the trinity of the Divinity and trinity being” (L.A. Uspensky). The appearance of three men to Abraham at the oak of Mamre, according to the Church, is not a symbol, but an educational vision of the Most Holy Trinity. This allowed Rev. Andrei Rublev depict her not symbolically, but as prototypes. Rule 82 was not violated in this case, because it, requiring specificity, prohibits symbols, not prototypes. And the speech at the Fifth-Sixth Council was not about the image of the Trinity, but about Jesus Christ. The “Fatherland” icon, for example, contradicts this rule and presents us with a hypostatic image of the Trinity. But due to the non-incarnation of God the Father, His image is already a symbol. [The “Old Day” from Daniel’s prophecy cannot be the Father - according to the Acts of the Great Moscow Council (chapter 43), He is the Son in the glory of the Divine, “who will be at His second coming.”] The image of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove is legitimate only in the plot of "Epiphany".

The icon of the Old Testament Trinity, painted by Rublev, is based on a sensory phenomenon, and, in the words of St. Joseph Volotsky, in it “the one being of the Divine is venerated and kissed.”

By the middle of the 16th century. alien symbolism is actively beginning to displace the language of “transformed evangelical realism” from icon painting. An icon of the Servant Angel appears (now located in the museum-reserve of the city of Sergiev Posad). Some art critics mistook this Angel for a Guardian Angel. The deacon's vestments, instead of a sword with a censer in his hand, speak of him as a minister: Greek. diakonos - servant. Nevertheless, the 16th century did everything to show the world the image of the Guardian Angel. A.S. Uvarov at one time wrote about the presence of such an image in stamps, with explanatory inscriptions “The Guardian Angel protects a person during the days” and “The Angel of the Lord protects a person during the night.” The icon itself dates back to the 17th century, but is a copy of a 16th century icon named A.S. Uvarov “Guardian Angel with Adventures.” However, to this day such monuments of the 16th century. didn't arrive. However, there is no doubt about the similar symbolism of that time. According to the apt remark of Fr. Georgy Florovsky, “this predominance of symbolism meant the collapse of icon writing. The icon becomes too literary, it begins to depict not so much faces as ideas.”

The 17th century only worsened the situation.

Now it’s time to ask the following question: “Why are the Angels monotonous, that is, the same faces?” We have already spoken above about the Fathers’ requirement for the icon painter to achieve “portrait resemblance” to the prototype. So, the “sameness” of the Angels is also, to a certain extent, “similarity,” although this sounds paradoxical. Judge for yourself: Angels, being personalities and not being individuals - “products of the biological generic process” (Arch. Cyprian /Kern/) - acquire “elusive”, and, therefore, incomparable features - how can an isographer solve such a mystery, if, according to the teachings of the Church, a person should be depicted on an icon and symbolically indicate the nature of what is depicted? How? Only “apophathically” - from the opposite - so that no one to compare with (An Angel in the form of a young man is a banal invention of art critics). Here is an ancient artist, in accordance with the requirements of St. Fathers, exclusively spiritually, speculatively, and not rationalistically, presented a face without a mustache, a beard, without wrinkles and any typical features, a face without a single sign of gender (for Angels are genderless).

What can be gained in this case, having, in addition, the most vague ideas about the nature of the angelic world? - only what they received: actual sameness (at the same time it emphasizes the lesser perfection in the image of God of an Angel compared to a person). Even the clothes differ not in character, but hierarchically: in the Archangel, instead of a himation, a cloak is depicted, instead of a tunic, a dalmatic with a mantle and a skirt; hair and hairstyles make no difference.

This is where “in a certain sense” comes from the imageability that the Fathers of the Seventh Council spoke about.

But this technique should not be considered “cliche”. It is conceptual in nature.

A historian of philosophy may rightly ask: “The distinction between “personality” and “individuality” began only in the 18th century, starting with Kant and Herder. Therefore, the ancient isographer could not even hypothetically introduce such concepts into painting.”

