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November 2007
”The Church of St. Clement and St. Panteleimon Ohrid, Macedonia”
In this Issue
Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and all
the Bodiless Powers
The Nativity Fast
Christmas traditions
Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and all
the Bodiless Powers
This is the Feast of the Patron of our
Church and Parish, the Holy Archangel
Michael, which is celebrated on 8th
November. We asked for this dedication
because, before we became Orthodox,
Archimandrite David of blessed memory
made an icon of St. Michael the
Archangel for us.
The angels of God were celebrated by men from earliest
times but this celebration was often
turned into the divinization of angels
(II Kings 23:5). The heretics wove all
sorts of fables concerning the angels.
Some of them looked upon angels as gods;
others, although they did not consider
them gods, called them the creators of
the whole visible world. The local
Council of Laodicea (four or five years
before the First Ecumenical Council)
rejected the worship of angels as gods
and established the proper veneration of
angels in its Thirty-fifth Canon. In the
fourth century, during the time of
Sylvester, Pope of Rome, and Alexander,
Patriarch of Alexandria, the present
Feast of Archangel Michael and all the
other heavenly powers was instituted for
celebration in the month of November.
Why precisely in November? Because November is the
ninth month after March, and March is
considered to be the month in which the
world was created. Also, as the ninth
month after March, November was chosen
for the nine orders of angels who were
created first. St. Dionysius the
Areopagite, a disciple of the Apostle
Paul (who was taken up into the third
heaven), described these nine orders of
angels in his book, On the Celestial
Hierarchies, as follows:
Six-winged Seraphim, Many-eyed Cherubim, God-bearing
Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Virtues,
Principalities, Archangels, and Angels.
The leader of all the angelic hosts is
the Archangel Michael. When Satan,
Lucifer, fell away from God and drew a
part of the angels with him to
destruction, then Michael stood up and
cried out before the faithful angels:
“Let us attend! Let us stand aright! Let
us stand with fear!” and all of the
faithful angelic heavenly hosts cried
out: “Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God of
Sabaoth! Heaven and earth are full of
Thy glory!” Concerning the Archangel
Michael, see Joshua 5:13-15 and Jude
1:9. Among the angels there reigns
perfect oneness of mind, oneness of
soul, and love. The lower orders also
show complete obedience to the higher
orders, and all of them together to the
holy will of God.
Every nation has its guardian angel, as does every
Christian. We must always remember that
whatever we do, in open or in secret, we
do in the presence of our guardian
angel. On the day of the Dread Judgment,
the multitude of the hosts of the holy
angels of heaven will gather around the
throne of Christ, and the deeds, words,
and thoughts of every man will be
revealed before all.
Holy Scripture clearly and irrefutably witnesses that
angels ceaselessly communicate with this
world. The Holy Scripture and Holy
Tradition of the Orthodox Church teaches
us the names of the seven leaders of the
angelic powers: Michael, Gabriel,
Raphael, Uriel, Salathiel, Jegudiel, and
Barachiel (an eighth, Jeremiel, is
sometimes included).
“Michael” in the Hebrew language means “Who is
like unto God?” or “Who is equal to
God?” St. Michael has been depicted from
earliest Christian times as a commander,
who holds in his right hand a spear with
which he attacks Lucifer, Satan, and in
his left hand a green palm branch. At
the top of the spear there is a linen
ribbon with a red cross. The Archangel
Michael is especially considered to be
the Guardian of the Orthodox Faith and a
fighter against heresies.
“Gabriel” means “Man of God” or “Might of God”.
He is the herald of the mysteries of
God, especially the Incarnation of God
and all other mysteries related to it.
He is depicted as follows: In his right
hand, he holds a lantern with a lighted
taper inside, and in his left hand, a
mirror of green jasper. The mirror
signifies the wisdom of God as a hidden
mystery.
“Raphael” means “God's healing” or “God the
Healer”. (Tobit 3:17, 12:15). Raphael is
depicted leading Tobit (who is carrying
a fish caught in the Tigris) with his
right hand, and holding a physician's
alabaster jar in his left hand.
“Uriel” means “Fire of God”, or “Light of God”
(III Esdras 3:1, 5:20). He is depicted
holding a sword against the Persians in
his right hand, and a fiery flame in his
left.
“Salathiel” means “Intercessor of God” (III
Esdras 5:16). He is depicted with his
face and eyes lowered, holding his hands
on his bosom in prayer.
“Jegudiel” means “Glorifier of God”. He is
depicted bearing a golden wreath in his
right hand and a triple-thonged whip in
his left hand.
“Barachiel” means “Blessing of God”. He is
depicted holding a white rose in his
hand against his breast.
“Jeremiel” means “God's exaltation”. He is
venerated as an inspirer and awakener of
exalted thoughts that raise a man toward
God (III Ezra 4:36).
May God have mercy on us and save us by the prayers
of the Holy Archangel Michael and all
the bodiless powers of heaven. Amen.
(From the Prologue of Ochrid for
November 8th)
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