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The word '''angel''' means "messenger" and this word expresses the nature of angelic service to the human race. Angels are organized into several orders, or Angelic Choirs. The most influential of these classifications was that put forward by [[Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite]] in the Fourth or Fifth century, in his book ''The Celestial Hierarchy''.
In this work, the author drew on passages from the [[New Testament]], specifically [[Epistle to the Ephesians|Ephesians]] 6:12 and [[Epistle to the Colossians|Colossians]] 1:16, to construct a schema of three '''Hierarchies''', '''Spheres''' or '''Triads''' of [[angel]]s, with each Hierarchy containing three '''Orders''' or '''Choirs'''. In descending order of power, these were:
*'''First Hierarchy:'''