Icon of the Archangel Michael and all ethereal forces. Holiday: Cathedral of St. Archangel Michael and other incorporeal forces

24.09.2019

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Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and other ethereal Heavenly Powers celebrated annually November 21(November 8, old style). This holiday is not one of the holidays, but has always been revered in Rus'. Temples were built in his honor, and cities and villages were also named. The celebration of the Council of the Archangel Michael and other disembodied Heavenly powers was established at the beginning of the 4th century.

Archangel Michael - Chief of the Highest Powers

Name Michael in Hebrew it means " who is like God" Archangel Michael, according to Orthodox teaching, is The head of all ethereal Heavenly Forces. It is called archangel(Greek αρχιστρατηγός - commander-in-chief) and acts as the head of the holy army of angels standing guard God's law. Following this tradition, in the Great Menaions Metropolitan Macarius writes:

God set up the preservation of Michael the Archangel as a kind of all-powerful weapon against the power of the devil.” In this image, Michael is revered as the patron and ally of the “militant Church.”

According to the tradition of the Church, reflected in the texts festive service, archangel Michael appeared to people many times back in the days Old Testament- when the Israelites left Egypt, crossing the Red Sea. He appeared to Joshua and conveyed to him God’s command to take Jericho. Many other cases of the victorious help of Archangel Michael are described in church books.

The names of other Archangels are also known from Holy Scripture and Tradition - apparently, those who carry special mission in establishing the Kingdom of God on earth:

Archangel Gabriel- evangelist of the mysteries of God;
Archangel Raphael- doctor of diseases and guide;
Archangel Uriel- enlightens people, encourages them to pray;
Archangel Yehudiel- an intercessor on the way, a helper to those in need of something for the glory of God;
Archangel Barachiel- bearer God's grace and guardian of the purity of soul and body;
Archangel Salafiel- a doctor for the disease of malaria and a prayer book to God for people;
Archangel Gefael- igniter of love for God;
Archangel Tahiel- helper and protector in troubles and misfortunes.

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Library of Russian Faith
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Temples in honor of the Archangel Michael in Rus'

After the Baptism of Rus', the holiday of the Council of Ethereal Powers becomes known to our ancestors. Many temples and monasteries were dedicated to this holiday - Michael's Day. First Cathedral of the Archangel was built in Kyiv immediately after the adoption of Christianity, a monastery was built there.

Subsequently, many cases of miraculous assistance of the Archangel in military affairs were known. IN Volokolamsk Patericon contains a description of the miraculous salvation of Veliky Novgorod from the Tatar army:

Sometimes, by God's permission, it was a sin for our sake, the godless Agaryan king Batu captured and burned the Russian land and went to the New City and God and the Most Pure Mother of God covered it with the appearance of Michael the Archangel, who forbade him to go against it. He went to the Lithuanian cities and came to Kyiv and saw the great Archangel Michael written above the doors of the stone church and said to the prince with his finger: “Forbid me to go to Veliky Novgorod.

It is not surprising that in almost every Russian city there was a temple or chapel dedicated to the feast of the Council of the Archangel Michael and the Ethereal Powers. Perhaps the most famous is the tomb of the Moscow princes. The original wooden Archangel Cathedral was probably built in 1247-1248, during the reign of Mikhail Khorobrit, brother of Alexander Nevsky. Subsequently, it was rebuilt more than once, and the current cathedral building was built in 1505-1508.

There was also the Chudov Monastery in the Kremlin. Main temple the monastery was consecrated in honor miracle of Archangel Michael in Khoneh(celebrated September 6/19). In 1929-1930 the monastery was destroyed.

In the middle of the 14th century. a wooden one appeared Temple in the name of Archangel Michael in Kolomna. At this time, in the wall of the wooden fortress of Kolomna, between the Marinkina and Faceted towers, there were already passages of the Mikhailovsky Gate, opposite which the Mikhailovskaya (or Arkhangelskaya) settlement was located. After the Time of Troubles, the temple fell into disrepair. It was built in 1700 stone church Michael the Archangel with the chapel of the Three Saints. The currently existing stone church of the Archangel Michael received its modern appearance by rebuilding parts of the previous stone church.

It was believed that Archangel Michael is the patron saint of the Russian army. Maybe that's why when founding Nizhny Novgorod, a strategic fortress at the confluence of the Oka and Volga, Prince of Vladimir Yuri Vsevolodovich built the first wooden Michael the Archangel Cathedral. Subsequently, it was rebuilt several times. The current cathedral building was built in 1628-1631. in memory of the Nizhny Novgorod militia.

It is also worth mentioning that the banner of the Nizhny Novgorod militia depicts Archangel Michael in military armor and Jesus Navvinus bowing before him.

Birthday city

In the 12th century, Archbishop John of Novgorod founded the St. Michael the Archangel Monastery at the mouth of the Northern Dvina. For a long time it was one of the centers of the Russian North.

In 1548, by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, governors Nashchokin and Zaleshanin built a fortress around the monastery in one summer. Initially it was called New Kholmogory. But already in 1596 the new city was named Arkhangelsk, named after the monastery.

Old Believer churches in honor of the Archangel Michael

The tradition of celebrating “Michael’s Day” was also preserved by the Old Believers. In all Old Believer communities there are churches consecrated in the name of this holiday.

Today patronal feast in the communities of the Russian Orthodox Old Believer Church in the city, p. Perm region, With. Kirov region, st. Rostov region, With. Tomsk region, as well as churches under construction in the city (Udmurtia) and the city (Bryansk region). In foreign communities of the Russian Orthodox Church, a temple holiday in the communities of the city (Moldova) and village. Valaya Rodoia, Floresti district (Moldova).

The patronal holiday is celebrated in the communities of the Russian Ancient Orthodox Church in the city and village. Kemerovo region.

Pomeranian communities of Nevel and village. Mikhalkino, Pskov region, Kuznetsk, Penza region, Temir-Tau, Kemerovo region, (Lithuania) also celebrate their patronal holiday today.

Cathedral of the Archangel Michael. Icons

Archangel Michael is often depicted as part of the so-called “angelic deesis”.

Archangel Michael is often depicted with a cane-spear in one hand and a special sphere-mirror (a symbol of foresight transmitted to the Archangel by God) in the other.

On later icons, Archangel Michael can be depicted trampling the devil with his feet, in his left hand, as a winner, holding a green date branch, in his right hand - a spear with a white banner, on which a scarlet cross is inscribed (symbolizing the victory of the Life-giving Cross over the devil) or holding a flaming sword and shield. Michael can also be presented as the guard of the Heavenly King, dressed in military armor, or riding a horse.

Among the icons dedicated to the Archangel Michael, one can note “The Miracle of the Archangel Michael in Khoneh”, “The Appearance of the Archangel Michael to Joshua” and “The Cathedral of the Archangel Michael”.

The celebration of the Council of the Archangel Michael and other ethereal Heavenly Powers was established at the beginning of the 4th century at the Local Council of Laodicea, which took place several years before the First Ecumenical Council. Even in apostolic times, the false teaching about Angels was widespread. Among Christians, heretics appeared who worshiped Angels as gods and taught that the visible world was created not by God, but by Angels, considering them higher than Christ. The Council of Laodicea, by its 35th canon, condemned and rejected the heretical worship of angels as creators and rulers of the world and approved their Orthodox veneration as servants of God, guardians of the human race. It was ordered to celebrate the Council of the Archangel Michael and other Heavenly Powers on November 8 according to the old style (November 21 - according to the new style).

