Was Angelica’s Vision from Christ or a Deception?

In recent years, testimonies like Angelica’s have spread widely, where she claimed to see Christ, the Virgin Mary, and visions of hell. But we must be cautious: not every supernatural vision comes from God. The devil himself can appear as “an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14) to mislead believers, especially in the last times.

There are several signs that Angelica’s experience may not have been from Christ:

• Christ’s humility: She described Him with golden sandals, a golden girdle, and grand earthly symbols of kingship. Yet the true Christ never needed such displays. His presence alone shows He is King.
• The Virgin Mary: The vision downplayed or dismissed the role of the Mother of God, even though she constantly intercedes for humanity. This silence about her is a mark of deception, for it is precisely her prayers that trouble the spirit of Antichrist.
• The saints: In Orthodox tradition, when saints experience a true vision of Christ, they are crushed in heart, filled with compunction and “joyful sorrow” (χαρμολύπη). Angelica, by contrast, reacted with excitement and even laughter — something unknown in the genuine mystical life of the Church.
• No glorification of the Trinity: Nowhere in her testimony was there true praise of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is another red flag, for the devil never glorifies the Holy Trinity.
• Pointing the finger: She claimed Christ accused people directly — “You know what you did.” Yet in Scripture and the life of the Church, it is the devil, not Christ, who accuses and condemns. Christ calls to repentance with love, not mockery.

In the end, the danger is clear: false Christs and false prophets will appear, showing signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect (Mark 13:22). Experiences like Angelica’s may prepare the way for the acceptance of the Antichrist, who imitates Christ outwardly while leading souls away from the truth.

The safe path is to remain in the life of the Orthodox Church, where discernment, repentance, the prayers of the Theotokos, and the witness of the saints guard us from deception.