We answer. Firstly, the concept of “personality” was used by the Fathers who denounced the Arians in the 4th century - “during the period of the theological disputes that were waged around the Trinitarian and Christological dogmas.” Secondly, the absence of the term “individuality” or “individual,” not to mention the said distinction, does not at all mean the absence of the concept itself. From the words of Rev. Theodore the Studite on the similarity of the image on the icon with the prototype, it becomes clear that this saint means precisely “individuality.” Selfishness, pride - the whole list of sins - judging by biblical history, always accompanied a person after the loss of paradise. But they are traits inherent in an individual. Not every icon painter could categorically analyze and discern the subtleties of the intricacies of such a philosophy, but he possessed, we repeat, mystical speculation - the vision of the intelligent world, which translated abstract concepts into artistic images - “colors of wisdom”, “theology in colors”. And the very theology of the icon belonged primarily to the Fathers, and not to the artist. When this principle was violated, and the icon painter began to “act” independently, then instead of theology, the result was a literary surrogate with claims to philosophy, which turned into “symbolism of ideas.” The great shadow of Plato emerged from the ancient past: the idea as the metaphysical essence of a thing became a visual image.

The spirit of the times was doing its job.

Everything is surprisingly similar! In Russian history, the 16th century is the popularization of great power ideas embodied in corresponding actions. The country began the 17th century with turmoil and ended with Peter’s “reforms.” “In the field of artistic creativity,” writes L.A. Uspensky, - just as in the field of theological thought, the creative experience of tradition and the rethinking of Orthodoxy in the light of what other faiths bring disappears. Changes in the religious psychology of the era are expressed in the gap between prayerful feat and creativity, as well as theological thought”[16]. One gets the impression that some Russian painters of that time find it difficult to conceive of God “outside” the plane of the icon, living “in the unapproachable light.” And if this is so, then with the drying up of high thoughts of God, all sobriety in depicting the indescribable is lost. “Fantasies” begin to play out, sometimes even explained in some way. This is where a relapse of authorial tyranny occurs, brought up by influences from “outside”. And its logical continuation in the 18th century will be the appearance of numerous pagan “Cupids” in church art.

It was on this basis that the iconography of the Guardian Angel was cultivated. But the 1,500-year-old consciousness of its impossibility was disappearing.

Guardian angel. 1694-1695 Fresco. Church of St. John the Baptist. Yaroslavl.

The genealogy of this phenomenon can be traced back to the 13th century image “The Appearance of the Archangel Michael to Joshua.” A special role here was played by the icon of the Archangel Michael from the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin (15th century). Of its 18 marks, 6 reflect protective and punitive acts, 6 – saving ones, and another 6 – the battle with Satan[17]. Before us is none other than the Guardian Angel of “all Rus'”, with his functions and actions, but not in a literal, but in a figurative sense. The Moscow monument becomes a kind of standard for Rus'. The icon from Uglich is proof of this, taking into account, of course, the “taste” changes of the 16th century. In turn, the Uglich Archangel is a reference image for the Kostroma and Yaroslavl isographers who worked together, from which they create frescoes of the Guardian Angel[18].

The problem of innovations of the 16th - 17th centuries is acute in our time. The wide distribution of inappropriate icons does not find proper criticism in church literature. L.A. Uspensky wrote: “We know: just as human thought was not always at the height of genuine theology, so artistic creativity was not always at the height of genuine icon painting, and among other misconceptions we often encounter the image of God the Father, especially widespread in Orthodox world since the 17th century”[19].

Let's add here the image of the Guardian Angel.

The Seventh Ecumenical Council proclaimed for all centuries that “icon painting depends on St. Fathers and only its artistic aspect belongs to the artist”[20].

This was not the case, in our opinion, when developing the iconography of the Guardian Angel.

[1] Filatov V.V. Brief iconographic dictionary. M.: Education, 1996. P. 14..

[2] Florovsky Georgy, prot. Dogma and history. M.: Publishing House of the Holy Vladimir Brotherhood, 1998. P. 401.

[3] Lazarev V.N. Byzantine painting. M.: Art, 1986. Table. 122.

[4]Kutkova V.S. From faith in science to faith in science // Pokrov. Veliky Novgorod, 2002. No. 2 (9). pp. 6-8.

