The Seraphim, or seraphs, whose name means "Burning Ones," are angels with many wings in Abrahamic mythology. Seraphim are usually depicted as angels of fire and are described as being aflame with the love of God. The Seraphim are the highest angelic beings associated with the prophet Isaiah's vision of God in the temple when God called him to his prophetic ministry. They are described as having six wings, with two wings covering their faces, two covering their feet and two used for flight. Their voices are also said to be powerful enough to fatally kill a mere human and shatter glass.
It is said that before his fall from grace, Lucifer was a seraph sporting 12 wings and along with being a prince of the choir. Tradition places seraphim in the highest rank in Christian angelology and in the fifth rank of ten in the Jewish angelic hierarchy.
In Kabbalah, the seraphim are the higher angels of the World of Beriah, whose understanding of their distance from the absolute divinity of Atziluth causes their continual "burning up" in self-nullification. Through this they ascend to God, and return to their place. It is said that the seraphim flew about the throne on which God was seated, singing his praises as they called special attention to God's glory and majesty. These beings apparently also served as agents of purification.
In Asian regions, their title translates to "Angel of Ardor" (熾天使, Shitenshi)?.
Seraph appears as a boss in the Basilica. He can be fused in a special triple fusion of Uriel, Raphael and Gabriel. He learns the unique skill Seraphic Lore.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey[]
"The highest rank of all the angels, it is the being closest to God. Humans can rarely detect their presence, but they are said to have four heads and six wings. They also appear in human form."
—Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey compendium
Seraph is an extremely high-level demon found in the depths of Sector Horologium, created by a ritual carried out by eight angels, one from each angelic rank, from Angel to Cherub, fusing themselves together to create the massive holy being. Its relation with the protagonist varies depending upon the selected path: if the protagonist has chosen the Law route, it will inform of the return of its enemy, the monstrous Mara. It will then post an EX Mission calling for Mara's extermination. Upon Mara's death, it will meet with the protagonist and request to join his party. This will also unlock the special Seraph fusion, which, like the ritual, requires an Angel, an Archangel, a Principality, a Power, a Virtue, a Dominion, a Throne and a Cherub.
In the Chaos route, the protagonist instead first meets with Mara first in Sector Grus, and receives an EX Mission to kill the angels before they combine into Seraph. If he attempts to stop the fusion, he is swatted away and Seraph comes into existence anyway. Upon its defeat, Mara appears and will try to join the protagonist.
Shin Megami Tensei IV[]
Seraph appears as a boss on the Chaos and Neutral routes, where it is one of the demons creating a barrier that prevents further entry into Purgatorium. They reside in the 5th Crown. Unlike most other angels, they do not repeat the same words, instead stating that they will not have to involve God's Chariot in killing them and that creating their perfect world requires that not even a speck of filth remain. In battle, Seraph uses the Light Wing skill, which reflects all non-Almighty damage that doesn't match the color Light Wing takes.
During New Game Plus, a Challenge Quest called Four Wings, Four Heads can be done on Jonathan's Route. Aniel requests that four demons be slain so that their heads will be offered in the sacrifice needed to summon Seraph. By calling the name of the Four Saints (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) the four heads are sacrificed, summoning Seraph. Seraph introduces itself as the Burning Flame, remaining silent afterwards but radiating light.
"Of the highest order of angels. Known as "the burning ones," they burn with love for God and remain closest to him. The true majesty of the Seraphim cannot be conceived by the human mind, therefore takes the form of four-headed, six-winged beings when appearing before man."
—Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2 Compendium
Seraph can be purchased for 1,500 Democalypse Coins.
Inflicts Fire (Magic) damage with 180 power on a Single Enemy.
Innate
Thunderclap
7 MP
Inflicts Light (Magic) damage with 180 power on a Single Enemy.
Innate
Garden of Eden
Auto
While the demon with this skill is alive, all party members will receive the following effect: +25% damage when attacking the enemy's weak point and -25% damage when a weak point is attacked.
At start of 1st turn in a boss battle: Increases the ATK of all party members by 20% and decreases the DEF of all enemies. (3 turns)
Innate
Merciless Blow
Auto
+20% damage when attacking the enemy's weak point.
Common
Gallery[]
Seraph's portrait as it appears in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Seraph as it appears in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Seraph as it appears in Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2
Trivia[]
The Herbrew letters "סותגנאס" on Seraph's fans from its Shin Megami Tensei NINE design does not spell a Hebrew word. However, when read from left to right (סאנגתוס), they spell the Latin word Sanctus three times, thus referring to the Sanctus, a hymn in Christian liturgy. Tersanctus ("Thrice Holy") is another, rarer name for the Sanctus. The same name is sometimes used for the Trisagion. The name of the fire skill Trisagion, meaning "thrice holy" in Greek, is based on the hymn sung by the seraphim.
