{"id":6197,"date":"2022-06-17T08:24:44","date_gmt":"2022-06-17T08:24:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/?p=6197"},"modified":"2025-11-10T08:07:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T08:07:44","slug":"saint-michael","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/saint-michael\/","title":{"rendered":"Feast of Archangel Saint Michael"},"content":{"rendered":"

Feast of Archangel Saint Michael<\/strong><\/p>\n

The city of Alexandria had a great temple which Queen Cleopatra, the daughter of Ptolemy, King of Egypt, had built in the name of the star Zuhal (Venus) and they celebrated a festival in its honor on the twelfth day of the month of Sane (June). There was a great brass idol in that temple which was exceedingly awesome, and its name was Zuhal (Venus). They used to offer up many sacrifices on the day of the festival and continued to revel the that idol until the days of the Archiepiscopate of Archbishop Alexander, that is to say for three hundred years and more.<\/p>\n

When Abba Alexander was appointed Archbishop of Alexandria, the righteous Emperor Constantine reigned, and the True Christian Faith spread abroad. Abba Alexander wanted to smash that idol, but some worthless men of the city prevented him and they said to him, \u201cWe are in the habit of celebrating a festival in honor of this idol.\u00a0 Behold, fifteen archbishops have preceded thee (here), and they did not alter our custom.\u201d\u00a0 Abba Alexander rebuked them severely, and he explained the matter to them, and said, \u201cThis idol can do neither evil nor good, but those who celebrate the festivals of idols worship Satans.\u201d\u00a0 Abba Alexander also said to them, \u201cIf you will hearken to my advice, let me arrange this festival for you as it ought to have been in olden times. That is to say, let us smash this idol, [re]consecrate the temple, turn it into a Church in the name of the Saint Michael, the Archangel and we will arrange this festival in his honor. Let the altar be re-dedicated to God Most High; let the poor; the needy; the wretched, eat the oxen and sheep which the priests slay; and the Archangel Michael shall intercede on your behalf with our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n

The good counsel pleased them for they yielded to his wishes and they made the temple a Church in the name of the Archangel Michael. That temple became known as the \u201cChurch of Caesarea,\u201d and it continued to stand until the Muslims reigned in Egypt. Then they destroyed it.<\/p>\n

This\u00a0 feast\u00a0 started\u00a0 by\u00a0 order\u00a0 and\u00a0 all\u00a0 the\u00a0 people\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 districts\u00a0 (in\u00a0 Egypt) celebrated it in honor of the glorious Archangel Saint Michael to his honour above all the angels, to his greatness and the archangel performed many miracles among which is the following:-<\/p>\n

There was a certain man who feared God and who used to celebrate the commemoration of the glorious Archangel Michael on the twelfth day of each month, especially during the months of Hedar\/November and Sane (June).<\/p>\n

A cruel rich man also lived among his neighbors. He used to hate that God-fearing man when he celebrated the festival of the glorious Angel, and even laugh at him. \u00a0When the days of the God-fearing man had come to an end, and the time of his death, when he would rest from the labor of this fleeting world, drew nigh, he commanded his wife to be merciful, and to celebrate the commemoration of that Archangel Michael, especially the festivals which fell on the twelfth day of Hedar and on the twelfth day of Sane.\u00a0 Now at the time of the death of the God-fearing man, his wife was with child and after the man died she buried him. \u00a0At that time the woman was near her time to bring forth childbirth. Being in very great pain, she prayed, \u201cO Michael, Angel of God, have compassion upon me, and entreat God on my behalf so that He may deliver me from the tribulation in which I am on this day; for with you there is great grace with God.\u201d<\/p>\n

When she said these words, the house was filled with full of light, and forthwith she was relieved of her pains. So, she brought forth a child whose appearance was Godly.\u00a0 The Angel of God, \u00a0Archangel Michael came down from heaven, blessed the child and said, \u201cThus said God: This \u00a0child \u00a0shall \u00a0inherit \u00a0the \u00a0goods \u00a0of \u00a0the\u00a0 rich\u00a0 man\u00a0 who\u00a0 has\u00a0 no\u00a0 sympathy, \u00a0\u00a0all\u00a0 his possessions and all his lands.\u201d \u00a0At that moment the rich man was looking out from the window upon the house of the woman, and he heard the voice of Michael, the angel of God, saying, \u201cThis child shall inherit the money of the rich man.\u201d \u00a0Then great sorrow came upon him, and he sought for a pretext for killing the child; but God protected him through the intercession of the Archangel Michael.<\/p>\n