[5] Seraphim (Rose), Hierom. Soul after death. St. Petersburg, 1994 P. 40.

[6] Rev. John of Damascus writes that Angels “appear to worthy people to whom God wills them to appear, not as they are, but in a changed form, depending on how those who look can see.” - John of Damascus, St. An accurate exposition of the Orthodox faith. St. Petersburg, 1894. Reprint: M.: “Lodya”, 2002. P. 47.

[7] Alypiy (Kastalsky-Borozdin), archimandrite. Isaiah (Belov), archimandrite. Dogmatic theology: A course of lectures. Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, 1998. P. 179.

[8] Lossky V.N. Essay on the mystical theology of the Eastern Church. Dogmatic theology. M., 1991 pp. 92-93.

[9] Ibid. P. 82.

[10] Ibid. P. 94.

[11] Alypiy (Kastalsky-Borodin), archimandrite. Isaiah (Belov), archimandrite. Decree. op. pp. 183-184

[12] John of Damascus, St. An accurate exposition of the Orthodox faith. St. Petersburg, 1894. Reprint: M.: “Lodya”, 2002. P. 48.

[13]. Alypiy (Kastalsky-Borodin), archimandrite. Isaiah (Belov), archimandrite. Decree. op. P. 180.

[14] John of Damascus, St. An accurate exposition of the Orthodox faith. St. Petersburg, 1894. Reprint: M.: “Lodya”, 2002. P. 47.

[15] Quoted. by: Uspensky L.A. Theology of the icon of the Orthodox Church. Paris: Publishing House of the Western European Exarchate of the Moscow Patriarchate, 1989. P. 94.

[16] Ibid. P. 180.

[17] Tikhomirova K.G. Heroic legend in ancient Russian painting. // Old Russian art: The artistic culture of Moscow and the adjacent principalities. XIV-XVI centuries M., 1970. P. 8-17.

[18] See: 1) painting of the northern wall of the Church of the Resurrection in Rostov (c. 1675);

2) fresco of the Church of John the Baptist in Yaroslavl (1694-1695).

[19] Uspensky L.A. Decree. op. pp. 121-122.

[20] Ibid. P. 117.

Icon of the Intercessor by date of birth

People born at a certain time are assigned from above not only Heavenly Patrons, but also special images.

For example, those who saw the earthly light for the first time in the first half of winter should pray to the “Burning Bush.”

People of autumn correspond to the “Exaltation of the Holy Cross” and, as in the previous case, to the “Burning Bush”. They will always save and preserve them under any circumstances.

“Passionate” patronizes those born from late summer to early autumn. Many people born at very different times need to have the image of the “Burning Bush” in themselves, since it helps so many.

Icons of the Virgin Mary by date of birth

All believers are destined not only for their own Heavenly patron, but also for the corresponding image of the Mother of God, who supports a person during various appeals to him and life’s hardships.

Those born in winter are helped by the “Sovereign” Mother of God, the children of autumn are protected by prayers to the “Jerusalem” Mother of God and the “Quick to Hear”.

It is to them that you need to turn if you need protection, help or support in various difficult circumstances.

Those who were born from mid-November to mid-December should choose to venerate the image of the “Sign” and the icon of the “Tikhvin” Mother of God.

Angels of the Zodiac

Guardian Angels of the Zodiac.

When you have doubts about your own strengths, when situations arise that you cannot control, turn to your Guardian Angel, because he has been with us since birth. He looks after us, protects us, sympathizes with our experiences and rejoices at our successes. He sends us tips and signs, and does everything possible to make our lives easier. Each zodiac sign also has its own Guardian Angel, who is more powerful, because he is called upon to help everyone born during this period. Offer a prayer to the Guardian Angels and they will definitely hear you and help you...

ARIES from March 21 to April 20. Patron angel - BAKARIEL. Angel Bakariil helps to cope with any affairs and makes Aries have a positive outlook on life, cares about success and gives powerful potential for life energy. People turn to him for help when luck has turned away. Protects the children of Aries as well.

The bright side of Aries is Sincerity and Openness.

