Saint Anastasius of Sinai teaches: “Every Christian is given by God an angel [guardian angel] to protect him throughout his life, unless he himself drives him away by his evil deeds. Just as a snake drives away bees and a bad smell drives away doves, so our sins drive away the guardian angel of our life: drunkenness, adultery, anger and the like. The angel of every believer leads him to every good deed, while demons try to scandalize believers and deprive them of the Kingdom of Heaven.”
That angels are close to people and that they care for them is testified to by the entire Holy Bible, and especially the New Testament.
Moreover, in the Orthodox Church there are many traditions of holy men and women, who testify to what Saint Anastasius affirms: that each of us in this world is accompanied by a good and powerful messenger of God, a soldier of the Kingdom of Heaven, the angel of light.
Who, except a madman, drives away a good friend from his presence? Truly, only the mad and the extremely ignorant drive away with their sins their best friend, their guardian angel.
From Saint Nicholas Velimirovich
The Guardian Angel:
“In Christian tradition it is believed that every person has a guardian angel, who is assigned to him at birth to guide and protect him throughout his life.”
Symbolism:
“The angel is often depicted holding a scepter or rod, symbolizing his role as a messenger and the authority he has been assigned, as well as a sphere, which symbolizes the authority granted to him by God.”
The infant within the sphere:
“The infant held within the sphere symbolizes the soul or person under the angel's protection.”
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