Tuesday 29 September 2020

Michaelmas - the Feast of St Michael and All Angels

Today, 29th September, is Michaelmas, the Feast Day of St Michael and All Angels. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are the three named biblical angels, depicted as the beloved messengers of God. 

Michael is an archangel in the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. To Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Anglicans, and Lutherans he is called "Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint Michael". In other Protestant churches, he is referred to as Archangel Michael. The name Michael means 'who is like God?'., he is described as the protector of Israel and leader of the armies of God against Satan. Michael is perhaps best known for his victory over the dragon, which is told in the Revelation to John. 

"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven" (Rev. 12:7). 

As recounted by the Revelation of Saint John, at the end of the world war will break at between Heaven and Hell, between good and evil. As the commander of the Army of God, Archangel Michael leads the other angels in the fight against evil, represented in this picture by a seven-headed dragon. Each of the dragon's heads represents one of the seven deadly sins. Michael is therefore regarded as the protector of Christians from the devil, particularly those at the hour of death. Sanctuaries to Michael were built by Christians in the 4th century, when he was first seen as a healing angel.


We are all familiar with Gabriel's role in Luke's Gospel. Gabriel (meaning 'the strength of God') is the one who is sent by God to Mary to announce the birth of Christ. Raphael (meaning 'the healing of God') is depicted in the Book of Tobit as the one who restores sight to Tobit's eyes. 

Tuesday 15 September 2020

Festival of Mary - our Patronal Festival

Late summer is the time of two church Festivals which celebrate Mary, the Mother of God.  

August 15th is the day in which the Roman Catholic Church has the solemnity of the Assumption and the Orthodox Church marks the Dormition. In the Anglican faith the Assumption is sometimes celebrated, or more simply it is a celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This celebration is often delayed until September, mainly for practical reasons since congregations and choirs are often absent on holiday in August, and is then merged with the 8th September when the church traditionally marks the birth of Mary.