Cathedral of the Archangel Michael. The Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and other Celestial Bodies

This ancient holiday is especially dear to all Orthodox Christians who honor the saints. It contains many interesting stories and secrets. For example, it is believed that if you ask for forgiveness for all your sins and believe in it, there will necessarily be some guardian angel. He will protect you from trouble and help you find your way in life.

History of the holiday

In the era of the emergence of Christianity, a great many free interpretations of the Holy Letter arose. There were new cults, prophets and people following them . The first Orthodox churches were constantly split into several currents.

In order to tidy up all of God's foundations, separate the corresponding to Christian thought from mixed with the pagan beliefs of traditions, the Councils were established. This is the congress of the highest representatives of the church.

During each Council, important issues of religion and parishes were decided. In addition, appointed holidays, which were to be observed by the parishioners. Other festivities that people devised were not recognized as biblical.

During one of these Councils, Laodicea, the fate of one of the important holidays was solved.

Laodicea Cathedral

According to the researchers of the church, this happened in 360 of the Nativity of Christ. Its name comes from the place Laodikia, which is in Asia Minor, where they called the honorable ministers of the temples.

According to one version, this congress preceded the famous First Ecumenical Council, which for ever established the main rules of the Christian religion.

At the Laodicean Council, several significant decisions were made, which are still being honored and honored.

On it the churchmen decided that after the ceremony a person should be anointed. This means that the Holy Spirit condescends to him at the moment of Baptism. In addition, the ministers of the churches expressed their condemnations to those people who, instead of praying to the Son of God, were more honored by the angels, considering them the creators of everything that exists.

This belief was banned by the church, and the servants of the idea were proclaimed heretics and excommunicated from the parish. At that meeting, the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael was created.

Angels

In the Christian religion, angels are only messengers of God's will. They can only bring it to people, appearing to them in different forms or pushing them to the right and right decision.

Angels are either creatures or souls with superpowers. They do not have a certain gender. Each of them has wings.

According to the New Testament, the saints in heaven have a certain hierarchy of nine mills. For disobedience to the will of the elder, they can be exiled or folded up their wings, becoming fallen.

Angels are called to protect God and in case of need they can become an army for protection. In honor of each of them there are holidays of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Almost every world religion has angels. In Islam, for example, this is one of the central actors.

The leader of the army of God in Christianity is the Archangel Michael.

Celebration

Faithful Christians after the meeting of the first fathers-rectors in Laodicea were to celebrate on the ninth month, on the eighth day, a new event. They became the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and other Celestial Bodies of Immortality.

Modern people are surprised that the holiday is November, and celebrations are celebrated in the church for the ninth month. The thing is that according to the old chronology, it was the ninth month, counting from March.

Symbols

The Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and other Celestial Celestial Forces contains at once two references to the divine script, already in the dates of its celebration.

So, the ninth month is a direct indication of how many angelic hierarchies exist in Christianity.

The eighth day is a heavenly judgment. According to legend, during the apocalypse there will be a meeting of all the angels and spirits. According to the old calendar, the eighth day is equal to 21 according to the new calendar. Officially, November 21 is the Orthodox holiday of Michael and the angels.

Angelic ranks

• The seraphim are saints with six wings. They carry in themselves a fiery and unselfish love of God.
• Cherubim - with four wings, giving knowledge, wisdom and intelligence.
• Thrones are messengers who carry God on themselves. He, as if on a throne, is seated during the trial.
• Reigns are angels who must help with advice and guidance to monarchs and those in power.

• Forces - are responsible for the miracles that happen to those who are pleasing to God.
• The authorities - serve to tame the diabolical force.
• Archons - control the whole universe and elements.
• Archangels are teachers who protect people by giving them the knowledge they need. They are raised by the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael.
• Angels are the last in the list. Most often they contact people. Appear on the earth in order to push a person to the right action.

In the Revelations seven cherubs are mentioned, each of which, as an indication of the messenger, holds over the pipe.

Why did the church create a holiday

This holiday was established, first of all, not to honor the saints, but in order to distinguish between divine power and angelic power.

According to the church, angels are more like people, have human resemblances. According to the Old Testament, they could descend to earth and live with the living. From alliances with envoys Nephilim appeared - half-people, half-angels.

