Representing the Cherubim

[Chesterton]

There's a hymn in our liturgy which begins with the words "We who mystically represent the cherubim". Anyone know exactly what this means?

 

[Kristos]

My uneducated feeling is that this is a reference to the tabernacle. Just as Aaron's rod, the manna and the tablets are represented on our altar, so also we might represent the Cherubim, between whom sat God, upon the mercy seat, for now God is revealed through Christ, who sits upon the mercy seat of the Theotokos and speaks through the Gospel, not out of thin air.
Exo 25:18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
Exo 25:19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
Exo 25:20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
Exo 25:21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
Exo 25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
1Sa 4:4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
I also had a feeling about Revelations, but couldn't find any reference to Cherubim there - only angels...

 

[ikonographics]

In the Divine Liturgy that we celebrate here on earth we are participating in the Liturgy in heaven, where the angelic hosts ceaslessly praise God singing "Holy, Holy Holy" (ie. the Thrice-holy ot Trisagion hymn )(Isaiah 6:1-3 1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory." )
In singing the Trisagion we are joining in chorus with the angelic powers. That is why the Cherubic hymn says:

"Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim, and who sing the Thrice-holy hymn to the life-creating Trinity..."

 

[Kristos]

If we open it up to Seraphim then Revelations has some feel.

Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

 

[ikonographics]

We don't read Revelation in the Liturgy...it is a description of the Liturgy.

 

[Kristos]

Rev 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.