The angel of the church
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Rev. 2:1) — the chief minister, or representative, of a Jewish synagogue, was called the angel of the church, because he addressed prayer and intercession to God on behalf of the Jews, as their spiritual intercessor. According to the teaching of the Orthodox Church, every church, country, region, city, and individual person each has their own guardians, just as, in the words of the Gospel, little children also have theirs (Matt. 18:10).