The Twenty-Four Heavenly Priests
Alpha and Omega, the Lord Who was praised and sanctified before the creation of the world by Himself, is also glorified and sanctified by His creatures who are created in praise of Him and inheritance of His Glory. Mainly, Angels and man are foremost the performance of this work. (Book of Aximaros of Sabbath)
The honor and glory of our Lord God is both in the heavens and earth. Within the angles world, He is praised by the Twenty-Four Heavenly Priests by the words “Holy, Holy, Holy.” As earthly priests burn incense before the Arc of the Covenant inside the Holy Church praising, the heavenly angels Saint Seraphim glorify and praise the throne of Holy Trinity in the heavens, burning incense in His honor, ceaseless.
They are exalted above all the saints and the spiritual hosts. Because of their closeness to God, they intercede on behalf of the human race and offer the prayers of the Saints as incense, in the golden censers in their hands, before the Glorious and Blessed Lord.
The Prophet talked about these Angels saying; “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood Seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: ‘“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.” (Isaiah 6:1-5)
Saint John the Evangelist said in Revelation, “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here and I will show you things which must take place after this.’ Immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes, and they had crowns of gold on their heads.” (Revelation 4:1-4) … “each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (Revelation 5:8) who are on earth raising it to the Almighty.
Saint John continued saying, “I heard the Four living creatures praising God and saying, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.’ Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him Who sits on the throne, Who lives forever and ever. The twenty-four elders fall down before Him Who sits on the throne and worship Him Who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your Will they exist and were created.’” (Revelation 4:8-11)
And when a command went forth from God they fell down, and worshipped saying, ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints, who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your Name? For You alone are Holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.’” (Revelation 15:3-4) The fathers of the church arranged this feast to commemorate them.
On the day blessed day Hidar 24, we commemorate the Twenty-Four Heavenly /Incorporeal/ Priests of the Most High, who are sitting around His throne. It is also the feast of our Patron Father righteous Abune Tekle Haimanot who burnt incense together with the Twenty-Four Heavenly Priest on the same holiday.
May the prayer, intercession and mediation of the Heavenly Priests Saint Seraphim and our Holy Father Abune Tekle Haimanot be with us; and Glory be to our God forever. Amen!