The dark side is Hatred and Selfishness. Reluctance to admit mistakes, intolerance, rage, rash actions, impulsiveness.

Aries Prayer to the Guardian Angel

My angel, protect me from excessive self-confidence and insolence! Help me restrain my arrogance and lust for power! Strengthen me in good feelings and bright moods! Calm me down, don’t let passions take over me! Protect me from defeat in battle! And be with me in victory and glory!

TAURUS from April 21 to May 21

Patron angel - AMATHIEL. Angel Amatiel fills the soul of Taurus with light and hope, will help to clearly see the true path. They turn to him if they want to understand their purpose in life. They ask him for help when they strive for change. Helps to overcome obstacles in achieving their goal.

The bright side of Taurus is Reliability and Good nature.

The dark side is Stubbornness and Stinginess, which leads to greed and the unwillingness to let in spiritual thoughts.

Taurus' prayer to the Guardian Angel

My angel, be with me and soften my stubbornness! Teach me to trust people and forgive mistakes! Give me time to accomplish everything I have planned, don’t rush me! Prepare me in advance for the inevitable changes! Fill my life with your beauty! Accept the fruits of my work and send me recognition!

GEMINI from May 22 to June 21. Patron angel - BAHRAM. This is the angel of victory. He is asked for help in any tests. Bahram helps to fulfill obligations in difficult situations. The angel of cheerfulness protects from difficult life turns, saves from pessimism and depression.

The bright side of Gemini is Lightness and Cheerfulness.

The dark side is Fussiness and Falsehood.

Gemini's prayer to the Guardian Angel

My angel, calm my fussiness! Let me feel harmony and peace! Help me understand the contradictions and choose the right path! Save me from talkativeness, which is understood as heartlessness! Become my support and teach me consistency! Be with me, protect me with your wing! Let joy and love be my reward!

CANCER from June 22 to July 23. Patron angel - DINA. This angel persistently encourages Cancers to acquire new knowledge. People turn to him for support when they strive to achieve heights in any area of ​​life. Dina does not allow Cancer to withdraw into itself.

The bright side of Cancer - Compassion and Mercy, always stands on the side of the weak.

The dark side is Lies and Resentment. Likes to instill feelings of guilt in others.

Prayer of Cancer to the Guardian Angel

My angel, be with me all my days and all my nights! Protect me with your bright face! Save me from offense and teach me to forgive! Open my heart to meet the people you choose! With your power, inspire me to work, and dissolve my laziness in the water of oblivion! Let my kind heart beat in time with yours! And everything that you bring, on your wings, I will accept with joy and trust!

LEO from July 24 to August 23. Patron angel - AQUARIEL.

Angel Aquariel guides Leo to constant spiritual search and development. Only by hearing the voice of his angel can Leo become generous. They ask him for help if you strive for a deep understanding of the world around you.

The bright side of Leo is Cordiality and Generosity.

Dark side - Boastfulness and Vanity, thirst for worship and power.

Leo's Prayer to the Guardian Angel

My angel, protect me from arrogance and overestimation of myself! Restrain me in my lust for power and worship! Add to my criticism of those who flatter and fawn on me! Share with me my power in the world of people! Don't let me be lazy and rest on my laurels! Teach me attention to other people and modesty! Send kind hearts to my aid! Share my happiness and my joy with me!

VIRGO from August 24 to September 23. Patron angel - KADMIEL. Kadmiel is the angel of fate. He is always ready to help Virgo understand her true purpose in life, choose the right path. Strengthens the spirit, makes Virgo wise and reliable. Having prayed to Kadmiel, you must listen to what your intuition suggests. It is through her that this angel guides Virgo .

The bright side of Virgo is Constancy and Giftedness.

The dark side is Irritability and Pettiness. Dissatisfaction with life awakens mistrust and alienates Virgo from friends and loved ones, can lead to indifference, and then to illness.

Prayer of the Virgin to the Guardian Angel

My angel, protect me from fussiness and criticism! Limit my pettiness, let me see something larger and more general! Help me not to be offended by people who disrupt order and create confusion! Calm my haste, don’t let me get irritated over trifles! Teach me faith in love and tenderness! Light up my days with your heart! Take me on your flight! Be my reward for my hard work.

