The icon of Archangel Michael is one of the most famous and revered in Christianity. Its significance is truly enormous, and its power knows no bounds. Believers have long come to her in order to find healing and receive help in everyday matters, and most importantly, to learn faith in the Lord and become closer to Him in their thoughts and deeds. This is the greatest image, which has no equal in its semantic and spiritual significance in the entire history of the formation of Orthodoxy.
What does the icon of the Archangel Michael help with?
The Orthodox people venerate the Archangel Michael. He is asked for protection in battle, and to give strength to resist the enemy. Saint Michael begs God for some human sins that they committed during their lifetime, but earned forgiveness through good deeds. And:
helps get rid of bitterness, sadness, sorrow and anxiety; The image is of great importance for sick people, it helps in healing; At the icon they pray for living family members, so that they will be spared the temptations of life and weakness of spirit.
In front of the image of Archangel Michael, they pray for the salvation of the souls of relatives who have died. September 19 and November 21 are considered days when miracles occur in the spiritual world. These days the Saint visits hell and extinguishes the flames with his wing. He manages to bring out of purgatory the souls of those for whom they so earnestly prayed. Deceased relatives are called by name and prayed at 24:00 at night. This opportunity was granted to the saint for his fight against Satan.
What does the icon of the Archangel Michael protect from:
The image of the Saint is brought into the new home. It is believed that the house will be reliably protected from any illegal intrusions, thieves and bandits. Bad people and devilish forces pass the house. The icon helps in protection from any visible and invisible evil, from robbers, troubles and failures, and saves from natural disasters.
Also read: Prayers to the archangels by day of the week
What to ask the Archangel
They turn to the heavenly warrior with prayer, asking for protection and help during military operations and dangerous situations, before long journeys and the beginning of important affairs. He is asked for the healing of physical and mental illnesses; about granting health to loved ones living people and helping the souls of the dead.
Through sincere prayer, the archangel helps to find his place in life; get rid of the torment and doubts manifested in the soul; find peace and self-confidence. It is believed that the image of the archangel protects against thefts, accidents, various disasters and bad thoughts.
Warrior and Archangel, miracle worker
Sometimes the saint is depicted with a sword. “Leader of the Lord’s army” - this is how the Holy Scripture calls this archangel. He is the main fighter against the Evil existing in the world and leads the heavenly army. That is why he is also called the archangel, that is, the senior warrior, military leader, leader.
Almost all icons represent Archangel Michael dressed in military armor and armed with a sword (spear). After all, he was the first who raised the bright heavenly army to fight the fallen angels led by Lucifer, defeated them and cast them “into the depths of the underworld.”
And the battle between Good and Evil continues to this day, but on earth. This is a battle for human souls, and therefore each of us living here is an involuntary participant on one side or the other.
The most significant miracle performed by Archangel Michael in Khoneh was even awarded a special celebration.
At the beginning of the new era, in one Phrygian area there was a temple in honor of the Archangel and a healing spring next to him. This temple was built by one townsman in gratitude to God and St. Archangel Michael for healing his daughter from muteness.
Archangel Michael revealed to him in a dream that the girl would gain the gift of speech by drinking water from this source. And so it happened. And since then, not only Christians, but also pagans, many of whom believed in Christ, began to come to the holy spring. The sexton Arkhipp, who served in the church for a long time, also helped.
Miracle in Khonech. Angry at Christians in general, and at Archippus especially, the pagans decided to destroy the temple, and at the same time destroy its zealous servant. They connected two mountain rivers into one channel and directed the flow to the temple.
Through the fervent prayer of Archippus, the Archangel himself appeared at the church and, striking the mountain with his rod, opened a wide cleft in it, into which the seething waters rushed. The temple thus remained undamaged. And this place began to be called Khona - “cleft, hole.”
The Church has established two days of celebration in honor of Archangel Michael: on September 19, the miracle he created in Khoneh is remembered, and on November 21, from the beginning of the 4th century, the Council of the Archangel Michael is celebrated, denoting the totality of all the Heavenly Powers of the Ethereal, headed by the Archangel Michael. It is especially recommended to turn to him in prayer these days.
