On 21 November 2017, the feast of the Archangel Michael, leader of the angelic host, a festive Divine Liturgy was celebrated at Saint Alexius Cathedral.
The Liturgy was celebrated by the rector of the church, Priest Igor Babakov.
The vigil service was held the evening before.
The Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Heavenly Bodiless Powers is a feast of the Orthodox Church in honour of the venerated heavenly bodiless powers headed by the Archangel Michael. It is celebrated on 21 November (8 November according to the Julian calendar). It was established at the beginning of the 4th century by the Local Council of Laodicea, held several years before the First Ecumenical Council. In its 35th canon, the Council of Laodicea affirmed the Orthodox veneration of angels as ministering spirits who announce and carry out the will of the Creator. The basis for the Church's teaching on the angelic world, with its nine orders (Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Authorities, Principalities, Archangels and Angels), is the book "On the Celestial Hierarchy" by Dionysius the Areopagite, written in the 1st century. The feast is celebrated in November, the ninth month from March (with which the year began in ancient times), in accordance with the number of the nine angelic orders. 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 proceeds in weeks of days, "the eighth day" will come, and then "the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him" (Matt. 25:31).
After the service, Fr. Igor addressed the faithful with a sermon and greeted everyone on the feast.
The akathist to the Archangel Michael was then read.
