Archangel Michael — Commander-in-Chief of the heavenly host: who is he and what is his strength?

According to Orthodox teaching, Michael was created by God as one of the four highest angels along with Gabriel, Raphael and Lucifer. However, Lucifer became arrogant and rebelled against God, which led to his downfall. Michael, in turn, remained faithful to God and became a symbol of the struggle for truth and truth. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.

Who is Archangel Michael: what is he known for

Archangel Michael is one of the most revered angels in Christianity, known as the guardian of faith, the opponent of demons and the leader of the heavenly host. His name translates from Hebrew as "Who is like God?", which emphasizes his special position among angelic entities.

In the Orthodox tradition, he was given the title "archangel", meaning "commander-in-chief". Michael is mentioned in various books of the Bible, including the Revelation of John, where he leads the battle against the devil and his servants.

According to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, Michael was created by God as one of the four highest angels along with Gabriel, Raphael and Lucifer. Lucifer rebelled against God out of pride, which led to his downfall, while Michael remained faithful to the Lord and became a symbol of the protection of truth and righteousness.

On Orthodox icons, Archangel Michael is usually depicted with a sword or spear, which emphasizes his role as a defender and fighter against evil. He is also considered the patron saint of warriors, judges, policemen and all those who defend justice.

When is Archangel Michael's Day

Archangel Michael's Day, or Michaelmas, is celebrated in the Orthodox tradition on November 21 (November 8 in the old style). This day is dedicated to the Cathedral of Archangel Michael and other disembodied forces. In the Catholic tradition, a similar holiday is celebrated on September 29.

St. Michael's Day is an important event in the church calendar, symbolizing the victory of good over evil and reminding believers of the need for spiritual struggle and perseverance in faith.

Traditions and customs of St. Michael's Day

St. Michael's Day in the Orthodox tradition is accompanied by various church and folk rituals. On this day, believers visit the church, pray to Archangel Michael for protection from evil, ask for forgiveness for their sins, and strive for spiritual purification.

According to folk traditions, bratchiny was held on Michaelmas Day — communal meals where family and neighborhood affairs were resolved. After conversations that often turned into arguments and quarrels, feasts were held, for which everyone brought their own dish. It symbolized unity and harmony among people.

Special attention was paid to helping those in need. On this day, it was customary to help the poor, give food and clothes to those in need, showing mercy and caring for others.

There were also customs related to nature. For example, in some regions it was customary to observe the behavior of animals and the state of nature in order to predict the weather for the upcoming winter. It was believed that if frost appeared on the trees, the winter would be snowy and cold. Fog in the morning foreshadowed a warm autumn, and clear weather for a harsh winter.

What not to do on Michaelmas Day

On Michaelmas, there were certain prohibitions and restrictions aimed at preserving spiritual purity and respect for the saint.

According to popular beliefs, heavy work should not be done on this day, especially those involving the use of sharp tools such as knives and axes. It was believed that this could desecrate the holy sword of Archangel Michael.

Chopping, sewing, and other types of needlework were also forbidden, so as not to disturb the saint's peace. It was believed that such actions could lead to troubles and troubles.

In addition, it was not recommended to talk about good dreams on this day, especially if they were on the eve of the holiday. It was believed that if you talk about a good dream, it may not come true.

Special attention was paid to relationships with others. It was forbidden to swear, argue, or raise your voice. It was undesirable to gossip, talk nonsense and think about someone in a negative way. They tried to spend Michaelmas peacefully, showing only kindness and understanding to each person.

There were also ominous omens associated with this day. If someone died on the day of the holiday, it foreshadowed bad times for the deceased's entourage, accompanied by illnesses, crop failures, livestock pestilence or frequent quarrels in the family. There was also a belief that the howling of the wind on this day foreshadowed impending trouble.