The date of the celebration was not chosen by chance. November is the 9th month after March, which is considered the first month after the creation of the world. In commemoration of the 9 angelic ranks, the Feast of the Angels was established in November - the 9th month. The 8th indicates the day of the Last Judgment, in which Angels will directly participate. It is they who will testify at the Judgment about our lives and deeds - righteous or unrighteous. The Holy Fathers call the Day of the Last Judgment the eighth day. Time is measured in weeks (weeks). The 8th day will be the last day of the world, the day of the Last Judgment, and then “The Son of Man will come in His Glory and all the holy angels with Him”(Matt. 25:31).

Angelic world

Modern science is searching for intelligent beings in distant galaxies, while another world is much closer to man. The manifestations of spiritual beings in our material world have been known for a long time, but, as a rule, a person far from the Church either completely rejects the possibility of the influence of the spiritual world on our lives, or imagines this influence in a distorted form.

Parallel to the physical world there is a spiritual world. These are spiritual beings with independent will, intelligence and capabilities that are incomparable to human capabilities.

For many people, angels have long passed into the world of myths and fantasies. Today, images of them with their chubby baby faces and little wings decorate store windows during the Christmas holidays. In people's minds, an image of an Angel - "Cupid" that does not correspond to reality - has formed. However, Angels are real heavenly beings who play an important role both in our lives and in world history.

Even before the creation of the visible world and man, God created the invisible world and angels. From the point of view of human perception, Angels are invisible, incorporeal beings, but in fact they have a “fire-like” body - more subtle than the matter we know. They are immortal, unchangeable, and have the same form in which they were originally created by God (they did not have a period of infancy). The nature of Angels is spiritual, they have no gender and do not need material food and rest. They move with enormous speed, and although they are not omnipresent, but limited by space (being in the sky, they cannot be on earth at the same time), their limitations have nothing to do with earthly human limitations: walls, doors, locks cannot prevent them. The abilities and power of Angels are very great and significantly exceed human ones: they know much more than people about God, His will, His creatures, the spiritual world, people themselves and other earthly creatures.

Fall of the Lucifer

The entire angelic world was endowed with great perfections and gifts. Angels, just like people, have a mind and their mind is much more perfect than a human one. Angels are eternal.

Angels, like people, had free will. They could abuse this free will and fall into sin.

This is what happened to one of the most powerful, beautiful, talented and close to God supreme angels - Dennitsa, who discovered the source of evil and pride in himself and rebelled against his Creator. Satan was created as an angel in the rank of cherub; he was “the seal of perfection, the fullness of wisdom and the crown of beauty,” lived in Eden among the “fiery stones,” but became proud (Ezek. 28:17) and desired to be equal with God (Is. 14:13-14). He rebelled against God and in his madness planned to overthrow the eternal Throne and himself reign in the place of God.

Spiritual world hesitated and some of the angels followed Dennitsa, turning into demons.

Then the leader of the Heavenly Forces, Archangel Michael, gathered around him legions of Angels who remained faithful to God and said: “Nobody like God!”, - addressing this call to all angels. With these words, he showed that he recognizes only one One God, the Creator and Ruler of the entire universe.

The struggle was difficult, for Dennitsa was endowed with great perfections. But the forces of good won, and Dennitsa was cast out of heaven with all his followers into the underworld. And Archangel Michael established himself as the leader of everything angelic world, faithful to God.

Since then, the archangel has had a sword in his hands, because Satan, cast out from heaven, does not calm down. The fallen angels were prevented from penetrating into the higher regions of the universe and, therefore, they directed all their anger at people, and primarily at believers in God.

Angelic hierarchy

The number of Angels is innumerable, there are significantly more of them than all people and they are all divided into ranks. Each rank carries out a special service and has its own name. All ranks of the Heavenly Powers are common name Angels - in essence of their ministry. The Lord reveals His will to the highest Angels, and they, in turn, enlighten the rest.

The Angelic ranks are divided into three hierarchies - highest, middle and lowest.

Each hierarchy consists of three ranks.

The highest hierarchy includes: Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones.

Seraphim(“Flaming”, “Fiery”) (Is. 6:2-3) - six-winged angels who are closest to the Holy Trinity. They burn with love for God and encourage others to do so.

Cherubim(“intercessors”, “minds, “spreaders of knowledge” (Genesis 3:24; Eze 10; Ps 17:11) - four-winged and four-faced angels. Their name means: outpouring of wisdom, enlightenment, for through them, shining with the light of knowledge of God and understanding the mysteries of God, wisdom and enlightenment are sent down for true knowledge of God.

Thrones(Col.1:16, Ezekiel 1:15-21; 10:1-17) - Angels bearing God by grace. They serve God's justice. The Lord sits on them as if on a throne and pronounces His Judgment.

The average angelic hierarchy consists of three ranks: Dominance, Strength and Authority.

Dominations(Col.1:16) rule over the subsequent orders of Angels. They instruct God-appointed earthly rulers in wise governance. Dominions teach one to control one's feelings, tame sinful lusts, enslave the flesh to the spirit, dominate one's will, and overcome temptations.

Powers(1 Pet. 3:22; Rom. 8:38; Eph. 1:21) do the will of God. They work miracles and send down the grace of miracles and clairvoyance to the saints of God. The forces help people to obey, strengthen them in patience, and bestow spiritual strength and courage.

Authorities(1 Pet.3:22; Col.1:16) have the power to subdue the power of the devil. They ward off demonic temptations from people, confirm ascetics, protect them, and help people in the fight against evil thoughts.

The lower hierarchy includes three ranks: Beginnings, Archangels and Angels.

Beginnings(Rom. 8:38; Eph. 1:21; Col. 1:16) rule over the lower angels, directing them to fulfill Divine commands. They are entrusted with managing the universe, protecting countries, peoples, tribes. They began to instruct people to give everyone the honor due to their rank. They teach superiors how to perform job responsibilities not for the sake of personal glory and benefits, but for the sake of the honor of God and the benefit of others.

Archangels(1 Thess. 4:16) - heavenly teachers, teach people how to act in life, preach the great and glorious gospel, reveal the mysteries of faith, prophecy and understanding of the will of God, strengthen the holy faith in people, enlightening their minds with the light of the Holy Gospel.

Angels(1 Pet.3:22) are closest to people. They proclaim God's intentions and instruct people to lead a virtuous and holy life. They protect believers, keep them from falling, raise the fallen, never leave us and are always ready to help if we wish.

Over all nine ranks, the Lord placed the holy Archangel Michael (his name translated from Hebrew is “who is like God”) (Rev. 12:7) - a faithful servant of God, for he cast down from Heaven the proud star with other fallen spirits. And to the rest of the Angelic Powers he exclaimed: “Let us take notice! Let us become good before our Creator and not think anything displeasing to God!”

Archangels

God gave names to all Angels. The rank of Archangels is most known to people. Translated from Greek, “Archangel” means “chief angel.” There are eight Archangels venerated in the Orthodox Church.

On the icons, the Archangels are depicted in accordance with the type of their ministry.

Michael(his name means “Who is God”) - he is depicted trampling the devil underfoot, holding a green date branch in his left hand, and a spear with a white banner (sometimes a flaming sword) on which is inscribed a scarlet cross in his right hand.

Gabriel(“The Power of God”) – the herald and servant of Divine omnipotence (Dan. 8:16; Luke 1:26); depicted with a branch of paradise, which he brought to the Blessed Virgin, or with glowing lantern V right hand and a jasper mirror on the left.

Raphael(“Help, healing of God”) – a powerful healer of both people and animals (Tov. 3:16; Tob. 12:15); holds a vessel with healing potions in his left hand, and with his right he leads Tobiah, who is carrying a fish.