LIBRA from September 24 to October 23 Patron angel - BARCHIL. This angel gives Libra the inner strength and compassion they need to help others. If you want your life to change for the better, pray to Barchiel. The Angel of Measure can make Libra beautiful in both soul and body. Gives peace, calm and confidence. In this case, there is hope for improving your own life in the most difficult situations.

The bright side of Libra is balance, calmness and confidence.

Dark side - Prudence and Selfishness, the ability to use people by playing on their feelings and weaknesses

Prayer of Libra to the Guardian Angel

My angel, be with me always and everywhere! Protect me with your wing from dangers! Help me make important decisions calmly and simply! Become my support in my quest for justice! Tell me when to give advice to others, and when it’s better to remain silent! Dance with me, spin around and let me see you through your eyes! Play me the melody of the heavenly spheres and sing your song to me! May my life become your joy! And your smile will be my reward!

SCORPIO from October 24 to November 22. Patron Angel - GABRIEL. This is one of the most powerful angels, who is sent to proclaim and clarify secrets, helps to make dramatic changes in life and creates favorable conditions for great endeavors. Having determined your main goal, pray tirelessly to Gabriel and soon you will see how dreams begin to come true. Scorpio should always hear the voice of Angel Gabriel, one of the most powerful Guardian Angels of Light, who will not leave a person in moments of difficult thoughts.

The bright side of Scorpio is Truth and Honesty.

The dark side is Suspicion and Jealousy, which leads to self-destruction and revenge, until Scorpio hears the soft, warning voice of the Angel.

Scorpio's prayer to the Guardian Angel

My angel, keep me from vindictiveness and rancor! Heal the wounds caused by my careless words! And hide my own vulnerability from others! Teach me forgiveness and protect me from revealing other people's secrets! Help me use my energy for good deeds! Tie my jealousy with a bridle and hold it in your hands! Share your kindness with me! And give me the gift of seeing the pure intentions of other people! Walk with me on my paths and bring me to me! Let mercy be my reward!

SAGITTARIUS from November 23 to December 21.

Patron Angel - Adnachiel

This is the angel of daring and freedom. His capabilities are very great. Pray to him when setting out on the road: Adnachiel is the patron saint of travelers. With its help, persistent people will be successful in business and career growth.

The bright side of Sagittarius is Justice.

The dark side - Arrogance and Rudeness, rejection of criticism and a sense of exclusivity, alienates Sagittarius from people. In his desire for the highest, Sagittarius can reach the point of fanaticism.

Sagittarius' prayer to the Guardian Angel

My angel, protect me from rudeness, impatience and tactlessness! Calm my spirit of adventure and thirst for excitement! Teach me to accept both victory and defeat with dignity! Put your angelic words into my mouth, and your tact into my heart! Be by my side in all my travels! Help us understand the wisdom of distant lands! With the light of our souls we will warm the world! Reward me with your praise!

CAPRICORN from December 22 to January 20. Patron angel - KAMBIEL.

The protection of the Guardian Angel Kambiil is necessary for the zodiac sign Capricorn. Following the Angel, Capricorn becomes reliable and faithful. Adventurers and thrill-seekers ask Kambiel for protection.

The light side of Capricorn is Strength and Endurance.

The dark side is Indifference and Coldness, when Capricorn is disappointed or if he was used, betrayed, pushed away. An evil spirit forces you to ignore people’s requests and think only about yourself, which is why the soul seems to become callous and dark.

Capricorn's prayer to the Guardian Angel

My angel, warm my soul! Quench your sadness in a difficult moment in life! Hug me, share your warmth! Teach to love within the icy walls! Help me soften my harshness! Let me see different paths! It’s more fun to walk under your wing! Together you and I will overcome everything! We will gather many lives into a wreath, the flowers will bloom and bear fruit! At the top of my life I will look around, just be with me, you are my best friend!