Ancient literature contains many references to miracles performed by the Great Angel. One of them happened on our land. At the beginning of the 13th century, the Archangel helped the Novgorodians resist the invasion of Batu Khan. He literally stood in front of his adversaries, forbidding them to enter the fortress walls, and the great war was stopped.
Read about the holy martyr Tryphon in our article.
Meaning of the icon
The image of the icon with the Archangel Michael accepts two compositional options: with the reconstruction of the image in full height and waist-high, although at the same time the appearance of the Archangel retains its features. So the archangel with his right hand holds a spear, topped with a cross, or a fiery sword, with which he pierces the dark force, the enemy of the human race, personified by the devil. The scarlet cloak, clasped on the left shoulder, develops behind and thus the icon of St. Archangel Michael takes on a warlike appearance. A special place is also found for the shield with chain mail on the icon of the Archangel Michael, the meaning of which is to give the image greater power, the strength of a warrior, ready to fulfill his duty at any second. In addition, the image of the Archangel in armor recalls his importance in sacred history, when, according to biblical legends, Michael gave a helping hand to Joshua.
A huge number of icons depict the Archangel, which once again emphasizes his enormous importance for believers. He remained not only in the past, but will also play an important role in the future, being not only the central image of the icon of the Archangel Michael, but also the leading figure of the entire sacred description, who will have to fight on the side of Good, leading the heavenly warriors.
Story decisions
The image of Archangel Michael can be single or contain various subjects. In many churches there are paintings where fragments (stamps) depicting the miracles he performed are placed around the central figure of the archangel.
Often there are joint icons of the Archangel Michael and the Blessed Virgin Mary. In many cases, the heavenly commander is depicted trampling the Serpent, whose appearance is taken by the Devil, or against the backdrop of episodes of the Last Judgment, where the archangel appears in the form of a formidable judge with scales in his hands. Sometimes he acts as an escort for the souls of the deceased awaiting their fate.
The icon of Michael, depicting him next to Gabriel, has miraculous power. Orthodox Christians call this painting Holy Archangels and consider it especially powerful, since in heaven Gabriel is also endowed with the honorary title of Archangel.
Origin of the name and its interpretation
We should start with the name of the Archangel Michael, the interpretation of which is fraught with many interesting things. Gregory Palamas dubbed the angels “second lights,” what could this mean? Anthony of Sourozh gives his interpretation of this definition: angels are completely transparent, and divine light spills through them onto people. Moreover, each angel has a name, and it means something. The name given to Archangel Gabriel testifies that the Lord saves us all. Raphael heals, he is the main healer of the heavenly forces of the ethereal.
But the word “Mikhail” has several translations. The most popular are “One God” and “Nobody like God.” Metropolitan Anthony summarizes these meanings and says that we must understand the unity of God. And we must worship the Almighty. This is the meaning of the name St. Michael.
Revered Images
The faces of Archangel Michael are depicted on the altars of all Orthodox churches. The most famous plot images are:
A revered icon located in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. In its center is a figure of an angel, who is dressed in military clothes and holds a sword in his hand. The angel's face is surrounded by stamps with images of his deeds. The icon “Miracle in Khoni” has a large number of copies, the plot of which is based on the biblical legend about the salvation of a Christian temple from flooding in the village of Khoni. In the foreground are the figures of the praying sexton Archippus in a monastic robe and the Archangel Michael, breaking a stone with a blow of a spear and diverting the flow of water from the church. The second plan is filled with the walls of the city and the townspeople who witnessed the miracle and believed in the Power of the Lord. The Miracle of the Archangel Michael in Khoneh An often repeated Orthodox iconographic plot is the “Miracle of Flora and Laurel.” It is believed that the great heavenly warrior taught revered Orthodox saints how to care for horses. At the top of the image is an archangel handing over the bridles of two horses to Flora and Laurus, standing on either side of him. In many churches you can see icons depicting the apocalypse. Archangel Michael rides over the world on a red winged horse, blowing a fiery trumpet. In one hand he holds a book, and in the other a cross or trident. A fiery horse tramples under its feet a dragon or a freak, symbolizing the leader of evil forces. In Orthodox religious painting, this subject was called Archangel Michael Voevoda. You should know: Archangel Michael is depicted not only on icons, but also on artistic images by worldly artists. It is important to understand that icons are designed to help a person concentrate on prayer. They express the essence of the holy image. And an artistic image tells about a certain event. They admire it and pray in front of the icon.
