Annual Feast of Archangel Saint Michael
The mighty Saint Michael as Saint Peter said in his Epistle, “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; Angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him” was throne as an Archangel upon all the Angels after defeating Enemy Satan. Saint Michael’s stature is not limited to the tenth angels; but also on all righteous people. The Ethiopian Orthodox Incarnation Church celebrates the Annual Feast of Archangel Saint Michael on November 21. (1 Peter 3: 22)
Saint Michael is one of the seven primary Archangels, who are always standing besides God. His powerful and fastest aid has always been invoked by the Church in time of emergency and unusual danger. He is the guardian of the souls and fighter against devil.
Saint Michael’s interceding for all creation, helped and protected the people of Israel in the Old Testament. As such the Holy Angel Michael revealed himself to Joshua in the wilderness of Jericho. “And behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” (Joshua 5:13-14)
Saint Michael was the angel who led the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. “Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared,” Commemorating the Holy day, Ethiopian Church is dedicates it to “the Exodus of Israel from Egypt”, through the help of the Archangel Michael as stated in Exodus, “And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them.” (Exodus 23:20)
The Exodus for the Israelites which were delivered from repression of slavery by the Lord God miraculously guiding by the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night during their exodus from Egyptian bondage. This allowed them to travel by day and by night as God gave them the pillar of cloud by day to lead them in the way He wanted them to go and the pillar of fire by night to give light. (Exodus 13:21–22)
Israelites were then delivered from repression of slavery by the Lord God and therefore belong to him through the covenant as stated in Deuteronomy; “The one who brought you up from the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage”. It tells of the slavery of the Israelites in Egypt following the death of Joseph, their departure under the leadership of Moses, the revelations at Sinai, and their wanderings in the wilderness up to the borders of the Promised Land, Canaan. (Deuteronomy 26:5-9)
The Exodus from Egypt was truly a landmark event in Old Testament history. It taught us much about God and his interest in humanity. As the Exodus in Old Testament was to Israel, the death and resurrection of Christ was to Christians of the New Testament. The significance of this event becomes more vivid when one compares it with a New Testament commentary regarding the incident.
Saint Paul observes that the Hebrews “Brethren … all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (Exodus 13:21-22)
For us living in this generation and be recognized as Israelis, we need Saint Michael’s intercession who stands before God, for he will help those who are enslaved to sin, living in misery and suffering. We shall pray in his name for God’s mercy, to give us love, harmony instead strife and war, and set peace amongst us.
May the intercession of the Archangel Saint Michael be with us; Amen.