At the Council of Archangels{*Creations attributed to St. John Chrysostom and Min's publications classified as Spuria.

It is our duty to glorify angels. By chanting the Creator, they reveal His mercy and goodwill towards people. I'm talking about angels, about our allies waging war against forces hostile to us - about angels, one of whom is the Archangel Michael, who competed with the devil over the body of Moses and fought against the leader of the Persians for the freedom of the people (Dan. 10:13). From among them is the one who turned the donkey back and kept Balaam from strange madness, and when this prophet did not understand what was happening, the voice of the dumb one brought the gifted one to reason with a word (Num. 22:27–28). From among them is the one who drew the sword and prompted Joshua to fight the enemies. Of these, also the one who in one night defeated one hundred and eighty-five thousand Assyrians and put the barbarians to sleep in the uninterrupted sleep of death (2 Kings 19:35). Of these, the one who carried the prophet Habakkuk through the air to feed the prophet Daniel among the hungry lions (Dan. 14:34-36). These and others like them stand against enemies and also have strength against suffering. Such was the wondrous and divine Raphael, who with the entrails of one fish freed a girl from the power of a demon and skillfully restored sight to a blind old man (Tov. 11). We cannot remain silent about those who served in the new covenant; of these, for the most part, is the archangel Gabriel, who revealed the prediction to Zechariah and punished him for his distrust with dumbness, since they did not believe that the barren woman would conceive for the sake of the future economy; he announced to Saint Mary her unmarried birth, he showed the shepherds the way to the cave and showed the Immense One in a manger, the Indescribable One in swaddling clothes, sending up with them a euphonious song of glorification: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). Another angel keeps the wise men from returning to Herod; some served the Creator on earth during its creation; another admonishes the betrothed of the Virgin not to let go, as if corrupted, of the one who was immaculate; another inspires him to return after fleeing from the beating of infants by Herod; although they saw the Uncreated One in the flesh, they served Him following the example of slaves. They were amazed at His power, as a result of which the tempter was struck, and, according to the testimony of David, they lifted Him up in their arms and carried Him so as not to hit the stones (Ps. 90:12), because “they took,” it is said, “stones to throw at Him” (John 8:59). Some flocked to suffering; others, sitting in a new tomb after the resurrection, said to the believing women: “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5)? After the ascension, they accompanied the disciples as bodyguards, freeing Peter from his bonds, easing dangers for Paul on land and at sea, helping the faith of Cornelius, defeating the boastful Herod, the destroyer of the righteous. Isn’t that why those who govern our lives deserve the greatest honor? He scattered the sons of men, then he set the boundaries of the nations according to the number of the children of Israel **" (Deut. 32:8), but an angel was also assigned to each of the people. This is not my speech, but the Holy Scriptures. It was when the maiden Rhoda announced to the Apostles that Peter, who had left Herod’s prison, was standing at the door, they, not believing, said: “This is his angel” (Acts 12:15). And the Savior also testifies to this, speaking about the little ones in this life: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:10). Christ appointed guardian angels for each church, as, revealing to John, he says: “Write to the angel of the Smyrna church: ... I know your deeds, and sorrow, and poverty (however, you are rich)” (Apoc. 2:8-9). What are you saying, Master? Am I rich and poor? Why do You enrich me with an empty name? If I am rich, then I am not poor, and if I am poor, then how can I be rich? After all, there is a great difference between wealth and poverty, as You yourself testify by defining the great gap between rich and poor. The rich man turns away from the poor man, and the poor man looks furtively at the rich man. Things are opposite, life is not the same. One groans from suffering, the other laughs from pleasure. This one gets bread by begging, but the other one suffers from gluttony. This one does not even have a small cup of wine, and the other one, out of extreme intoxication, vomits it out. One dresses in rags, and the other dresses up in a variety of clothes. One is lying on the ground and not sleeping, and the other, being on the bed, snores, dreaming of luxury in his sleep. This one asks for some coin, and the other one is showered with gold. He who hoards and does not give away is like a poor man waiting for a rich grave. And they treat the seasons differently. For the poor man, deprived of warmth, winter is difficult, but for the rich man, who cannot stand the heat from satiety, summer is harmful. So, how is it that a poor man is also a rich man? However, this word is just and He who speaks is just. The poor are poor for lack of money, but rich in the treasures of faith. It is better to be poor in worldly affairs, but rich in spiritual affairs, because the end of those is corruption, and of these is inalienable benefit. Therefore, the Son says: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” (Matthew 6:19), inviting us to lay up the treasures of heaven, feed the poor, look after the weak, protect the defenseless, forgive debtors who have no means, and expect reward from God, because “he who does good to the poor lends to the Lord” (Prov. 19:17). Seeing this, the angels report to the Judge of all, and He commands them to say to everyone who does good: “Your prayers and your alms have come as a memorial before God” (Acts 10:4). To him be glory and power, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Creations attributed to St. John Chrysostom and classified in the Minya edition as Spuria. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” In Greek translation: According to the number of the Angels of God.