At the age of ten, his mother\u2019s finished her money, and the rich man, with small sympathy in him, found his opportunity against the woman. \u00a0He said to her, \u201cGive me your son, and let him minister to me. I will feed and clothe him. I will give you twenty dinars in gold.\u201d \u00a0When the woman heard these words from the rich man, she rejoiced on account of her poverty. The rich man gave her twenty dinars in gold and she gave him her son. Having taken him, the rich man rejoiced with a great joy and he said in his heart, \u201cBehold, what I have desired is fulfilled for me.\u201d\u00a0 Then he made a wooden box as long as the boy\u2019s height and he forced the boy into the box. He fastened the cover over him and carried the box to the river. He then cast it into the water. He also cast the key of the box into the river. \u00a0By the Will of God the box floated on the surface of the river until it came to the quay of a certain city, which was not far from the river.<\/p>\n

There was a certain shepherd who was watching and tending his flocks near the river. When he saw the box in the river, he dragged it out and carried it into his house. He was thinking by what means he would open the box.\u00a0\u00a0 As he was thinking, God put the thought into his heart that to go to the river; straightway he went and found a man catching fish. \u00a0The shepherd said to him, \u201cCast your net into the river in my name, and I will give you the price of the fish which shall be caught\u201d; The fisherman did as the shepherd told him. \u00a0A great fish came out from the net, and the shepherd gave him the price thereof; taking it he went to his house, and killed the fish to broil it, that he and his household might eat.\u00a0\u00a0 Having slit open the belly of the fish he found a key inside it, and he thought for himself, \u201cPerhaps this is the key of the box.\u201d \u00a0Having inserted the key into the keyhole of the box, the box opened quickly, and the shepherd marveled for he found inside it the boy whom the rich man wanted to kill.<\/p>\n

When he saw the boy he rejoiced with a great joy! He called him \u201cBahran\u201d because he found him in the river. The boy became as a son to him. \u00a0Now the distance of the city wherein the boy was born, from that wherein the shepherd lived, was a journey of ten days. \u00a0After many days the rich man in whom there was no sympathy wished to go and sojourn with the shepherd; when the sun was about to set, he said to the shepherd, \u201cPeradventure you have a place wherein we can lodge until to-morrow; if you have I will pay you your charge.\u201d\u00a0 The shepherd brought the rich man into his house, and he called the young man by his name of \u201cBahran.\u201d \u00a0When the rich man heard this name he asked the shepherd, saying, \u201cIs this your son?\u201d \u00a0The shepherd said to him, \u201cYes, I found this young man when he was a little boy in a box in the river. I took him and reared him as my son.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cruel rich man heard this and was shocked. He knew that the young man was the boy whom he had thrown into the river to kill. \u00a0On the morrow the rich man wished to depart, and he had devious plan. He then said to the shepherd, \u201cI want you to give me your son so that I may send him with a message to my house in the city, because I have forgotten something which is in my house; The payment of twenty dinars of gold which I should give to him I will give to you.\u201d \u00a0The shepherd rejoiced because of the gold he received. So, he called the young man and said to him, \u201cO my son Bahran, come that this honorable man may send you to his house on some business concerning his house; return home in peace.\u201d The young man said to him, \u201cWillingly, O my father, whatsoever you command me I will do.\u201d \u00a0Then straightway the rich man wrote a letter to his steward, saying, \u201cWhen you have read this letter kill the bearer of it, whose name is \u2018Bahran,\u2019 and cast his body into a pit.\u00a0 Let no one know about this until I come in peace.\u201d He wrote on the letter a certain sign which they had agreed upon, and which none but only the two of them knew. \u00a0He sealed the letter and gave it to Bahran. He also gave money needed for the journey and the young man departed.<\/p>\n