How to place the image of Michael at home
The icon of Archangel Michael can be placed or hung in any corner of the house. At the same time, it is important to ensure that the shrine is located away from household equipment and secular items.
It is not recommended to place the image in the kitchen or bathroom. The best places for this purpose are the hallway, living room, and bedroom. There should not be any accessories next to the icon. It is necessary to keep the sacred painting clean.
The face of the heavenly archangel can be placed separately or in a home iconostasis. Near it you should definitely place a lamp with blessed oil, which can be bought in every Orthodox church.
What does the icon of Archangel Michael help with?
The image of Michael is truly revered by Christians all over the world as miraculous. It is a symbol of salvation and hope, support and the search for the righteous path, everything that invariably cleanses the soul from evil thoughts and gives the eternal - faith and God's grace.
In particular, the Archangel is addressed in such situations:
to fight illnesses, both physical and mental; for healing from various kinds of diseases; in choosing your true destiny, path; for help in military affairs; during the creation of new temples and restoration of destroyed ones; for protection from enemies; to find a way out from current life circumstances.
The face of a saint helps in many matters, if the person himself sincerely asks him about it and is ready to do everything in his power in order to overcome all difficulties and repel all the evil that surrounds him, while remaining pure in his thoughts and righteous in his actions. Only then will the help of a saint matter, because only by knowing your inner essence can you know God.
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The meaning of the icons of the Archangel Michael
The saint is often represented on icons with a lance in his right hand, and in his left he holds a mirror sphere, which was given as a gift of insight. Later icons depict the overthrow of Satan, with the saint presented as the conqueror. In the right hand is a lance, and in the left is a bowl with scales. The icon has a metaphorical meaning; the image of Lucifer is a generalization of the lawlessness, violence and tyranny that people create. In this case, the winner holds a date palm branch with his right hand, and a spear with a scarlet cross in his left, a sign of victory over Satan.
The archangel is often represented holding a burning shield and excalibur. There is always a bright red robe, a symbol of the winner and protector.
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Sometimes you can find an image of a saint on a winged red horse. With his left hand he holds the Gospel, with his right hand a pike that plunges Satan into a hyena. Under the stallion's hooves are the ruins of the earthly state. A rainbow of all colors shimmers between the archangel’s hands.
Also read: Protective prayer to Archangel Michael
The “Miracle at Khoneh” icon is the most popular among other images. The icon on the left depicts the Archangel Michael with a rod in his hand. Two vertical streams of water emanate from the crevice, forming an arch. On the right is Archippus in a position of prayer.
There is also an image of the saint in waist-length armor, in full length and elegant clothes, dalmatics and lore, embroidered with diamonds and wearing golden boots.
Every Russian church has an icon of the Saint. Images or frescoes with the face of the Archangel Michael are sure to decorate any church. His images can be found on church objects; the city of Arkhangelsk is named in his honor and the coat of arms of Russia is decorated.
Iconography
The image of Archangel Michael is found in Christian fine art in various plot solutions. On most of them, the leader of the heavenly army is depicted in military vestments of the Roman or Byzantine style. Chiton has a white, blue, or gold color. On the shoulders of the archangel lies a red cloak, which is a symbol of the defender and winner. The head of one of the supreme angels is crowned with a toroka, which indicates that he hears and conveys the will of the Lord.
In Western European images, the archangel is depicted in battle armor (short chain mail or light armor).
Icon of St. Archangel Michael
The main celestial warrior is armed with a steel or fire sword. In some images, St. Michael holds a spear topped with a cross. It is rare to see images in which the archangel’s head is crowned, and in his hands he holds both a sword and a spear.
Read about other archangels:
- Archangel Uriel
- Icon of Saint Archangel Gabriel
- Icon of Archangel Raphael
But on most icons and religious paintings, in the right hand the angel holds a shield or mirror - a mirror sphere, symbolizing the highest origin of a being who fulfills only the will of the Almighty.
Protection and support: in what cases
The main goal of angels—the fight against unclean spirits—does not overshadow their concern for earthly people and help in their various troubles and illnesses.
