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Archangel Michael

Hail to you Michael,
The head of the heavenly hosts,
An angel of peace and joy,
Serving the Lord of hosts.

Praise for Archangel Michael
Stained Glass Window of the Icon of Archangel Michael at St. Mary and St. Joseph Coptic Orthodox Church

The Story In A Minute

Angels

Angels are beautiful heavenly souls of light. They were created when God said,

"Let there be light"

(Genesis 1:3)

on the first day of creation. They are described as flames of fire (Psalm 104:4), pure and holy souls, with magnificent power and illumination. Among the angels are the Archangels, of which there are seven, who stand before the throne of God. Saint John describes them as the

"seven lamps of fire...which are the seven Spirits of God"

(Revelation 4:5)

The Commander of the angels is Archangel Michael.

Archangel Michael

Archangel Michael is the

"Commander of the army of the Lord"

(Joshua 5:14)

and the head of the heavenly hosts. He is an intercessor for the human race, and stands at all times before the great throne of God. His name means, "he who is like God".

Archangel Michael is mentioned in the Bible on several occasions. He was referred to as

"Michael, one of the chief princes"

(Daniel 10:13)

when he came to help Archangel Gabriel oppose the devil. Daniel described Archangel Michael as

"the great prince who stands watch" over His people

(Daniel 12:1)

Despite his greatness, we see the humility of Archangel Michael in the epistle of Saint Jude where it is written,

"Yet Michael the Archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!'"

(Jude 1:9)

Our Church believes that Archangel Michael is the angel of the Resurrection, as referred to in the book of Matthew:

"And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow"

(Matthew 28:2-3)

Archangel Michael will also lead the army of the Lord in defeating the devil and his wicked angels, casting them out of heaven. This is described in the book of Revelation:

“And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer” .

(Revelation 12:7-8)

Wonders of Archangel Michael

Archangel Michael performed many miracles, namely with the righteous Dorotheus and his wife, Theopista; and Saint Euphemia.

Dorotheus and Theopista

Dorotheus and Theopista held a festival of commemoration for Archangel Michael on his feast day - the twelfth day of each month. One month they had nothing with which to celebrate the feast. Archangel Michael appeared to Dorotheus in the form of an honourable man and instructed him to go and buy a fish, a sheep, and as much flour as he needed for the feast - each for one-third of a dinar. He commanded Dorotheus not to slit open the belly of the fish until he returned to him. Dorotheus did as he was commanded, and held the feast in honour of the Archangel.

Once the celebration had finished, Archangel Michael appeared to Dorotheus again and commanded him to open the belly of the fish. Inside he found 300 dinars of gold as well as three coins, each worth a third of a dinar. The coins were for the fish, the sheep, and the flour, and the 300 dinar for Dorotheus and his family. Archangel Michael said to them that God had remembered them and their ablations, and rewarded them with money on earth and with the kingdom of heaven on the last day.

Saint Euphemia

Saint Euphemia was the wife of a God-fearing man who gave many alms and kept three festivals each month - the commemoration of Archangel Michael, the Theotokos, and the Nativity of the Lord. When the day of her husband's departure drew near, he commanded her to keep these customs. He painted a picture of Archangel Michael and gave it to her.

When the feast of the Archangel drew near, Satan appeared to her in the form of an angel. He told her that he was sent by Archangel Michael commanding her to cease from giving alms and to marry a believing man. She replied saying, "If you are an angel of God, where is the Cross, the symbol of your military service? For the soldier of the King never goes to any place without this symbol with him." When Satan heard these words, he returned to his original form and jumped on her to choke her. She cried for Archangel Michael, who immediately delivered her. The Archangel then told her to go and arrange her affairs, for she would depart from this world today.

After Saint Euphemia celebrated the feast of Archangel Michael, she gave all her money to the poor. She then took her painting of Archangel Michael, prayed before it, laid it upon her face and chest, and departed in peace.

His Feasts

The church celebrates the commemoration of Archangel Michael on the twelfth day of each Coptic month. To this day, many make "feteer el malak" - "angel bread" to celebrate the commemoration of the Archangel and the miracles which he performs. His holy intercession be for us all. Amen.

The Story In Powtoon

References

Synaxarium- Coptic Reader App

The Angels, by HH Pope Shenouda III

Heaven: A Coptic Orthodox Christian Perspective, by Bishop Youannis

Coptic Church. Net