The holy angels
The Archangel Michael
Holy Archangel Michael, Chief Commander of the Heavenly Hosts
Αρχάγγελος Μιχαήλ, ο Αρχιστράτηγος (Ταξιάρχης) · Свѧты́й А҆рхїстрати́гъ Бж҃їй Мїхаи́лъ · Архистратиг Божий Михаил
The Archangel Michael is remembered on 8 November (21 November on the Old Calendar). Orthodox Christians pray to the Archangel Michael for protection from enemies visible and invisible, courage and protection in battle and victory over evil spirits.
Feast days
- Feast
- Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Bodiless Powers
- Kept on
- 8 November (21 November on the Old Calendar)
- Next, New Calendar
- Next, Old Calendar
- Feast
- Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Colossae (Chonae)
- Kept on
- 6 September (19 September on the Old Calendar)
- Next, New Calendar
- Next, Old Calendar
The New Calendar is kept by the Greek, Antiochian, Romanian and Bulgarian churches, the OCA and most converts; the Old Calendar by the Russian, Serbian and Georgian churches, Jerusalem and Mount Athos, 13 days later on the civil calendar.
Who The Archangel Michael is
The Archangel Michael, whose name means "Who is like God?", is the Chief Commander (Archistrategos) of the heavenly hosts, who cast down the proud Lucifer and fights still against all the enemies of God and man. He is honored with all the bodiless powers at the Synaxis of 8 November, a feast the Church has kept since the Council of Laodicea in the fourth century. On 6 September the Church remembers how he saved his church at Colossae, where his spring healed the sick, by splitting the rock to swallow the floodwaters sent to destroy it. He has been loved in Rus since the conversion of Kiev, whose patron he is. Icons show him in armor with a sword or spear. Orthodox Christians pray to him for protection from enemies visible and invisible, for courage, for healing, and for a peaceful death; Russian priests call him the guardian of the souls of the departed.
What the faithful ask of the Archangel Michael
The faithful pray for
- protection from enemies visible and invisible
- courage and protection in battle
- victory over evil spirits
- healing, as at his miraculous spring at Colossae
- a peaceful death and help for the soul after death
- the defense of churches and holy places
- deliverance from fear
The Archangel Michael protects
- from the devil and his attacks
- soldiers and those who defend others
- churches from desecration
- the souls of the departed
- from enemies of the homeland
Patron of
- soldiers and the military
- defenders of the homeland
- the dying and the souls of the departed
- the city of Kyiv
- churches and holy places
- police (Catholic tradition)
Miracles
At Colossae a Laodicean father's mute daughter received speech after drinking from the Archangel's spring, and the whole family was baptized.
When pagans diverted two rivers to destroy his church and its caretaker St Archippus, the Archangel split the rock with his staff and the waters vanished into it (Chonae).
On Mount Athos the Archangel saved a youth thrown into the sea by robbers with a stone about his neck (Docheiariou).
Source: OCA: Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers
Where the traditions differ
Orthodox keep 8 Nov (Synaxis) and 6 Sep (Chonae). The 29 Sep feast (Michaelmas) is Western: Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran. Patronage of police is a Catholic designation (Pius XII), though widely shared by Orthodox in the US; the 'patron of the dying and of the souls of the departed' is shared by both traditions.
the Archangel Michael: icons and items in our shop
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you — Consecration, $49.
Ask our priest
Our priest can serve a moleben to the Archangel Michael for the people and the need you name.
Name days
These names keep their name day on a feast of the Archangel Michael:
Prayed to for
Related saints
Questions
When is the feast day of the Archangel Michael?
Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Bodiless Powers: 8 November (21 November on the Old Calendar); Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Colossae (Chonae): 6 September (19 September on the Old Calendar).
What do Orthodox Christians pray to the Archangel Michael for?
Orthodox Christians pray to the Archangel Michael for protection from enemies visible and invisible, courage and protection in battle, victory over evil spirits, healing, as at his miraculous spring at Colossae, a peaceful death and help for the soul after death and the defense of churches and holy places.
What is the Archangel Michael the patron of?
The Archangel Michael is the patron of soldiers and the military, defenders of the homeland, the dying and the souls of the departed, the city of Kyiv, churches and holy places and police (Catholic tradition).
What does the Archangel Michael protect from?
The Archangel Michael protects from the devil and his attacks, soldiers and those who defend others, churches from desecration, the souls of the departed and from enemies of the homeland.
Whose name day is on a feast of the Archangel Michael?
The name day of Michael, Mikhail, Michail, Michalis, Angelos (Greek, 8 Nov), Angeliki (Greek, 8 Nov) and Taxiarchis (Greek, 8 Nov).
Sources
- OCA: Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers (read 14 October 2026)
- OCA: Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Colossae (read 14 October 2026)
- 360.ru: О чем молятся архангелу Михаилу (read 14 October 2026)
- Wikipedia: Michael (archangel) (read 14 October 2026)