Uriel(“Fire and Light of God”) - rules over the heavenly bodies, enlightener (3 Ezra 5: 20); in the raised right hand there is a naked sword at chest level, in the lowered left hand there is a “flame of fire.”

Selaphiel(“Prayer to God”) - God’s prayer book, always praying to God for people and encouraging people to pray, prayer book for the salvation and health of people (3 Ezra 5:16); depicted in a prayer position, looking down, hands folded on the chest.

Yehudiel(“Praise be to God”) - the patron saint of all who work hard, is the adviser and protector of all who work for the glory of the Lord, in particular kings, judges and other leadership positions (his name is known only from legends, it is not in the Bible and in the Gospel meets); is depicted holding a golden crown in his right hand, as a reward from God for useful and pious works to holy people, and in his left hand, a scourge of three black ropes with three ends, as a punishment for sinners for laziness in pious works.

Barachiel(“Blessing of God”) - a dispenser of God’s blessing for good deeds, asking people for God’s mercy (his name is known from the mention in apocryphal book Enoch (3 Enoch 14:17); there are many on his clothes pink flowers.

Jeremiel(“exaltation to God, the height of God”) - sent to a person to facilitate his return to God (3 Ezra 4, 36); depicted holding scales in his hand.

Archangel Michael is the main Archangel and one of the most revered biblical characters.

According to Church tradition, recorded in the service of Archangel Michael, he took part in many Old Testament events.

During the Israelites' exit from Egypt, he led them in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Through him the Power of the Lord appeared, destroying the Egyptians and Pharaoh who were pursuing the Israelites. Archangel Michael protected Israel in all disasters.
He appeared to Joshua and revealed the will of the Lord to take Jericho (Joshua 5: 13 - 16). The power of the great Archangel of God appeared in the destruction of 185 thousand soldiers of the Assyrian king Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:35), in the defeat of the wicked leader of Antiochus Iliodor and in protecting from the fire the three holy youths - Ananias, Azariah and Mishael, who were thrown into the oven to be burned for refusal bow to the idol. (Dan. 3, 92 – 95).

By the will of God, the Archangel transported the prophet Habakkuk from Judea to Babylon to give food to Daniel, imprisoned in the den of lions (kontakion akathist, 8). Archangel Michael forbade the devil to show the body of the holy prophet Moses to the Jews for deification (Jude 1:9).

Saint Archangel Michael showed his power when he miraculously saved a youth thrown into the sea by robbers with a stone around his neck off the coast of Athos (Athos Patericon).

Since ancient times, Archangel Michael has been known for his miracles. This is a particularly revered saint in Rus'. Archangel Michael is the spiritual patron of Russia, the patron of a number of regiments and ships. The Holy Archangel Michael was the patron saint of such weapons as the engineering troops of the Russian army. His image was on the coat of arms of Kyiv, and Arkhangelsk was named after him. In veneration of the Archangel Michael, numerous churches were built throughout Russia, including the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin; his sculpture crowns the Alexandria Pillar in St. Petersburg.

Orthodox Christians believe that Archangel Michael, the glorious conqueror of the devil ("Dawn"), will not abandon every Christian soul that, after leaving the body, goes through airy ordeals.

Guardian Angels

Satan and his servants take up arms against people faithful to God, trying to push away from God and spiritually destroy everyone from God’s great heritage - the human race. And to help in this fierce struggle, a good Guardian Angel is assigned to each of us.

Every Christian has a Guardian Angel with whom he unites during the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, and who is invisibly with a person throughout his life. The Guardian Angel's task is to contribute to the salvation of the ward. They protect our souls and bodies, intercede for them during their earthly life, pray to God for them, do not leave them, finally, after death and take the souls of those who have ended earthly life into eternity. Guardian Angels are our closest spiritual guides and patrons.

Angels appeared to people in real life in the form of people, in dreams and visions they were perceived by the power of consciousness purified from passions in “true contemplation.”

We, sinful people, do not see them as the saints see them. The biographies of saints say that many of them saw Angels crying at the entrance to those houses where the people they protected were indulging in the frenzy of passions. If we remember how at this time the sorrowful Angels with tears pray to God for the mercy of those people for whom Christ shed his blood and who with their deeds crucify Christ again, if we think about what dangers we are surrounded on all sides, we will understand how Then we need such wonderful Guardians.

According to the teaching Orthodox Church, a person cannot know the personal name of a specific guardian angel, since the angel was given to man by God and is invisible to man. Therefore, for each guardian angel a separate day of public remembrance is not assigned, but special days are established to honor all heavenly powers, when all angelic powers are remembered. Such a common day of remembrance of all angels is November 8 (Julian style)/21 (Gregorian style) - the Council of the Archangel Michael and other ethereal heavenly powers. It should be noted that name day, or angel day, despite its name, is not a day of celebration of the guardian angel, but is a day of remembrance of the saint whose name the (baptized) person bears. The Church encourages people to turn to the patronage and protection of angels privately, in home prayers.

In addition to personal Guardian Angels (assigned to each person), there are Patron Angels of cities and entire states. But they never quarrel, even if these states fight among themselves, but pray to God to admonish people and grant peace on earth.

The Fathers of the Church speak of Angels as co-workers with people. Their appearances occupy a very important place in the history and centuries-old experience of the Holy Church.

The fight for human souls

Every person is also hunted by demons who want to destroy his soul with the help of instilled fears, temptations and enticements. The spirits of evil have nothing to do where people already do what these spirits so desire: they betray God. Such people voluntarily do their work. Their goal is different. Their goal is to push away from God people whose souls gravitate towards Him, people who know the sweetness of spiritual life, people who can glorify God with their lives and attract other souls to God. To crush the righteous, to bring him to temptation with subtle temptation, to corrupt the soul, to bring it to despair - this is the goal of the enemy. The great ancient fathers of the Egyptian deserts, our Venerable Sergius and his follower, the great elder Seraphim of Sarov - they all suffered fierce attacks. The demon appeared to them all kinds of. It seemed to them that their cell was collapsing, they heard terrible laughter, roars and howls: “Get out of here.” Satan lifted Elder Seraphim to a height and threw him down.

Where a living hearth of faith, a flaming fire of grace, is ready to flare up, there the demon uses every effort to extinguish this fire. Demons (like Angels) have different abilities: some “specialize” in greed, others overtake prodigal passions, third - anger, fourth - vanity, etc.

In the heart of every person there is an “invisible war” between God and the devil. But almost always God does not personally appear to people, but trusts his angels (or holy people) to convey His will. This order was established by God so that a greater number of individuals would be involved (and thereby sanctified) in the providence of God, and so as not to violate the freedom of people who are unable to withstand the personal appearance of God in all His glory.

In addition, the earthly Church with its heavenly patrons offers special prayers for every Christian, and God has special care for him.

One day a priest came to the Optina elder Ambrose, who doubted the personal existence of spirits, but did not dare to express his doubts to the elder. In his foresight, Father Ambrose saw these doubts without words and decided to actually convince the priest of what he could not accept without evidence. Father Ambrose closed his eyes for a few minutes, and then the priest saw that the entire air of the cell was filled to the brim with terrible ghosts. He trembled all over and went cold.

There was no room for doubt. Father Ambrose then told him:

Saw?

“I saw it, father,” answered the priest.

And everything was said.

