Christian doctrine speaks of the existence of twelve archangels having their own classification and patronizing various branches of human activity. In Orthodoxy, they occupy the highest hierarchical level among other incorporeal spirits, however, according to the Pseudo-Dionysius Areopagite system, this is the lowest (eighth of nine) rank.
Only Michael was awarded this title in the Bible, but the archangel Jehudiel deserves mention as a little-known, but who played a significant role in the life of believers, God's messenger.
Who is Jehudiel
The name of this heavenly warrior is known to few Christians, since it does not appear 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 Yehudiile came down to the Israeli people in order to protect him from his pursuers during a 40-year journey through the desert and punish the wicked Gentiles. A reminder of this is traditionally the Lord’s appeal to Moses (Exodus 23; 20-21).
Many ancient legends and Catholic chronicles of the XV-XVI centuries tell about the acts of the messenger of God, and his name first became known from the revelations of Amadeus Potrugalsky. In literal translation from Hebrew, it means "Praise of God." And not without reason: Yehudiel is considered the patron saint of the working people for the glory of the Lord - worshipers, rulers and judges.
And yet, despite the seemingly large role in the life of believers, the veneration of this human protector left the Catholic cult in the XVII century, but was transferred to the Life of the Saints by Dmitry Rostovsky.
However, today there are few prayers addressed to the helper of God, and the akathist to the archangel Yehudiiel is completely impossible to find even in the vastness of the Web.
As the archangel is portrayed
Only thanks to the translations of Dmitry Rostovsky it became known how Yehudiiel looks (from the words of Amadeus of Portugal, who in his revelations described in detail his appearance).
The face of the archangel is often written on icons designed to bestow protection. In his right hand he squeezes a golden crown - a reward for good deeds, and in his left holds a whip with three ends, symbolizing the punishment for sins, unbelief and laziness.
Thus, the archangel Yehudiel, an icon with the image of which is no longer found in any major temple, calls on Christians to obey God's will and do things in praise of the Lord.
Whom does Jehudiel patronize?
As mentioned earlier, Yehudiel is the defender of faith, therefore, the more a person is devoted to God, the more the archangel will be favorable to him. Conversely, the weakening of religious beliefs leads to the loss of his protection.
In addition to protecting people in leadership positions, the archangel Yehudiile helps those who work in the field of art (since talent is a gift from God) and workers for the benefit of society. And of course, the “Praiser of the Lord” takes care of priests, patriarchs and monks, because by their actions they strengthen the faith of people.
Therefore, Jehudiyel respects work and creativity - it is in these areas that he provides assistance. For these purposes, in his hands is a golden crown, which the archangel will lay on the brow of glorifying God with his deeds after his death.
Archangel Yehudiel: a prayer addressed to him
Reading prayers is an integral part of the life of a believer. This action should be approached responsibly and from the bottom of the heart, because, despite the fact that the “He who prays the Lord” hears the words addressed to him, prayer will be much more effective if it is said sincerely and with hope of fulfillment:
“The Holy Archangel Yehudiiel, the eternal protector of the chosen path of Christ, deliver from the terrible sin of laziness and give strength to good deeds. You are a great protector 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, educate me, stupid! In the name of the Holy Trinity, from now on and ever and ever. Amen!"
According to the rules, this prayer should be read on Saturdays, morning and evening before bedtime. But since it is only one, albeit in different variations, you can pronounce this appeal on other days, the main thing is to have pure thoughts and sincere faith.
Symbolism
The main symbols of Jehudiel are a golden crown and a whip with three ends, in some images replaced with a rod. It has also become common for believers to appropriate other revered archangels with other insignia, such as colors and shades, aromas or natural stones. The latter can be either precious or valueless in the jewelry industry.
However, it is not known for certain which stone suits the archangel Yehudiel. Today it is not customary to decorate icons with his face in any way, except for a gilded salary on top of the paint layer. But in the manufacture of paints sometimes used ground stones: lapis lazuli, malachite or turquoise.
The color “Praising the Lord” is attributed to purple, so if you want to decorate his image, you can use agate, amethyst or charoite.