Feast of the Honored Archangel Saint Michael
The most honorable, He who has defeated Satan in the heavens and whilst the devils appearance as a dragon, as it is written in the book of Revelation: “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon.”(Revelation 12: 7-9), He who is the head of the hosts of heaven, who stands at all times before the great throne of God, interceding on behalf of the human race, Archangel Saint Michael’s day is celebrated on Sene 12.
Saint Michael’s name means “who is like God.” He is in a general manner, the commander of the Angels. Our Holy Church asks for his intercession in every mass, in the hymns, prayers and songs. His feast is monthly celebrated on the twelfth of every Ethiopian month, Festivals of commemoration are held and alms offered in his name. Our Ethiopian Orthodox Tewhado Church celebrates two major feasts for Archangel Michael, namely on the 12th of Hedar and on the 12th of Sene.
Our Holy Church also commemorates Saint Michael’s miracles of which some books have in scripted about. On these feasts, people have ritual and habit of making “the bread of the angel” and distribute them to their families, friends, neighbors and loved ones in the remembrance of that a miracle (relatively to these bread) happened to a certain family by means of the Archangel Michael. They also feed on the poor
Archangel Saint Michael’s glory is revealed through the life within all the Saints and Martyrs. Their diligence, strength and endurance is by his support. It is said of him in the book of the Prophet Daniel: “Michael … the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people.” (Daniel 12:1) Moreover Archangel Michael’s greatness, we see his humility, stated in epistle of Jude: “Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said: ‘The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 9)
We commemorate the Archangel Saint Michael Sene 12 mainly because it is the day that the Archangel Saint Michael Saint Alexander destroyed a temple of idol, built a church on the site, put the Ark of Arch Angel Michael and celebrated the festival with great joy. It is also the day he saved Aphomia from the hand of Satan and the day that the death letter of Bahrain was changed to great honor by the miracle of Archangel Saint Michael
May his intercession be with us and Glory be to our God, forever, Amen!