Seraphim, according to church beliefs, as well as people, pray to God, ask him for forgiveness and faithfully serve him. On the icon "Cathedral of the Archangel Michael" angels continue, kneeling down, to cry to their Creator.

The Legend of the Feast

According to the Holy Letter, God, before creating everything visible to the human eye, as well as the man himself, created another world. He inhabited him with ethereal beings, spirits, angels. This place is several times larger than the human.

So, Moses said that God created heaven and earth. The Church interprets this message as an indication of the heavenly world. They give two designations to Providence: as seen by man, and not a visible place, populated by souls.

In that world, angels live - the spirits without flesh. All of them were created by God. It is them that is represented by the icon "Cathedral of the Archangel Michael of God".

In order to help the unfortunate people, the descendants of Adam and Eve, once expelled from Paradise, a more ideal world, God sends the cherubim to the earth.

Archangels

• Archangel Michael became the leader of the army in heaven, ready to defend God's kingdom during the end of the world. The church believes that he, once defeated Satan, is preparing for another battle. And the evil spirit had to force all the icon painters in the world not to portray that terrible battle in which she lost to Mikhail and lay at his feet. In honor of the Archangel Michael, the Orthodox holiday is celebrated on November 21.
• Archangel Gabriel, whose name means "God's husband," is called to bear joyful news. He protects the chosen people. Gabriel is dedicated to different days of Orthodox holidays. So, he is honored both on March 26, and July 13, as was accepted under the old calendar style.
• Varahiel - he is "a blessing from God." This archangel is not found in the Bible, it can only be found in legends. Varahiel bestows righteous people for their faith in God. Often depicted with white roses on his chest, which he gives to people for their kindness.
• Salafiil - "prays to God." This archangel is not mentioned in the Bible, only in non-canonical writings. Salafil must admonish and instruct people through prayer. Even on icons he is depicted in a prayerful pose. The holidays of the Orthodox Church do not include the exact date of this archangel.
• Jehudiel - "God's praise." The name of the archangel exists in ancient traditions. In the images of Jehudiel, he holds a wreath of gold in his hand as a gift from God for those people who by their exemplary conduct have atoned for the original sin and became saints.
• Raphael - this archangel is called to help God. People should follow the example of a saint and also try to help the Lord with their actions.
• Uriel - the name of the archangel is translated as "God's fire." According to the tradition of the Orthodox Church, it was this saint who stood at the gate to Paradise, after the first people were expelled from him for their sins. This archangel enlightens the ignorant, gives them knowledge.
• Archangel Jeremiel - "God's height." He must be sent by the Almighty to those people who have lost hope or have begun to lead an unworthy life. The saint must guide to the high road that will lead them to Grace.

"Cathedral of Archangel Michael" - icon

Traditionally, the image depicts all the archangels, who should gather at a time when a decisive battle of good against evil will take place.

In the center of the icon is the archistratographer Mikhail himself. According to this image, one can understand that the host of angels, together with Michael, does not pretend to be a divine role. They willingly glorify the Lord God, and the entire Trinity is indivisible.

Icon-patron and Michael

According to Orthodox Christian tradition, every angel is someone's patron. Each icon can help those who pray to God and hope for a miracle.

This image began to be considered as the patron of chiefs, commanders-in-chief, and also military men. The icon was taken with them during the battle, they put in their rooms those who wanted to raise.

The most popular icon is from Novgorod. It was written at the end of the fifteenth century and is considered to be made according to the canon. Nevertheless, each church has its own icon, glorifying the Cathedral of Archangel Michael and his Heavenly Army - defenders of people, messengers of God's will.

Michael is the patron of many cities and countries. After the emergence of Christianity in Kiev, he built a huge for that time, unprecedented scale of the temple. Cathedrals in honor of the archangel stand in Nizhny Novgorod, Smolensk, Veliky Ustyug, Staritsa, Sviyazhsk.

In Moscow, the temple-burial vault on the main square, in the Kremlin, rises. This temple is dedicated to the saint. They celebrate the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael. The sermon at this time is read solemn.

On the icons of the saint is usually depicted standing over the defeated devil, holding in one hand a date branch as a token of victory and peace, and in another - a spear or sword. On his weapon, as a rule, painted a red cross.

The date branch also symbolizes the tree that grew in Paradise. He gave her to the Virgin Mary as a sign of his love and faithful service.