According to the site: http://hram-troicy.prihod.ru

Orthodox calendar:

The celebration of the Council of the Archangel Michael of God and other disembodied Heavenly Powers was established at the beginning of the 4th century at the Local Council of Laodicea, which took place several years before the First Ecumenical Council. Even in apostolic times, the false teaching about Angels was widespread. Among Christians, heretics appeared who worshiped Angels as gods and taught that the visible world was created not by God, but by Angels, considering them higher than Christ. The Council of Laodicea, by its 35th canon, condemned and rejected the heretical worship of angels as creators and rulers of the world and approved their Orthodox veneration as servants of God, guardians of the human race. It was ordered to celebrate the Council of the Archangel Michael and other Heavenly Powers on November 8 according to the old style (November 21 - according to the new style).

Angelic world

Modern science is searching for intelligent beings in distant galaxies, while another world is much closer to man. The phenomena of spiritual beings in our material world have been known for a long time, but, as a rule, a person far from the Church either completely rejects the possibility of the influence of the spiritual world on our lives, or imagines this influence in a distorted form.

Parallel to the physical world there is a spiritual world. These are spiritual beings with independent will, intelligence and capabilities that are incomparable to human capabilities.

Fall of the Lucifer

The entire angelic world was endowed with great perfections and gifts. Angels, just like people, have a mind and their mind is much more perfect than a human one. Angels are eternal.

Angels, like people, had free will. They could abuse this free will and fall into sin.

The spiritual world shook and some of the angels followed Dennitsa, turning into demons.

Angelic hierarchy

The number of Angels is innumerable, there are significantly more of them than all people and they are all divided into ranks. Each rank carries out a special service and has its own name. All ranks of the Heavenly Forces bear the general name of Angels - in essence of their service. The Lord reveals His will to the highest Angels, and they, in turn, enlighten the rest.

The Angelic ranks are divided into three hierarchies - highest, middle and lowest.

Each hierarchy consists of three ranks.

The highest hierarchy includes: Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones.

Seraphim(“Flaming”, “Fiery”) (Is. 6:2-3) - six-winged angels who are closest to the Holy Trinity. They burn with love for God and encourage others to do so.

Thrones(Col.1:16, Ezekiel 1:15-21; 10:1-17) - God-bearing angels by grace. They serve God's justice. The Lord sits on them as if on a throne and pronounces His Judgment.

The average angelic hierarchy consists of three ranks: Dominance, Strength and Authority.

The lower hierarchy includes three ranks: Beginnings, Archangels and Angels.

Beginnings(Rom. 8:38; Eph. 1:21; Col. 1:16) rule over the lower angels, directing them to fulfill Divine commands. They are entrusted with managing the universe, protecting countries, peoples, tribes. They began to instruct people to give everyone the honor due to their rank. They teach superiors to perform official duties not for the sake of personal glory and benefits, but for the sake of the honor of God and the benefit of their neighbors.

Archangels(1 Thessalonians 4:16) - heavenly teachers, teach people how to act in life, preach great and glorious things, reveal the mysteries of faith, prophecy and understanding of the will of God, strengthen the holy faith in people, enlightening their minds with the light of the Holy Gospel.

Archangels

On the icons, the Archangels are depicted in accordance with the type of their ministry.

Gabriel(“The Power of God”) – the herald and servant of Divine omnipotence (Dan. 8:16; Luke 1:26); he is depicted with a branch of paradise that he brought to the Blessed Virgin, or with a luminous lantern in his right hand and a jasper mirror in his left.

Barachiel(“Blessing of God”) - a dispenser of God’s blessing for good deeds, asking people for God’s mercy (his name is known from a mention in the apocryphal book of Enoch (3 Enoch 14:17); there are many pink flowers on his clothes.

Jeremiel(“exaltation to God, the height of God”) - sent to a person to facilitate his return to God (3 Ezra 4, 36); depicted holding scales in his hand.

Archangel Michael is the main Archangel and one of the most revered biblical characters.

According to Church tradition, recorded in the service of Archangel Michael, he took part in many Old Testament events.

Saint Archangel Michael showed his power when he miraculously saved a youth thrown into the sea by robbers with a stone around his neck off the coast of Athos (Athos Patericon).

Orthodox Christians believe that Archangel Michael, the glorious conqueror of the devil ("Dawn"), will not abandon every Christian soul that, after leaving the body, goes through airy ordeals.

Guardian Angels

Angels appeared to people in real life in the form of people, in dreams and visions they were perceived by the power of consciousness purified from passions in “true contemplation.”

According to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, a person cannot know the personal name of a specific guardian angel, since the angel is given to man by God and is invisible to man. Therefore, for each guardian angel a separate day of public remembrance is not assigned, but special days are established to honor all heavenly powers, when all angelic powers are remembered. Such a common day of remembrance of all angels is November 8 (Julian style)/21 (Gregorian style) - the Council of the Archangel Michael and other ethereal heavenly powers. It should be noted that name day, or angel day, despite its name, is not a day of celebration of the guardian angel, but is a day of remembrance of the saint whose name the (baptized) person bears. The Church encourages people to turn to the patronage and protection of angels privately, in home prayers.

The Fathers of the Church speak of Angels as co-workers with people. Their appearances occupy a very important place in the history and centuries-old experience of the Holy Church.

The fight for human souls

Every person is also hunted by demons who want to destroy his soul with the help of instilled fears, temptations and enticements. The spirits of evil have nothing to do where people already do what these spirits so desire: they betray God. Such people voluntarily do their work. Their goal is different. Their goal is to push away from God people whose souls gravitate towards Him, people who know the sweetness of spiritual life, people who can glorify God with their lives and attract other souls to God. To crush the righteous, to bring him to temptation with subtle temptation, to corrupt the soul, to bring it to despair - this is the goal of the enemy. The great ancient fathers of the Egyptian deserts, our Venerable Sergius and his follower, the great elder Seraphim of Sarov - they all suffered fierce attacks. The demon appeared to them in all sorts of forms. It seemed to them that their cell was collapsing, they heard terrible laughter, roars and howls: “Get out of here.” Satan lifted Elder Seraphim to a height and threw him down.

Where a living hearth of faith, a flaming fire of grace, is ready to flare up, there the demon uses every effort to extinguish this fire. Demons (like Angels) have different abilities: some “specialize” in greed, others incite lustful passions, others in anger, others in vanity, etc.

In addition, the earthly Church with its heavenly patrons offers special prayers for every Christian, and God has special care for him.

There was no room for doubt. Father Ambrose then told him:

“I saw it, father,” answered the priest.

And everything was said.

The celebration of the Council of the Archangel Michael of God and other disembodied Heavenly Powers was established at the beginning of the 4th century at the Local Council of Laodicea, which took place several years before the First Ecumenical Council. The Council of Laodicea, by its 35th canon, condemned and rejected the heretical worship of angels as creators and rulers of the world and approved their Orthodox veneration. The holiday is celebrated in November - the ninth month from March (with which the year began in ancient times) - in accordance with the number of the 9 ranks of Angels. The eighth day of the month (according to the old style) indicates the future Council of all the Heavenly Powers on the day of the Last Judgment of God, 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 “he will come The Son of Man in His Glory and all the holy Angels with Him” ().

The Angelic ranks are divided into three hierarchies - highest, middle and lowest. Each hierarchy consists of three ranks. The highest hierarchy includes: Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. Closest to the Holy Trinity are the six-winged ones Seraphim(Flaming, Fiery) (). They burn with love for God and encourage others to do so.

After the Seraphim, the Lord will have many purified ones Cherubim(). Their name means: outpouring of wisdom, enlightenment, for through them, shining with the light of knowledge of God and understanding of the mysteries of God, wisdom and enlightenment are sent down for true knowledge of God.

