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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

Archangel Michael

Archangel Michael is an major angel.

In the Divine Liturgy, angels are called "the heavenly bodiless powers".

Biography

8 November and 6 September - Archangel Michael led the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against the bad angels, who were Satan and his followers.

Name

Archangel Michael's name signifies "Who is like God?".

Bible References

• 1 Daniel 10:13 sqq., Gabriel says to Daniel, when he asks God to permit the Jews to return to Jerusalem: "The Angel [D.V. prince] of the kingdom of the Persians resisted me . . . and, behold Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me . . . and none is my helper in all these things, but Michael your prince".
• 2 Daniel 12, the Angel speaking of the end of the world and the Antichrist says: "At that time shall Michael rise up, the great prince, who standeth for the children of thy people."
• 3 Epistle of St. Jude: "When Michael the Archangel, disputing with the devil, contended about the body of Moses", etc. St. Jude alludes to an ancient Jewish tradition of a dispute between Michael and Satan over the body of Moses, an account of which is also found in the apocryphal book on the assumption of Moses (Origen, "De principiis", III, 2, 2). St. Michael concealed the tomb of Moses; Satan, however, by disclosing it, tried to seduce the Jewish people to the sin of hero-worship.
• 4 Apocalypse 12:7, "And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon." St. John speaks of the great conflict at the end of time, which reflects also the battle in heaven at the beginning of time. According to the Fathers there is often question of St. Michael in Scripture where his name is not mentioned. They say he was the cherub who stood at the gate of paradise, "to keep the way of the tree of life" (Gen., iii, 24), the angel through whom God published the Decalogue to his chosen people, the angel who stood in the way against Balaam (Numbers 22:22 sqq.), the angel who routed the army of Sennacherib (IV Kings 19:35).

Christian tradition gives to St. Michael four roles

• To fight against Satan.
• To be the champion of God's people.
• To rescue the souls of the faithful from the power of the enemy, especially at the hour of death.
• To call people from earth and bring men's souls to judgment.

Feast Days

Synaxis in honor of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel and all the Heavenly Powers

8 November - The Synaxis in honor of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel and all the Heavenly Powers celebrates all the Angels. Scripture and Tradition tell us that the Angels are messengers of God and guardians of His Creation, and glorify Him unceasingly in heaven.

The miracle performed by the Archangel Michael at Colossus, later called Chone

6 September - The miracle is the springs which St. Michael is said to have drawn from the rock at Colossae (later called Chonae, the present Khonas, on the Lycus). The pagans directed a stream against the sanctuary of St. Michael to destroy it, but the archangel split the rock by lightning to give a new bed to the stream, and sanctified forever the waters which came from the gorge.
The Greeks claim that this apparition took place about the middle of the first century and celebrate a feast in commemoration of it.

Troparion of the Angels (tone 4)

Captains and Leaders of the armies of heaven, unworthy as we are, we beseech you without cease to surround us with your intercessions and cover us beneath the shelter of the glory of your ethereal wings. We bend our knees and cry out with perseverance, "Deliver us from danger, O Princes of the Powers on high!"

Exapostilarion of the Holy Archangel Michael

Radiantly reflecting the illuminations of the great brightness of the Trinity, O Archangel, you pass like lightning across the whole creation,fulfilling the divine commands, and guarding, preserving and protecting those who joyfully sing your praises.

Pray

Pray that St Michael and all the angels will intercede with God for our protection and salvation.

More information

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Encyclopedia

Synaxis of the Holy Archangels Michael & Gabriel Saint Joseph Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Lawrence, Massachusetts, Click on Feasts of Major Saints

Ikon

Synaxis of the Holy Archangels Michael & Gabriel Saint Joseph Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Lawrence, Massachusetts, Click on Feasts of Major Saints