Saint
Archangel Michael
Also known as: Архангел Михаил, Архистратиг Михаил, Архистратиг Божий Михаил
The Archangel Michael, leader of the heavenly host, set according to Church tradition over all nine ranks of angels. Commemorated on 8 (21) November, the Synaxis of the Bodiless Powers, and on 6 (19) September, the miracle at Chonae.
The Archangel Michael is the chief of the angels and leader of the heavenly host; his name means "Who is like God?" in Hebrew. The title archistrategos ("supreme commander") was applied to him already in pre-Christian Jewish writings, and Christian commentators identified him with the "commander of the army of the Lord" who appeared to Joshua near Jericho (Joshua 5:13–14).
In the Old Testament Michael is named only in the Book of Daniel, as "one of the chief princes" who defends God's people and "shall stand up" in the last times (Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1). The Epistle of Jude tells how, disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, he said only "The Lord rebuke you" (Jude 9), and in Revelation Michael and his angels cast the dragon, "that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan", out of heaven (Revelation 12:7–9).
His main feast is the Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the other Bodiless Powers on 8 (21) November, which tradition links to the Council of Laodicea in the fourth century. On 6 (19) September the Church recalls his miracle at Chonae (Colossae) in Phrygia, where, according to tradition, he split a rock and diverted the flood that pagans had turned against his church and its sacristan Archippus. In Russia he was widely venerated; among the many churches dedicated to him is the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.
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