Christian history has preserved many facts of such miraculous help shown by the archangel. The veneration of the Holy Archangel Michael among the people is evidenced by the great number of Orthodox churches consecrated in his honor. Originally, he is considered the protector and patron of warriors.
The icon of Archangel Michael is revered as miraculous. They pray to him in such cases:
They pray to the Archangel for the health of those who went to war. They ask to protect the Motherland from enemies internal and external; about the safe return of soldiers from the battlefields; about protecting people from the influence of evil forces; about preserving the home from thieves and other troubles, especially when moving into a new home and consecrating they ask for support in sorrows and protection from temptations; for a safe journey or business trip; they also ask for prayers for the healing of certain diseases.
The hypostasis of the Archangel as a healer seems a little unusual. However, this is not without a reasonable basis, which has come down to our days from ancient times. Early Christians believed that the source of all diseases was the machinations of evil spirits, and since Archangel Michael was their conqueror, therefore, it was within his power to get rid of diseases.
How to pray
There are many well-established texts of prayers to St. Archangel Michael:
- about protection from enemies and evil;
- about healing;
- about the deceased;
- about protection along the way.
Michael - Archangel of heavenly powers
It is not necessary to learn all the prayers by heart. The main thing is that the words are sincere and come from the heart. Before prayer, you need to cleanse your soul and thoughts from evil, obscene and envious thoughts. It is important not to forget that not only prayer requests are offered to the heavenly inhabitants, but also words of gratitude.
Where to place the icon
Icons exist in different sizes and types, so the main criterion when choosing is not certain parameters, but what the soul lies in - choosing at the behest of the heart - this is what needs to be approached with all responsibility. And after choosing the icon of the Archangel Michael, where to place the shrine at home is not particularly important. It is not an amulet or a magical thing, so the place of the icon in the house should only facilitate the reading of the prayer.
If desired, you can install a special shelf in the corner where you can light a lamp. Traditionally, it is placed in front of the icon and filled with special oil purchased from the church.
The meaning of Archangel Michael in Christianity
Church tradition claims that the Lord created a countless number of angels at the beginning of time. Dennitsa was placed at the head of the angelic host, who subsequently rebelled and turned into Satan. Archangel Michael had to enter into battle with Dennitsa, after which he was cast out of Heaven. Since then, the holy army has been led by the archangels Gabriel and Michael. Here are a few more facts you need to know about Michael:
Michael has been called Archangel since apostolic times. Metropolitan Macarius spoke of Saint Michael as an “all-powerful weapon.” Another area of activity of Michael the Archangel is protecting the souls of the dead. Healing prayers addressed to the saint can bring considerable benefits. Healing springs dedicated to the archangel exist in Asia Minor. Coptic Christians dedicated November 12 to Michael.
Apocryphal sources are of some interest. According to these sources, Mikhail repeatedly helped the dead. In some places this character is called the guardian of souls. There are a number of reasons for this:
before entering Heaven, the soul is washed by the archangel; Jesus entrusted righteous souls to the Archangel Michael - this was done before the Savior went to hell; when the Mother of God walked through hell, she was also accompanied by the archangel.
Guardian of Paradise and protector from evil
Since the fall of Satan, little has changed - Archangel Michael still stands guard over the gates of heaven. The archangel holds a sword in his hand, with which he defeats the forces of evil. This fact is reflected in the iconography. Pay attention to Michael's halo - it includes a floral ornament. This detail is associated with the function of the heavenly guard.
Archangel Michael is spoken of as the patron saint of warriors. True, there is one important condition - you must fight for a just cause. Invisible enemies (demons, evil spirits) constantly attack Christians. It is Michael who is tasked with standing with his sword between us and the darkness. In some images, by the way, there is no sword, but there is a spear. On the body of the saint is battle armor. John the Theologian writes that in the future the dark and light armies will meet again in the final battle - and then Lucifer will be destined to experience a second defeat.
Miracles created by the Archangel
The spectacular miracles performed by the Archangel Michael have become firmly entrenched in the history of Christianity. There is a legend that a resident of the Phrygian town of Colossae was able to heal his daughter after drinking water from a miraculous spring. In gratitude, the Phrygian erected a temple and dedicated it to Michael. This is exactly the beginning of the miracle in Khoneh. Further mention is made of Archippus of Herotopus, who served as a sexton in the local church for about 60 years. This man caused incredible anger among the pagans, who eventually wanted to destroy the church.