As he was journeying along the road, he was about half-way between the two cities; behold the Angel of God, Michael, the Archangel, came to him, riding upon a horse in the form of a soldier of the emperor; and he said to Bahran, \u201cWhat do you have with you?\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0He said to him, \u201cI have a letter with me from a rich man who was sent to a rich man\u2019 his house in the city.\u201d The Angel of God, the Glorious Saint Michael, said to him, \u201cShow me the letter,\u201d Bahran being afraid of him gave him the letter. \u00a0The Angel blew on the paper, and erased everything it. \u00a0Archangel Michael then wrote on the paper with his own hand saying, \u201cBehold, I the rich man have sent to you the bearer of this letter whose name is Bahran.\u00a0 As soon as you have read this letter marry him my daughter. \u00a0I have given him all the goods in my house and all my lands.\u00a0 Do not wait until I come back, for I shall tarry on my journey. \u00a0Let him do what he wishes in my house, for I have given him authority over all my goods and over my house. \u00a0Here is the sign which is between you and me, O my steward.\u201d\u00a0 The Angel of God Archangel Michael sealed the letter, gave it to Bahran and said to him, \u201cGo to the house of the rich man, and when youhave arrived at his house, give this letter to his steward. Do not tell him that I met you on the road and that I have changed the contents of this letter.\u201d \u00a0Bahran said to him, \u201cYes, my lord, everything which you have commanded me I will do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bahran went on until he arrived at that city, and enquired for the house of the rich man. He gave his letter to his steward. When the steward had read it, he understood the contents thereof; he recognized the private mark and he knew that it was true.\u00a0 Forthwith they made a great marriage-feast for Bahran and the daughter of the rich man. They made them get married in the Church, before the sanctuary of God and they had joyful time of marriage for forty days. \u00a0Towards the end of the marriage-feast, the rich man returned to his city. When he heard the sound of the song singing and rejoicings, he asked, saying, \u201cWhat is this sound which I hear?\u201d \u00a0Certain of the men said to him, \u201cYour letter came by the hand of a young man called Bahran, and as you did command that your daughter should be married to him, they gave her to that young man whose name is Bahran.\u00a0 Behold they have been rejoicing in the marriage-feast forty days and forty nights. They have given him all your money, house, menservants, handmaidens and \u00a0all \u00a0your \u00a0possessions, \u00a0according\u00a0 to\u00a0 what\u00a0 you did\u00a0 command\u00a0 in\u00a0 your letter.\u201d \u00a0When the rich man heard these words, he cried out at the top of his voice, fell down and died. Straightway Satans took his soul into the deepest Hades. \u00a0The young man inherited all his money even as God the Most High had commanded.<\/p>\n

Bahran celebrated the commemoration of\u00a0 the\u00a0 glorious\u00a0 Angel\u00a0 of\u00a0 God Archangel Michael, on the twelfth day of each month. He knew that it was he who had appeared to him breathing on the letter, erased what was written therein and wrote other message instead \u00a0After this he built a beautiful Church in the name of the glorious Angel Michael, the Archangel. He painted a picture of him in it in front\u00a0 of\u00a0 the sanctuary,\u00a0 and\u00a0 through\u00a0 this\u00a0 picture\u00a0 many\u00a0 signs\u00a0 and\u00a0 wonders\u00a0 were\u00a0 made manifest. The sick were healed. \u00a0Bahran was appointed priest of that Church, and he ministered therein until the day of his death. His mother and his son inherited everlasting life through the intercession of the glorious and Archangel, Saint Michael.<\/p>\n

On the day of the resurrection, this glorious Angel bowed before the throne of God, and said, \u201cI beg and entreat your compassion, O my God, I your servant and messenger, to make known to me all those who celebrate my commemoration upon earth, through your righteous promise, for you are merciful and compassionate.\u201d\u00a0 God answered and said to him, \u201cO Michael, chief of the faithful hosts of heaven, behold, I command you to lift up upon thy wing of fire as many men as you are able to carry upon it, three times.\u201d \u00a0When Saint Michael heard this, he rejoiced with happiness. He lifted up upon his wing three times as many as he could of the men who celebrated his commemoration upon earth and carry them through the river of fire. \u00a0There were thousands of thousands and tens of thousands of tens of thousands of souls in hell. No one could number them except God Himself. \u00a0Therefore, O beloved, it is meet that we should strive and should celebrate the commemoration of the glorious Archangel Michael, as well as our ability, even if it is only to give a cup of cold water in his name, as our Lord and Savior Jesus taught \u00a0in \u00a0His \u00a0Holy \u00a0Gospel.<\/p>\n

Let \u00a0us \u00a0ask \u00a0for \u00a0mercy \u00a0from\u00a0 God \u00a0through \u00a0the intercession of the Archangel Saint Michael, that He may deliver us from the net of Satan, the accursed and may put far away from us all pain (or, sickness) the plague, may increase the fruits of our lands in \u00a0His mercy, may forgive our sins, may give rest to the souls of the dead, may bring back in safety those of our fathers and brethren who are on a journey, may set peace in our midst, may strengthen us in the True Faith to our last breath.<\/p>\n

Source: The Ethiopian Synaxarium pages 565-569 <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This\u00a0 feast\u00a0 started\u00a0 by\u00a0 order\u00a0 and\u00a0 all\u00a0 the\u00a0 people\u00a0 of\u00a0 the\u00a0 districts\u00a0 (in\u00a0 Egypt) celebrated it in honor of the glorious Archangel Saint Michael to his honour above all the angels, to his greatness and the archangel performed many miracles….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6200,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,70],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6197","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feasts","category-holy-scriptures"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6197"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6197"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6197\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9183,"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6197\/revisions\/9183"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eotcmk.org\/e\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}