Michael, the Archangel

The scriptural word “angel” (Greek: angelos) means, literally, a messenger. Messengers from God can be visible or invisible, and may assume human or non-human forms.

The name MICHAEL, (Hebrew: Mikael) meaning, “Who is like God?” occurs in the Bible on a number of occasions especially in the First Book of Chronicles. There appeared to be a number of different persons with that name. However one must not be confused with the archangel whose name also was Michael.

Michael is seen as the archangel who records the names of persons who merit everlasting life and is the gatekeeper of paradise. He is said to be the intermediary who brought God’s law to Moses and revelations of the future to Elijah and also the patron and defender of Israel against its enemies. However, only the last of these traditions can be substantiated by biblical evidence.

“The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, so I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia and came to make you understand what is to befall your people in the latter days.” (Daniel 10: 13)

Michael’s name first appears in the Bible after the prophet Daniel has completed a three-week purification in preparation for revelations. A man, who is nameless but who may have been the Archangel Gabriel “clothed in linen…his body was like a beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches…and the sound of his words like the noise of a multitude,” comes to deliver the message that Michael is their prince. This powerful angel and agent of God will protect Israel from its earthly enemies, ultimately leading the host of angels warding off the forces of evil from God’s people. He will deliver peace to them at the end of this life’s mortal struggle.

Michael appears twice in the New Testament. In the Letter of Jude, verse 9, he is seen as the one who fought with the devil over the disposal of the body of Moses. Whereas in Revelation, chapter 12 verse 7-9, he appears as the leader of the righteous angels who fought against and defeated the dragon, “that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan” and his angels. Thus “there was no longer any place for them [the Devil and his angels] in heaven.”

“Michaelmas,” as his feast is called in England, has long been one of the popular celebrations of the Christian Year in many parts of the world. There are many churches throughout the world of which St. Michael is their Patron Saint. The Feast Day is celebrated on September 29 in the Christian calendar.

 Prayer for St. Michael and All Angels

Everlasting God, you have ordained
 and constituted in a wonderful order
the ministries of angels and mortals:

Mercifully grant that, as your holy
angels always serve and worship you
 in heaven, so by your appointment they
may help and defend us here on earth;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
 and the Holy Spirit, one God,
 for ever and ever.

Amen.

                         2006 -- St. Michael's Episcopal Church, O'Fallon, Illinois                            Last Updated: 04/01/2008

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