Behind the Cherubim come the God-bearing ones by the grace given to them for service, Thrones(), mysteriously and incomprehensibly bearing God. They serve God's justice.

Average Angelic hierarchy constitute three ranks: Dominion, Strength and Authority.

Dominations() rule over the subsequent ranks of Angels. They instruct God-appointed earthly rulers in wise governance. Dominions teach one to control one's feelings, tame sinful lusts, enslave the flesh to the spirit, dominate one's will, and overcome temptations.

Powers() fulfill the will of God. They work miracles and send down the grace of miracles and clairvoyance to the saints of God. The forces help people to obey, strengthen them in patience, and bestow spiritual strength and courage.

Authorities(; ) have the power to tame the power of the devil. They ward off demonic temptations from people, confirm ascetics, protect them, and help people in the fight against evil thoughts.

The lower hierarchy includes three ranks: Principalities, Archangels and Angels.

Beginnings() command over the lower angels, directing them to fulfill Divine commands. They are entrusted with managing the universe, protecting countries, peoples, tribes. They began to instruct people to give everyone the honor due to their rank. They teach superiors to perform official duties not for the sake of personal glory and benefits, but for the sake of the honor of God and the benefit of their neighbors.

Archangels() they preach the good news about the great and glorious, reveal the secrets of faith, prophecy and understanding of the will of God, strengthen the holy faith in people, enlightening their minds with the light of the Holy Gospel.

Angels() are closest to people. They proclaim God's intentions and instruct people to lead a virtuous and holy life. They protect believers, keep them from falling, raise the fallen, never leave us and are always ready to help if we wish.

All ranks of the Heavenly Forces bear the general name of Angels - in essence of their service. The Lord reveals His will to the highest Angels, and they, in turn, enlighten the rest.

The book “Guide to Painting Icons of Saints” says that Saint Archangel Michael “is depicted trampling (stomping on) Lucifer and, as a winner, holding a green date branch in his left hand on his chest, and in his right hand a spear, on top of which a white banner with the image of a red cross, in commemoration of the victory of the Cross over the devil.” (Academician, Moscow, Synod. Typ., 1910, p. 226).

Russian Chrysostom, Archbishop of Kherson Innokenty wrote for edification: “He was the first to rebel against Lucifer (Satan), when he rebelled against the Almighty. It is known how this war ended, with the overthrow of the Lucifer (Satan) from heaven. Since then, Archangel Michael has not ceased to fight for the glory of the Creator and Lord of all, for the cause of saving the human race, for the church and its children.

...Therefore, for those who are adorned with the name of the first of the Archangels, it is most fitting to be distinguished by zeal for the glory of God, loyalty to the King of Heaven and the kings of the earth, constant war against vice and wickedness, constant humility and self-sacrifice" (Seven Archangels of God, M., 1996, pp. .5–6).

Archangel Gabriel

Archangel Gabriel(from Hebrew - man of God).

One of the highest angels appears in the Old and New Testaments as the bearer of joyful tidings. He announces to the priest Zechariah in the temple, during the offering of incense, the birth of John the Baptist, and to the Ever-Virgin in Nazareth - about the birth of the Savior of the world. According to the Bible, he is considered the guardian angel of the chosen people. Kabbalists consider him the teacher of Patriarch Joseph; According to the teachings of the Mohammedans, Mohammed received his revelations from him and was taken to Heaven by him. On the icons he is depicted with candles and a jasper mirror as a sign that the ways of God are not clear until time, but are comprehended over time by studying the word of God and obedience to the voice of conscience.

Mentioned in canonical books:

Saint Archangel Gabriel, as explained in the “Guide to Writing Icons,” “is depicted holding a lantern with a candle lit inside in his right hand, and a stone mirror in his left hand” (Fartusov, p. 226). This mirror made of green jasper (jasper) with black and white spots on it, illuminated by the light of truth, reflects the good and bad deeds of nations, proclaims to people the secrets of God's economy and the salvation of mankind.

The name Gabriel, received by the Archangel from God, means in Russian Fortress of God or Power of God.

Archangel Barachiel

Archangel Barachiel (God's blessing).

Bible

The name of this Heavenly Messenger Varachiel is translated into Russian - God's blessing.

The book “Guide to the Writing of Icons” says the following about him: “The Holy Archangel Barachiel, the dispenser of God’s blessings and intercessor, asking for God’s benefits to us: he is depicted carrying white roses on his chest on his clothes, as if rewarding, at the command of God, for prayers, labors and moral behavior of people and foretelling bliss and endless peace in the Kingdom of Heaven" (Fartusov, p. 227). These white roses mean God's blessing. What could be purer and more fragrant than white roses, from which rose oil is extracted? So the Lord, through his Archangel Barachiel, sends his blessing from the depths of his clothing to people for their prayers and labors.

“Since the blessings of God are varied,” writes St. Innocent of Kherson, “then the ministry of this Angel is diverse: through him the blessing of God is sent to every deed, to every good activity in life” (Cit. cit., p. 14).

Archangel Salafiel

Archangel Salafiel (prayer to God).

“And so the Lord gave us a whole host of prayer angels, with their leader Salafiel,” writes Bishop Innokenty of Kherson, “so that with the pure breath of their lips they would warm our cold hearts to prayer, so that they would admonish us when and how to pray, so that they would offer our very offerings to the throne of grace. When you see, brethren, on the icon of the Archangel standing in a prayerful position, with his eyes downcast, with his hands placed with reverence on his chest (chest), then know that this is Salafiel” (Cit. cit., pp. 11– 12).

The book “Guide to the Writing of Icons” says: “The Holy Archangel Salafiel, a man of prayer, always praying to God for people and inciting people to prayer. He is depicted with his face and eyes bowed (lowered) down, and his hands pressed (folded) with a cross on his chest, as if tenderly praying” (Farusov, pp. 226–227).

Archangel Yehudiel

Archangel Yehudiel (praise of God).

This name is known only from legends. It does not appear in the Bible or the Gospel.

The name of the Holy Archangel Jehudiel translated into Russian Glorifier of God or Praise God, after all, he really, as the inscription on the fresco of the Annunciation Cathedral says, “has the ministry of establishing people who work hard, or, for the glory of God, to intercede for them reward.”

As explained in the “Guide to the Writing of Icons,” the Archangel of God Jehudiel “is depicted holding a golden crown in his right hand, as a reward from God for useful and pious works to holy people, and in his left hand a scourge of three black ropes with three ends, as punishment for sinners for laziness in pious labors” (Fartusov, p. 227).

“Each of us, young and old, is obliged to live and work for the glory of God,” writes Archbishop Innocent of Kherson. The greater the feat, the higher and brighter the reward. In the right hand of the Archangel is not just a crown: it is a reward for every Christian who works for the glory of God” (Cit. cit., p. 13).

Archangel Raphael

Archangel Raphael (God's help).

Mentioned in non-canonical book: .

“Whoever wishes to be worthy of Raphael’s heavenly help, must first of all be merciful to those in need,” instructs Archbishop Innocent of Kherson (Cit. cit., p. 9).

Raphael in Aramaic means God's healing or God's healing.

The “Guide to Painting Icons” briefly explains that: “Holy Archangel Raphael, physician of human ailments: is depicted holding in his left hand a vessel (alavaster) with medicinal means (medicine), and in his right hand a pod, that is, a clipped bird feather for anointing wounds "(Fartusov, p. 226).

Archangel Uriel

Archangel Uriel (fire of God).

Mentioned in non-canonical book: .

