Cemetery Angels at Easter

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Angels abound in the cemetery.  They have been described since ancient times as the guardians, guides, and intercedents for humans; as well as carrying out heavenly tasks, and acting as messengers of God.

Angels are considered to be spiritual beings that take on a human form with wings.

Angels are prevalently mentioned in the Bible during the Passover and Easter seasons.    They are recognized in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, although most Eastern religions do not believe in angels.

It is an angel that appears to Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, at the cross.

It is an angel, which rolls the stone away to reveal an empty tomb on Easter Monday.

Angels in the cemetery offer us clues to their identities, if we search for the symbolism surrounding them.

An agent of God can be seen pointing the way to heaven for a departed soul, or holding the wreath of victory over death.

There are also several famous angels found in the cemetery.  In Thomas Heywood’s Hierarchy of Blessed Angels, written in 1635, the Angels of the Four Winds are Gabriel of the north winds, Michael of the east winds, Raphael of the west winds, and Uriel of the south winds.

Gabriel is God’s primary messenger and the first angel to be mentioned by name in the Bible.

Gabriel is an angel in many religions including Judaism, Christianity and Islam.  He is mentioned in religions such as Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, Anglican Communion, and the Catholic Church.

Gabriel is considered to be a kind angel who performs acts of healing.  He is easy to identify in the cemetery – Look for his horn. Gabriel is usually shown with his horn in his hand or blowing his horn to indicate the Second Coming.

Another well known angel is Michael.  Michael is an archangel and known as the holy fighter.  He performs acts of justice and is considered the most “God-like” of the angels.

In the New Testament, Michael is the leader of God’s armies against Satan’s forces.  He is considered an angel in Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, Islam, Judaism, Anglicanism, and Oriental Orthodoxy.

Michael is usually seen with a sword, carrying a banner or scales (for justice,) or seen stepping on the devil.

 

Another cemetery angel is Raphael. He is recognized as an archangel in Christianity, Islam and Judaism.  Raphael is the angel that heals.

Raphael may be seen holding a bottle or flask.  He can also be identified when carrying a staff or fish.

Uriel is an archangel recognized in such religions as Judaism, Anglican, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Oriental Orthodoxy. He is known as the “light of God.”

Uriel is depicted in the Apocalypse of Peter as the angel of repentance. Uriel is also the angel that checks the doors of Egypt for lamb’s blood.  He is the keeper of the key to the Pit during the end of times, and can be identified carrying a sword or a palm.

Yet another angel seen in the cemetery but usually not identified is Samael.

Samael is regarded as an angel who is both good and wicked.  In Judaism, he is the angel that tempted Eve. He is also the angel of death.

Samael is depicted in the cemetery as the grim reaper with a scythe in hand.

There are said to be over 30 varieties of angels, but most are not given names.  They are shown to be like humans with wings and halos; acting as the servants of God, messengers of God, and who intercede between humans and God.

Angels are considered to be benevolent spirits, who protect and guide humans before and after death.  This may be why they are so prevalent in cemeteries around the world – Helping those who have passed, and comforting those who remain…

~ Joy

Angels in the Cemetery

Hierarchy of Angels

Angels are considered spiritual beings that guide and protect mankind, while interceding for him in heaven and acting as the  messengers of God.  There are nine levels of angels with 3 types in each group.  The Christian hierarchy is, from lowest to highest:  Angels, Archangels and Principalities; Powers, Virtues and Dominations; Thrones, Cherubims and Seraphims. Statues of angels, archangels and cherubims (actually Putto) flourish in cemeteries around the world, watching over the graves of children and adults, alike.

Song of the Angels
by Bouguereau

The belief in angels has existed since ancient times.  Folklore and legends from around the world have numerous stories involving angel and human interaction.  Most world religions that believe in one god share a belief in angels such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Zoroastrianism.  Most eastern religions do not.  The acceptance of angels’ existence peaked during the Middle Ages and continued until the mid-19^th century.  Renewed interest has developed in the past 30 years.  It is interesting that both religious and non-religious people believe in angels.  According to several surveys conducted in 2009, 55% of Americans reported believing in angels.  In Canada, over 67% of those polled said they believed in angels.

Cemetery angels can indicate many feelings and beliefs depending on what they are doing and how they are doing it.  Here are some examples -

An angel pointing upward is leading the soul toward heaven and it’s reward.

An angel with a trumpet represents the Archangel Gabriel who stands ready to issue the call to resurrection.

This angel holds flowers that indicate the death of a child.  The daisies specify the innocence and purity of a child; the roses are an appeal to the Virgin Mary.

Here the angel holds an extinguished torch, to indicate death.

This angel stands in prayer. The star on her crown indicates the spirit rising to heaven.  The crown represents victory over death.

Here an angel sits on the grave, grieving an untimely death.

This angel holds a rolled up scroll in her hand to show that the deceased’s life has been recorded.

Here a guardian angel is taking the child to heaven.  The baby is holding high a lit torch to signify life everlasting.  The roses in the angel’s hands indicate unfailing love.

Cherubs are used to designate the grave of a child.  Cherubs have actually been humanized and blurred with Putto, which are depicted as pudgy babies or toddlers with wings in Baroque artwork.  They are found on the gravestones of children and indicate the omnipresence of God. 

Here a cherub is sitting, grieving a child’s life cut short.

This cherub is erasing the name of the child who has passed on.

A cherub with an inverted torch indicating the death of a child.

This small, flying angel proclaims rebirth.

And this angel has fascinated me the most. The laurel leaves on her head indicate triumph over death.  But what is she dropping from her hand?  Flowers?  Also, here are two shots of the same statue, taken the same day.  The angle is not that different, but it appears she has raised her head.  

This Friday is Arbor Day.  I’ll have an interview with an international Arborist who will discuss those odd, interesting, sometimes spooky trees found in the cemetery.

Photo by Jim Champion

Now, all of these angels have put me in the mood to watch the movie ‘Michael” again…..(Remember, he’s an angel- not a saint ; )

~ Joy