AQUARIUS from January 21 to February 19. Patron angel - KATETIL. This angel gives Aquarius insight, helping to penetrate into the essence of things. They ask for his blessings when studying or doing science. Teaches you to value love and friendship, otherwise the risk of being left alone is high. Aquarius, like no one else, needs to communicate with nature to replenish their energy reserves and restore strength.

The bright side of Aquarius is Friendship and Sympathy.

The dark side is Hot temper and Alienation, a disregard for others who wish him well and love him. Re-evaluating yourself and your own capabilities.

Aquarius' prayer to the Guardian Angel

My angel, be my friend, together we will reveal all the secrets of life! The two of us will soar above the ground, and with you I can reveal my talent! We will be able to land smoothly on time and bring new things to teach our friends! Protect me with your wing when I suddenly explode in vain! The spirit of all revolutions sleeps within me! Reason with him, I won't be deaf! The light of distant stars will be our path! Let's run forward together, you and I!

PISCES from February 20 to March 20. Patron angel - EGALMIEL. This angel helps Pisces feel confident in the power of their charm. Prayers to Egalmiel help them achieve success in love and career. Pisces must always listen to the voice of their guardian angel.

The bright side of Pisces is Compassion and Love.

Dark Side - Vices. Pisces can be angry and cruel, weak in the face of temptations, enticements and debauchery. They look for sources of dubious pleasures in the form of alcohol or drugs, which can completely destroy them.

Prayer of Pisces to the Guardian Angel

My angel, protect me from rude words and evil people! Pour the balm of your kindness on my spiritual wounds! Come down with me from heaven to earth! Help me with difficult and boring work! Make my most beautiful fantasies come true! The world will become brighter under your wing!
Tags Adnachiil Aquariil Amatiil Angels of the zodiac patron angels Bakariil Barchiil Bahram Gabriel Dina Egalmiel Kadmiel Kambiil Katetil prayer to the angels

Guardian Angel body icon

Every Orthodox Christian is also required to constantly wear an icon of his Heavenly patron on his body.

He:

• will create a direct connection between man and the Lord;
• will provide the necessary assistance;
• protects from harm;
• warns against sin;
• will not allow a person to become a victim of attackers;
• will suggest the right solution;
• will help in labors;
• will contribute to achieving success;
• will provide an opportunity to quickly repent, etc.

How to pray to your guardian angel

You should definitely have an icon of your Heavenly patron at home. The best place would be the corner of the room that allows you to turn your face towards the east.

It is worth placing the image under glass or in a special cabinet where it will be clearly visible. It is advisable to hide it because dust settles on the icon, it can be dropped by pets or taken as a toy by small, unintelligent children.

It is necessary to offer prayers daily, turning to your Guardian Angel with gratitude and asking for help on the path of life.

Conversion must be meaningful, selfless and filled with true faith. It is imperative to remember all the cases when the Saint helped a person, and especially when he performed a miracle for him. During the day you should constantly think about him, try to follow his commandments and not sin.

If you profess a righteous lifestyle, then the Guardian Angel will constantly support a person, help him in family matters, strengthen his faith, and also allow him to know himself and his life path.

Genuine commitment to the Orthodox religion, veneration of the Lord and saints makes a person stronger, makes it possible not to lose sight of his destiny and humbly endure all the trials that the Almighty sends him.

How to choose a carved wooden icon

Hand-carved icons are made from beech, oak or ash. All these tree species are extremely durable and have their own special pattern. They are 100% environmentally friendly and are processed exclusively with certified, safe paint and varnish materials. Therefore, they can be placed even in a children's room. The products do not cause allergic reactions.

When ordering, it is important to pay attention to the quality of the wood itself so that it is perfectly smooth. Is the paint coating applied evenly, or are there noticeable transitions and stains? How well the carvers worked out each detail so that it is noticeable, and at the same time, does not look as if it was glued separately.

The creation of an icon has its own clear canons. And despite the fact that the Guardian Angel does not have a specific name, his image is well known both in Orthodoxy and Catholicism. Therefore, you should not ask the carver to make the face of your friend or relative for the Guardian Angel. Yes, such requests are also received. In this case, it is more advisable to order a portrait or an interesting panel.