According to Orthodox Tradition Christian Church, the holy Archangel Uriel was appointed by God to guard after the Fall and the expulsion of Adam. According to the teachings of the Holy Fathers, Archangel Uriel, being the radiance of the divine fire, is the enlightener of the darkened, unbelievers and ignoramuses. And the very name of the Archangel, corresponding to his special service, means Fire of God or Light of God.

According to the iconographic canon of the Orthodox Church, the holy Archangel named Fire of God“depicted holding a naked sword in his right hand against his chest, and a fiery flame in his left” (Fartusov, p. 226).

“Like an Angel of light, he enlightens the minds of people with the revelation of truths that are useful to them; like the Angel of Divine fire, he inflames hearts with love for God and destroys impure earthly attachments in them,” explains Bishop Innocent, Archimandrite of Kherson (Cit. cit., p. 10).

Archangel Jeremiel

Archangel Jeremiel (height of God).

Mentioned in non-canonical book: .

“In the 3rd book of Ezra (4:36) the Archangel Jeremiel (the height of God) is also mentioned,” writes Archimandrite Nicephorus in the “Biblical Encyclopedia” (M., 1891, p. 63). He was present at the first conversation between Archangel Uriel and the priest Ezra and answered the latter’s question about the signs preceding the end of the sinful world and about the beginning of the eternal kingdom of the righteous.

The name of the Holy Archangel Jeremiel means in Russian Height of God or Exaltation of God. He is sent from above from God to man in order to promote the elevation and return of man to God. The Archangel of God not only reveals the gloomy prospect of a sinful world, they say, the further it gets, the worse, but also helps to see the holy seeds of eternal life in a dying world (see). He is depicted holding scales in his right hand.

On November 21, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Council of the Archangel Michael and other ethereal Heavenly Powers. We will tell you about the history and traditions of the holiday; about who the Archangels are and why Michael is among them- Archangel.

What is the Council of the Archangel Michael and other ethereal Heavenly Powers

Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and other ethereal Heavenly Powers - Christian holiday, which in the Russian Orthodox Church is celebrated on November 21 according to the new style (November 8 - according to the old style). The holiday is celebrated in November, the ninth month from March (previously the year began with March). The fact is that, according to Christian theology, there are nine ranks of angels. And the eighth day of the month (according to the old style) is an indication of the future Council of all the powers of heaven, which will take place on the day of the Last Judgment. The Holy Fathers called Last Judgment"on the eighth day."

When is the Council of the Archangel Michael celebrated?

The celebration of the Council of the Archangel Michael and other disembodied heavenly powers takes place on November 21 according to the new style (November 8 - according to the old style). This is an everlasting holiday.

What can you eat at the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael?

There is no fasting on this day, that is, Orthodox Christians can eat any food.

Angelic ranks

The ranks of angels come in three hierarchies. The highest is the Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. Closest to the Holy Trinity are the six-winged Seraphim (translated as “Flaming, Fiery”). Middle - Dominance, Strength and Power. The lowest - the Beginnings, Archangels and angels.

All ranks of heavenly powers are called angels. Angel means "messenger". This reflects their purpose - to convey God’s will to people, to be protectors and teachers of people. Archangel Michael stands above all nine ranks and is therefore called the archangel.

We also know the names of other archangels: Gabriel (“the power of God”), Raphael (“the healing of God”), Uriel (“the light of God”), Selaphiel (“the prayer book of God”), Jehudiel (“who glorifies God”), Barachiel (“ blessing of God"), Jeremiel ("exaltation to God").

archangel Michael

Archangel Michael translated from Hebrew means “who is like God” or in a slightly different way, with a questioning intonation - “who is like God?” He is called the archangel because he led the heavenly army, which rebelled against the angels who had fallen away from God and their leader Dennitsa. We also know Dennitsa as Lucifer, which translated means “morning star.” The Lord endowed this angel with great perfections, but for his pride and rebellion against the Creator, Dennitsa was cast out of Heaven.

What does Archangel Michael help with, what do they pray to Archangel Michael for?

According to the hierarchy of angelic ranks, the Archangels preach the good news to people about the Mysteries of God and reveal God’s will to us. Historically in Rus', they prayed to Archangel Michael for help in getting rid of grief, when entering a new house and at the foundation of a house, for the protection of the royal throne and, in general, the state, for the salvation and preservation of Russia.

History of the celebration of the Council of the Archangel Michael

The Feast of the Council of the Archangel Michael and other disembodied Heavenly Powers was established by the resolution of the Council of Laodicea, which took place around 363 - several years before the First Ecumenical Council.

Archangel Michael in the Old Testament

The tradition of the Church, which is revered by believers along with the Holy Scriptures, says that Archangel Michael was a participant in many Old Testament events. For example, he showed the way to the Israelites during the exodus from Egypt - in the form of a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. In addition, he revealed to Joshua the will of the Lord to take Jericho and transferred the prophet Habakkuk from Judea to Babylon to give food to Daniel, imprisoned in the lions’ den.

Miracles associated with the name of Archangel Michael

Many miracles are associated with the name of Archangel Michael. Here's just one of the stories. Archangel Michael saved the Athonite youth. The robbers wanted to drown the young man: they dreamed of getting the luxurious treasury that he accidentally found. In memory of this miracle, the Bulgarian courtier Dokhiar built a temple on Mount Athos in honor of the Archangel Michael. The gold the boy found was used to decorate the church.

There are also miracles that happened on Russian soil. For example, in the Volokolamsk Patericon you can read the story of the Monk Paphnutius Borovsky about the miraculous salvation of Novgorod the Great: “And since Veliky Novgrad was never taken from the Hagarians... sometimes, by God’s permission, it was a sin for our sake, the godless Hagaryan king Batu captured the Rosi land and burned it and went to The new city and God and the Most Pure Mother of God covered it with the appearance of Michael the Archangel, who forbade him to go against it. He went to the Lithuanian cities and came to Kyiv and saw the great Archangel Michael written above the doors of the stone church and the prince pointing with his finger: “Forbid me from going to Veliky Novgorod.”

Miracle of the Archangel Michael in Khoneh

The miracle of Archangel Michael in Khoneh occurred in the 4th century. As the legend says, in Phrygia (inland region in the west of Asia Minor) there was a temple built in honor of the Archangel Michael. Near that temple there flowed a spring in which, through a prayer to Archangel Michael, the mute daughter of one of the local residents was healed. In gratitude to the heavenly intercessor, the man built a temple here. Not only Christians, but also pagans went to the source for healing, many of whom renounced idols and turned to the faith of Christ.

In the church of St. Archangel Michael, the pious Archippus was a nun for 60 years. One day the pagans decided to destroy the temple and kill the sexton. To do this, they connected two mountain rivers into one channel and directed their flow to the temple. Saint Archippus fervently prayed to the Archangel Michael, and the Archangel appeared to him, with his rod he opened a cleft in the mountain and led the waters of a raging stream into it. The temple remained undamaged. The place where the miracle took place received the name Khona, which means “hole”, “cleft”. Hence the name “miracle of the Archangel Michael in Khoneh.”

Icon of the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and other ethereal Heavenly Powers

On icons, the Archangels are depicted in accordance with the type of their ministry. Michael tramples the devil underfoot, in his left hand he holds a green date branch, in his right hand a spear with a white banner (sometimes a flaming sword), on which a scarlet cross is inscribed. Gabriel is painted with a branch of paradise, which he brought to the Virgin Mary on the day of the Annunciation, or with a luminous lantern in his right hand and a jasper mirror in his left. Raphael holds a vessel with healing potions in his left hand, and with his right he leads Tobiah, who is carrying a fish. Uriel holds a naked sword in his raised right hand at chest level, and a “flame of fire” in his lowered left hand. Selafiel is depicted in a prayer position, looking down, with his hands folded on his chest. Jehudiel holds a golden crown in his right hand, and a scourge of three red (or black) ropes in his left. Barachiel's clothing features many pink flowers, and Jeremiel holds scales in his hand.

