Mystery of angelic apparition (at Vatican)

Cambs Times ^ | March 30, 2007

[NYer]

The Vatican picture with the ‘angel’ clearly visible

FORMER policeman Andy Key has his very own guardian angel. He also has the photograph to prove it.

During a visit to the Vatican City he snapped some pictures as the Pope spoke to the crowds. It was only when he returned home to March and processed the pictures on his laptop that he saw what looked like an angel in one of them.

"I just snapped away because it was heaving with people," he said. "I didn't see anything but when I looked at the picture it looks just like an angel above the Pope's head.

"It can't be a trick of the light because I can't see what the light could bounce off. You don't even have to squint to make it out - it looks just like an angel."

Andy Key with the camera that produced the ‘angel’ picture

Mr Key, of Gresley Way, was enjoying a weekend break in Rome with his wife Susan when he took the remarkable photograph with his Kodak Easyshare camera.

He said: "The family have all looked at it and all think it looks like an angel. There is no logical explanation and it almost looks like a hologram. I certainly didn't see it when I was taking the picture and I cannot explain it."

Mr Key says he has never had any previous encounters with angels and said: "I can't actually say what an angel is but this certainly looks like one."

Cambs Times photographer Brian Purdy examined the picture and also says he has no logical explanation for the mystery image.

He said: "I have seen several tricks of the light on photographs but nothing comes close to this. Pin cushion and barrel flare produce symmetrical images but this is a one off."

[MHGinTN]

Thanks so much. The following is from 1Kings6 ... but I was asking about Angelic visions people had, not the imagery carved in the Temple of Solomon:

23 And within the oracle he made two cherubim of olive tree, each ten cubits high.

24 And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.

25 And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubim were of one measure and one size.

26 The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub.

27 And he set the cherubim within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubim, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.

28 And he overlaid the cherubim with gold.

[MHGinTN]

I have been trying to recall all the visitations by Angels in the Old Testament ... for some reason my recollection of the time spent wandering in the Desert points to a clue. Do you happen to remember which verse refers to Angels dancing on the head of a pin?

[Campion]

Non est is backwards and meaningless

Have you ever studied Latin? I had a year in high school and two in college, finishing up by reading Ovid and Cicero. The first thing you learn about Latin is that, unlike English, Latin does not use word order to indicate meaning or parts of speech; it uses inflected endings.

"Non est" means "he/she/it is not". "Est non" means "he/she/it is not".

[Campion]

24 And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits

So much for angels in the Bible not having wings.

[spunkets]

" Have you ever studied Latin?"

None before this thread. Thanks for the info. Have a blessed Palm Sunday.

[MHGinTN]

If memory serves, one of the Patriarchs referred to that phenomenon. I'll have to searchit when time permits. My son and I have an on-going debate over the ability of ANgels to adjust their spacetime manifestations according to what is needed. When Angels were seen by non-Jews in scenes like Jericho, I seem to recall they saw gigantic apparitions.

[MHGinTN]

And that leads to aninteresting point: Angels, though spiritual beings, can manifest physical effects upon our world/realm. It is the study of Angels which has led me to much of the new cosmological paradigm I espouse for our spcaetime continuum. This new paradigm is what caused me and my son to begin our debate. He's really smart, and allows me no wiggle room.

[Iscool]

24 And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits

So much for angels in the Bible not having wings.

Do you see any angels in that verse??? I don't...All I see are cherubs...

I never said cherubim didn't have wings...I said angels don't have wings...Show me an 'angel' with wings...

[trisham]

I don't know if you've seen this photo from yesterday:

[Iscool]

Cherubim are a class of angels.

Cheribum are created entities no doubt, but I don't think we can call them angels...

All the pictures we see show human men and women, with wings...The biblical references to angels are always depicted as men...Even in Hebrews, it says if we met an angel, we wouldn't recognize it as an angel, apparently because they look like human men...

There is no mention in the bible of cheribum as having any of the attributes of angels...Not to mention they are pretty tall...

The bible's pretty clear that angels do not have wings...

Here's a description of some other 'things' which I don't think would be a class of angel either...Angels are angels...These cheribum and these other things are something else...

Eze 1:5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
Eze 1:6 And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
Eze 1:7 And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the color of burnished brass.
Eze 1:8 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
Eze 1:9 Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
Eze 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
Eze 1:11 Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
Eze 1:12 And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
Eze 1:13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
Eze 1:14 And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

[NYer]

I don't know if you've seen this photo from yesterday:

No ... this is the first time. Good turnout for Palm Sunday! (Is there something else I am missing?)

[trisham]

I hope not. :)

[khnyny]

Bravo.

[MHGinTN]

The entries in Ezekiel are indeed amazing. But forgive me if I take issue with the following you asserted in that same post: "Even in Hebrews, it says if we met an angel, we wouldn't recognize it as an angel, apparently because they look like human men..." Don't assume that applies to ALL Angel meetings.

The verse refers to 'for some have entertained Angels unawares.' This is linked in my Scofield Standard Reference Bible to the episode when the two Angels came to Abram's camp and he entertained them as traditional hospitality required, and Sarah laughed in private at their prediction (of her giving birth) unaware that they were Angels. Gideon also was visited by an Angel who appeared as 'manish'.

An Angel rolled back the stone of Jesus' tomb, an Angel released the door and chains that bound Apostles. The reference you cited doesn't mean that in every case Angels are unidentifiable.

The Angel in the desert led the Hebrews as a cloud during the day and a column of fire at night. A heavenly host of Angels appeared to the shepherds heralding the birth of the Lord. These appearances were not misundertood as something other than Angels. If you happen to find references to Angels in the Bible that do not appear at roughly human size, THAT is what I'm seeking to explore. Thanks for your patience ...