First Sphere

Seraphim

These are the highest order or choir of angels. They are mentioned in the bible in Isaiah 6:1-7 and Rev. 4 6-8. Seraphim comes possibly from the Hebrew verb saraph "to burn" or the Hebrew noun saraph "a fiery, flying serpent". They are described in Isaiah as having six pairs of wings, one pair for flying, one pair for covering their eyes (even they cannot look at God) and one pair for covering their feet (believed to be a euphemism for genitalia). They are described as having eyes all around.

Cherubim

These are the second highest in the order or choirs of angels.According to Ezechiel's vision they were in the form of a man, with a man's face at the front, an eagle's face to the rear, and ox's face to the left and a lion's face to the right. He described them as having four arms, each with a wing attached, with a pair of wings outstretched and the other pair covering the body. Along with this there were four wheels between each aspect of the four creatures, each facing outwards with the wheels doubled up facing sideways and forwards and backwards so that they could roll in any direction. Both the angels and the wheels were studded with eyes and the wheels were like beryl (Ez. 10 1-20). They are considered guardians of God's glory and symbolise God's power and mobility.

Thrones or Ophanim

The word "Ophan" means wheel in Hebrew. They have hence been associated as being the double wheels covered in eyes in Ezekiels' description that move alongside the Cherubim (see above). They may be however the Thrones described by Paul of Tarsus in Colossians 1:16, celestial beings that are symbols of God's justice and authority. According to the Catholic tradition the Thrones are the Angels of pure Humility, Peace and Submission, residing in the area of the cosmos where material form begins to take shape. It is suggested that the lower Choir of Angels need the Thrones to access God.