Prayers to the Archangel Michael of God

First prayer to the Archangel of God Michael

Holy and great Archangel of God Michael, the inscrutable and all-essential Trinity, the first primate of the Angels, the guardian and guardian of the human race, crushing with his army the head of the proud Star in heaven and always putting to shame his malice and treachery on earth!

We resort to you with faith and we pray to you with love: be an indestructible shield and a strong protector of the Holy Church and our Orthodox Fatherland, protecting them with your lightning sword from all enemies, visible and invisible. Be a wise mentor and companion to all Orthodox Christians, bringing to them from the Throne of the King of Kings enlightenment and strength, joy, peace and consolation. Be the leader and invincible companion of our Christ-loving army, crowning it with glory and victories over our adversaries, so that all who oppose us will know that God and His holy Angels are with us!

O Archangel of God, do not forsake us, through your help and intercession, who today glorify the holy your name; Behold, even though we are many sinners, we do not want to perish in our iniquities, but rather turn to the Lord and be quickened by Him to do good deeds. Illuminate our minds with the light of God, so that we may understand that God’s will for us is good and perfect, and we will know everything that we should do and that we should despise and abandon. Strengthen our weak will and weak will with the grace of the Lord, so that, having established ourselves in the law of the Lord, we will cease to be dominated by earthly thoughts and the lusts of the flesh, and for the sake of the corruptible and the earthly, eternal and heavenly, we will not forget. For all of these, ask us from above for true repentance, unfeigned sorrow for God and contrition for our sins, so that we may complete the remaining number of days of our temporary life in erasing the evils we have committed. When the hour of our death and liberation from the bonds of this mortal body approaches, do not leave us, Archangel of God, defenseless against the spirits of evil in heaven; the usual barriers to the souls of mankind from rising to the heavenly, and, protected by you, we will without stumbling reach those glorious villages of paradise, where there is no sorrow, no sighing, but endless life, and we will be honored to see the Most Blessed Face of the All-Good Lord and Master of ours and give glory to Him, with the Father and the Holy One Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

Second prayer to the Archangel of God Michael

O Saint Michael the Archangel, bright and formidable commander of the Heavenly King! Before the Last Judgment, weaken me to repent of my sins, deliver my soul from the net that catches me and bring me to the God who created me, who sits on the Cherubim, and pray diligently for her, and through your intercession I will send her to a place of rest.

Oh, formidable commander of the Heavenly Powers, representative of all at the Throne of the Lord Christ, guardian of the strong man and wise armorer, strong commander of the Heavenly King! Have mercy on me, a sinner who requires your intercession, save me from all visible and invisible enemies, and moreover, strengthen me from the horror of death and from the embarrassment of the devil, and grant me the honor of unashamedly presenting myself to our Creator at the hour of His terrible and righteous judgment. Oh all holy great Michael Archangel! Do not despise me, a sinner, who prays to you for your help and intercession in this world and in the future, but grant me there together with you to glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion of the Council of the Archangel Michael and other ethereal Heavenly Powers

voice 4

Heavenly armies of the Archangels, we always pray to you, unworthy ones, and with your prayers protect us with the shelter of the wings of your immaterial glory, preserving us, falling diligently and crying out: deliver us from troubles, like the rulers of the Highest Powers.

Kontakion of the Council of the Archangel Michael and other ethereal Heavenly Powers

voice 2

Archangels of God, servants of the Divine glory, rulers of angels and human mentors, ask for what is useful to us and great mercy, like the Bodiless Archangels.

It is believed that it was Archangel Michael who appeared and helped Joan of Arc. The Archangel instructed Jeanne to carry out her mission - to crown Charles VII in Reims. According to legend, during the liberation of Orleans from the British, Michael, surrounded by a whole host of angels, appeared shining in the sky and fought on the side of the French.

According to the legend of Balkan Christians, Archangel Michael taught the martyrs Florus and Laurus the art of driving horses. That is why on local icons Flora and Laurus are often depicted with horses, the reins of which are held in the hands of the Archangel.

Coptic Christians dedicated the main river of Egypt, the Nile, to Saint Michael. The Copts adopted the Byzantine tradition of celebrating the Archangel Michael, but moved its date to November 12. Also, on the 12th of every month, a special service is held in the Coptic Church in memory of St. Michael, and on June 12, when the Nile overflows its banks, the Archangel is glorified for the flood of the river and the future harvest.

Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh. About names and angels. Day of the Archangel Michael

“No one like God” - this expressed all the knowledge of the great Archangel of his God. He does not describe Him, he does not explain Him - he stands up and testifies. This is his involvement in the radiance of the Divine, and this is the extent to which he reveals this radiance and opens the way to the mystery of the Lord with his word and the name that expresses his entire incomprehensible experience of the incomprehensible God.

There is a place in the book of Revelation where the seer John tells us that when the time comes and we will all be in the Kingdom of God, then everyone will receive a mysterious name, which only God who gives it knows, and the one who receives it will know it. This name seems to contain the whole secret of a person; this name says everything about him; No one can know this name except God and the one who receives it, because it defines that unique, unique relationship that exists between God and His creature - each and only creature for Him.

We bear the names of saints who lived and fulfilled their calling on earth; we are dedicated to them, just as churches are dedicated to this or that saint; and we should ponder both the meaning of his name and the personality of the saint, which is accessible to us from his life. After all, he is not only our prayer book, intercessor and defender, but to some extent also an image of what we could be. It is impossible to repeat anyone’s life, but it is possible to learn from the life of this or that person, a saint or even a sinner, to live more worthy of oneself and more worthy of God.

And today we celebrate the honor and memory of Archangel Michael, surrounded by the Angels of the Lord. Angels are messengers; An angel is someone whom the Lord can send on a mission and who will completely and completely fulfill it. It may seem strange that we call a whole group of the Lord's creatures by a name that denotes their office, their service, as if there was nothing else about them. And in fact this is so, and this is their holiness: purified, shining with God’s light, according to the word of Gregory Palamas and our liturgical books, they are second lights, reflections eternal light Divine. They do not have that opacity, that darkness that allows us to be called by a name, and this name is the definition of our place in the face of God and our place in the Lord’s creation. They are the second lights. What does this mean?

This means that a certain divine light flows through them unhindered, freely, like a wide river; but not just like through an empty chute, not just like through a lifeless glass, but the way the light pours and sparkles and shines and multiplies, when it falls on a precious stone, reaches his heart and from there shoots out to the sides with an answering radiance, illuminating, and sometimes blinding with its beauty.

This is an image of true holiness, and in this respect they are truly Angels, because we recognize them, experience them only as the radiance of Divine light, a radiance not diminished, not darkened, but an increased and joyful radiance, bringing life - and the essence of their being and the essence of their holiness remains a mystery between them and God, Who knows the depths of His creation...