The pagans acted insidiously - they directed the stream towards the temple, resulting from the union of two rivers. To prevent disaster, Arkhip began to pray fervently, seeking consolation in Michael. It was difficult to come up with someone more holy than the archangel - this is how the long-suffering sexton reasoned. Archangel Michael poked the mountain with his staff, after which a huge chasm opened. The waters rushed into the breach, but the shrine itself stood firm.
Archangels, Michael in particular, are mentioned in other miraculous stories. Here are examples:
Plague in Rome. When the plague raged in Italy (590), the pope held a solemn prayer service. It is not known whether he called on the archangels - Michael or anyone else. As a result, Mikhail was seen on the roof of Hadrian’s mausoleum. After a miraculous phenomenon, the plague stopped. The mausoleum was renamed the Castle of the Holy Angel. Holy sinner. Under Emperor Troyan, there lived a beautiful Roman woman who became famous for her wild lifestyle. Evdokia did not know about Archangel Michael, but one day she heard his voice telling about the Last Judgment. The sinner repented, believed in the Lord, began to fast, and was soon taken up into heaven by a beautiful young man. Rescue of Sipont. In 630, Sipontus (there was such a city in Italy) was besieged. Archangel Michael appeared to the local bishop to encourage the townspeople. The pagans besieging the city also saw the saint, who immediately repented and accepted, according to legend, the Christian faith. In honor of this event, a temple was erected on the mountain. Saving Novgorod. This miracle happened in 1239. Batu’s army rushed to Novgorod, but the Mother of God and Michael appeared to the conqueror. Before this, Batu was in Kyiv, where he saw a fresco depicting the Archangel. As a result, the army turned back. Rescue of the heir. A certain young man was supposed to become the owner of an impressive inheritance, but a neighbor planned to kill the young man out of envy. The rich man tried to leave the boy in the forest and drown him in the depths of the sea, but the young man invariably survived thanks to the help of the archangel. As a result, the killer died from his own blade when he tried to saddle his horse. Joan of Arc. As you remember, Joan of Arc constantly heard the voices of angels helping her in making decisions. The holy virgin was guided by the promptings of these voices. One of them was Mikhail.
Miracles
Numerous legends and traditions tell about the miracles of the Archangel Michael. Some miraculous phenomena are depicted on the plot icons.
The Roman Castle of Sant'Angelo reminds us of one of the miracles. It got its name in honor of the appearance of a celestial warrior during the plague that struck the Eternal City in 590. During the penitential procession led by Pope Gregory the Great, the archangel appeared on the roof of Hadrian's mausoleum and sheathed his sword. After this phenomenon, the epidemic began to decline.
In 630, pagan tribes tried to occupy the Italian city of Sipontos. In response to the fervent prayer of the city residents, the archangel promised them his protection and help. He appeared before the conquerors, instilling in them fear and faith in the Power of the Lord God. After some time, a temple was found on a mountain not far from the city, in the altar of which there flowed a miraculous spring that healed many people.
On the site of the ancient city today is the town of Monte Sant'Angelo, which attracts many pilgrims.
One of the miracles of the heavenly protector is connected with the history of the Russian lands. During the invasion of Batu Khan, the Archangel Michael and the Mother of God stood in the way of his horde and forbade him to approach Novgorod. Khan recognized the warrior who blocked his way on a fresco in one of the Kyiv churches.
Icon of Archangel Michael with miracles
There are eyewitness accounts saying that the archangel saved Christians during the Turkish attack on Greek Cyprus (1936). At this time, the icon of St. Archangel Michael disappeared from the monastery on the island of Lesbos, and a week later it miraculously returned to its place. A few years later, a man came to the holy monastery, claiming that a heavenly warrior saved him during the Turkish expansion.
Interesting: in Russia, near the village of Diveevo, there is a miraculous spring dedicated to the Archangel Michael. Eyewitnesses claim that immersion in its waters washes away the dirt from the soul, helps to put thoughts in order and gain spiritual strength.
