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The Feast of the Synaxis of the
Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Hosts was established at the beginning
of the 4th Century at the Local Council of Laodicea, a few years before the
First Ecumenical Council. This Council, among other things, condemned and
rejected the heretical worship of angels as creators and rulers of the world
and confirmed the Orthodox in their particular veneration.
The Feast is celebrated in November
— the 9th Month (counting March, which, in antiquity, \vas the beginning of the
year) — conforming to the traditional Nine Ranks of Angels — Seraphim and
Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Authorities, Principalities, Archangels
and Angels. [All of these titles are mentioned in Holy Scripture, and a
detailed exposition of them, their characteristics and function may be found in
The Celestial Hierarchies by Pseudo-Dionysius, who wrote in the 6th Century.]
The fact that the Feast is celebrated on the 8th Day of the month indicated the
future assembly of the Heavenly Powers on the day of the awesome judgment of
God which the Holy Fathers called the 8th Day, since after this present age,
characterized by 7-day weeks, will come the 8th Day, when the Son of man comes
in His glory, and all the angels with Him (Matt. 25:31).
In the theology of the Church, the
angels are seen as pure spirits, but nonetheless created spirits, destined to
worship and reflect the infinite divine beauty as well as being sent forth to
do the divine bidding. As St. Paul tells us, Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve,
for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation (Heb. 1:14)?
Angels appear at times in the Old Testament to the Patriarchs and Prophets and
often were seen to be the bearers of God's image and power by the ancient Jews.
Especially noted is the manifestation of the Holy Trinity to Abraham (Gen. 18)
in the form of three angels (the subject of Andrei Rublev's famous icon of the
Holy Trinity).
In the New Testament the Archangel
Gabriel announced the birth of Jesus; angels ministered to Him in the
wilderness and also during His agony in Gethsemane before His crucifixion; and the Resurrection is announced to the
Myrrhbearers by angels. They are closely involved in the life of the apostles
and also in the beginnings of the Church.
In addition, the Church teaches that
everyone is given a Guardian Angel at birth to act as a guide and protector to
every individual. The Lord Himself bears witness to this, when speaking of
little children, He cautioned His disciples: See that you do not despise one of
these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the
face of My Father Who is in heaven (Matt. 18:10).
The leader of the Heavenly hosts is
Michael the Archangel, whose name means Like unto God. He is mentioned by name in the Old
Testament book of Daniel, as well as in the New Testament Epistle of St. Jude,
and especially figures in the Revelation of St. John. In ancient Jewish tradition,
he was seen as the heavenly protector of Israel.
According to the Revelation of St.
John, seven angels serve before the throne of God (Rev. 8-10) and take part in
the final woes of the world. In the tradition of the Church, the names of these
angels, commemorated by name in the Church Calendar on November 8 are: Michael,
Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jegudiel and Barachiel.
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