But their personal holiness is revealed to us especially by the separate name by which each of them is named. Some of these names entered the Holy Scriptures, were revealed to the experience of the Church and show us what their special holiness is. The Archangel of the Heavenly Powers, to whom many among us here and many in the Russian country are dedicated, is named Michael. "Michael" is a Hebrew word and it means "No one like God"; and this word expresses the entire stand of the great Archangel, when Dennitsa rebelled against God, wanting to establish himself in some, at least created, isolation and independence, and when the great Archangel Michael stood up and uttered this one word, which determined everything for him: “No one like God,” and established him in such a relationship with God that he became the keeper of the gates of heaven. “No one like God” - this expressed all the knowledge of the great Archangel of his God. He does not describe Him, he does not explain Him - he stands up and testifies. This is his involvement in the radiance of the Divine, and this is the extent to which he reveals this radiance and opens the way to the mystery of the Lord with his word and the name that expresses his entire incomprehensible experience of the incomprehensible God.

On the icons, Archangel Michael is depicted in armor, with a flaming sword in his hand. He tramples the dragon, which signifies evil; The Archangel stands at the gates of heaven, not allowing those who are not ready to enter this holy and sacred place; and he is also depicted on those gates of the iconostasis through which the clergy exits the altar: a priest with the Gospel, at the Great Entrance, or a deacon at the litany; and these are the gates through which, in the liturgical, liturgical order, no one enters the Holy of Holies, the altar.

Another Archangel, Gabriel, whose name means “Fortress of God,” is depicted on the gate through which the deacon enters back into the altar during the service. Gabriel is the one who announces to us that the door is open for us to enter again into the presence of God; that the power of God has been demonstrated, that God has overcome and we are saved. From Evangelist Luke we know that Archangel Gabriel brought Zechariah the news of the birth of John the Baptist, and he also announced to the Virgin Mary that She had found grace from God and would give birth to the Savior to the world; That’s why we see him on icons with an olive branch in his hands - a sign of God’s reconciliation with the world.

We read about Archangel Raphael in the book of Tobit, how he accompanied his son Tobias and healed Tobit and his daughter-in-law, and his name means “Healing of God”; and the Holy Scripture tells us about other Archangels and Angels; and the faith of the Church, Christian experience tell us about Guardian Angels.

About the day of remembrance of the saint whose name we bear, we say that this is “the day of our Angel.” And in a sense, in the sense of our dedication to the saint, this is true; but with different holy people - as well as with those around us ordinary people- our communication develops in different ways: some are closer to us personally, through prayer and through their life, which we would like to imitate; others we admire as if from afar. Our relationship with the Guardian Angel is completely different: we are entrusted to him, and he is our Guardian, regardless of whether we turn to him, whether we remember him at all or not - like our mother and father, with whom we have an indestructible connection, no matter what we think, no matter how we act towards them, no matter how we behave...

And one more thing: one person on earth was called the messenger and Angel of the church faith: this is John the Baptist, and about him we read words, namely like that what I just said about Angels. The beginning of the Gospel of Mark says about him: He is the voice of one crying in the wilderness... He is a voice, he is only the sound of the Lord’s voice, he is an Angel, because God Himself speaks through him, and he himself says about himself that he needs to diminish in order to the image of the Lord stood before people in full measure.

This is the way on earth; we must diminish, diminish, gradually lose what seems so precious, but in fact is the condensation of our visible nature. We must gradually become transparent in order to become, as it were, invisible - just as a precious stone is invisible and is revealed only by the light that, striking it, illuminates everything around. Then we seem to lose something of our temporary being, but only in order to acquire the inalienable knowledge of God, the only one that each of us who calls himself “I” can have and which he can reveal to all others, because Each of us experiences God in a unique and unique way. Our path is from earth to Heaven, from our heavy incarnation into enlightenment and transparency... The angel on earth is the unfalse witness - John the Baptist, who is on the way, and the One Whom the Holy Scripture calls the “Great Council Angel” - God who came in the flesh.

These are the images, those thoughts, those thoughts from our veneration of the Angels, from our love for them, from our communication with them in prayer and their intercession for us, which can help us find the path of our own soul from earth to Heaven, from our own darkness to perfect enlightenment. Through the prayers of the holy Angels and Archangels, may the Lord grant us, having renounced ourselves, by free will, by love for God, to begin to diminish until God Himself shines forth in full measure in each of us. Amen.

Archangel Cathedral in the Kremlin

Since ancient times, the Cathedral of St. Archangel Michael in the Kremlin has been the tomb of the great princes and Russian tsars. In the old days it was called the “Church of St. Michael in the Square.”

The history of the Archangel Cathedral dates back to the 14th century. In 1333, the first Grand Duke of Moscow, Ivan Kalita, founded a white stone church in the name of St. Archangel Michael, whom the Russian people considered the patron saint of warriors. In 1505-1508, a new majestic cathedral was erected on the site of the ancient temple. The construction was led by the Venetian architect Aleviz Novy, invited by the Grand Duke.

From the moment of its foundation until the 18th century, the Archangel Cathedral served as the resting place of Moscow princes and tsars. Tombstones to the princes with the words of prayers and epitaphs on white stone slabs are located under the arches of the temple in strict order. Tombs of the Rurik dynasty are along the walls of the temple. The tombs of the kings from the Romanov dynasty are located at the southwestern and northwestern pillars. The first Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible and his two sons were buried in a special royal tomb built in the altar part of the cathedral.

Among the most revered shrines of the Archangel Cathedral were the relics of Saint Prince Michael of Chernigov, who died a martyr in the Golden Horde, and Saint Tsarevich Dmitry, the youngest son of Ivan the Terrible. The remains of the saints were not buried, but were placed in special arks - crayfish, intended for the worship of believers. The reliquary with the relics of Tsarevich Dmitry is installed at the southwestern pillar under a carved stone canopy.

The cathedral was first decorated with frescoes during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. From this ancient painting, only small fragments on the pillars of the temple and several compositions in the altar and the royal tomb have survived. In 1652-1666, the cathedral was painted anew - a large team of Russian craftsmen worked. The work was supervised by the famous royal painter Simon Ushakov.

Among the saints depicted on the pillars of the temple, we see Princess Olga, Grand Duke Vladimir, the baptist of Rus', his sons Boris and Gleb who were martyred, princes Andrei Bogolyubsky, Alexander Nevsky, Daniil of Moscow. Unique feature The painting of the Archangel Cathedral is a cycle of funerary portraits: in the lower tier above the burials of the Rurik princes their “imaginary” portraits are painted. This “portrait” gallery of historical figures opens with the image of the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan Kalita and ends with the image of Georgy Vasilyevich, younger brother Ivan the Terrible.

The iconostasis of the cathedral, crowned with the Crucifixion, was built during the reign of Fyodor Alekseevich Romanov in 1679-1681. All icons were painted by masters of the Tsar's Armory Chamber. Only in the local, lower row, several ancient icons have been preserved. To the right of the Royal Doors, there is a temple icon of the cathedral - “Archangel Michael in Acts”, created around 1399. According to legend, this icon was painted by order of the widow of Dmitry Donskoy, nun Evdokia, in memory of the Grand Duke and his victory in the Battle of Kulikovo Field.

Michaelmas Day - folk customs of celebrating the Council of the Archangel Michael

In Rus', the Council of the Archangel Michael and other ethereal Heavenly Powers was one of the most happy Holidays. From that day on, the cattle were driven into barns for winter feed. They arranged a wide feast and invited guests to the hut. They baked pies and served them with fresh honey. The festivities could last a whole week - this is how the peasants prepared for the strict Nativity, or Filippov, fast.

A few days before the Council of the Archangel Michael, the priest and the clergy went to the houses of parishioners and served prayer services. The owners, in gratitude, treated them to a loaf of bread or money - from 5 to 15 kopecks from the yard.

Elizaveta Kiktenko