On 21 November 2017, the day of commemoration of the Archangel Michael, leader of the angelic hosts, the festal Divine Liturgy was celebrated at Saint Alexius Cathedral.
The Liturgy was celebrated by the rector of the church, Priest Igor Babakov.
The evening Vigil was served on the eve.
The Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers of Heaven is a feast of the Orthodox Church in honor of the venerated heavenly bodiless powers led by the Archangel Michael. It is celebrated on 21 November (8 November by the Julian calendar). It was established at the beginning of the fourth century by the Local Council of Laodicea, held a few years before the First Ecumenical Council. In its 35th canon the Council of Laodicea affirmed the Orthodox veneration of the angels as ministering spirits who proclaim and carry out the will of the Creator. The basis of the Church's teaching on the angelic world, with its nine ranks (Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Authorities, Principalities, Archangels and Angels), is the book "On the Celestial Hierarchy" by Dionysius the Areopagite, written in the first century. The feast is celebrated in November, the ninth month counting from March (with which the year began in ancient times), in accordance with the nine ranks of Angels. The eighth day of the month points to the future Synaxis of all the Heavenly Powers on the day of God's Dread Judgment, which the holy fathers call "the eighth day", for after this age, which runs in weeks of days, "the eighth day" will come, and then "the Son of Man will come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him" (Matt. 25:31).
At the end of the service Fr. Igor addressed the faithful with a sermon and congratulated everyone on the feast.
