Home > Glossary > Michael Archangel

Michael Archangel

Who is Michael Archangel?

In Orthodoxy, Michael is known as Saint Michael the Archangel or Saint Michael the Taxiarch, and in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, he is known as Archangel Michael. The oldest known allusions of his name are in Jewish literature from the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, typically but not necessarily apocalyptic, in which he is described as the chief of the angels and archangels and as the guardian of Israel.

Second Temple Jewish writings

The Book of Enoch, a Jewish apocalypse from the third century BCE, contains the oldest surviving mention of Michael. He is listed as one of seven archangels (the others are Uriel, Raguel, Raphael, Sariel, Gabriel, and Remiel) who “stand ready and enter before the glory of the Lord,” according to the Book of Tobit, a slightly later book.

New Testament

Almost all Jewish traditions about Michael were adopted by Christianity. The seven Jewish archangels (or four, depending on the tradition, but always including Michael) were associated with the branches of the menorah, the sacred seven-branched lampstand in the Temple, as the seven spirits before God’s throne, as recorded in John 4:5. (“From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God” - ESV).

About Archangel Michael

name Archangel micheal
Venerated All Christian denominations which venerate saints,Judaism,Islam
Feast 8 November (Old Calendar Eastern Orthodox Churches), 8 November (Eastern Catholic Churches), 21 November (New Calendar Eastern Orthodox Churches), 29 September (“Michaelmas”), 8 May (Tridentine Calendar), 12th of each month in Coptic calendar (Coptic Churches),Many other local and historical feasts
Attributes Archangel; treading on a dragon; carrying a banner, scales, sword, and weighing souls
Patronage Protector of the Jewish people, Guardian of the Catholic Church, Vatican City


Angel Number 4
Angel Number 777
Angel Number 222
Angel Number 6
222 Angel number love
Angel Number 8
Angel Number 5
Angel Number 33
Angel Number 55
Angel Number 333
Angel Number 77
Angel number 999
6666 Angel Number
22 Angel Number
Angel Number 111
Angel Number 444
Angel Number 888
7777 Angel Number
Angel Number 555
Angel Number 66
4444 Angel Number
Angel Number 3
222 twin flame
Angel Number 2
Angel Number 88
Angel Number 44
Angel Number 9
3333 Angel Number
Angel Number 0
Angel Number 99
5555 Angel Number
Angel Number 666
Angel number 1
8888 Angel Number
Angel Number 7
555 Spiritually
Angel Number 2222
Angel Number 11