This ancient holiday is particularly dear to all Orthodox Christians, venerated saints.It is fraught with many interesting stories and secrets.For example, it is believed that if you ask for forgiveness for all their sins and believe in it, always will be some guardian angel.It protects you from trouble and help you find your way in life.
history of the holiday
In the epoch of Christianity was conceived so many loose interpretations of sacred writings.There were new cult, the prophets and the following people.The first Orthodox Church is constantly splitting into several trends.
order to tidy up all of God's principles, to separate the mind from the corresponding Christianity mixed with pagan beliefs, traditions, councils have been established.This congress highest representatives of the Church.
During each Council resolved important questions of religion and parishes.In addition, the appointed feasts, which were to be met by parishioners.Other celebrations that people come up with, is not recognized Bible.
During one of these councils, Laodicea, was sealed the fate of one of the most important holidays in the period.
Council of Laodicea
According to researchers of the church, it happened in the year 360 after Christ.Its name comes from the place of Laodicea, located in Asia Minor, where the honorable ministers and called on churches.
According to one version, the congress was preceded by the First Ecumenical Council celebrated forever set the main rules of the Christian religion.
at Laodicea has adopted several significant decisions, which today honored and respected.
It churchmen decided that after the rite person to be anointed.This means that the Holy Spirit comes down to it at the moment of baptism.In addition, the ministers expressed their condemnation of the temples to the people who, instead of praying the Son of God, angels longer honored, considering their Creator of all that exists.
This belief was forbidden to the church and ministers ideas proclaimed heretics and excommunicated from the parish.At that meeting, and was created by the feast of the Archangel Michael Cathedral.
Angels
In the Christian religion angels are only messengers of God's will.They can only convey it to the people, as they in different kinds or pushing them to the right and proper decision.
Angels are living or showers with superpowers.They do not have a specific gender.Each of them has wings.
According to the New Testament, the saints in heaven, there is a certain hierarchy in the nine camps.Disobedience to the will of the senior they may be deported or fold their wings, standing fallen.
Angels of God are called to protect and, if needs may be for the protection of the army.In honor of each of them have their holidays of the Russian Orthodox Church.
virtually every world religion there are angels.In Islam, for example, is one of the central actors.
The leader of the Army of God in Christianity is considered to be the Archangel Michael.
Holiday
Faithful Christians, after the first meeting of the founding fathers of the abbots in Laodicea had to celebrate on the ninth month in the eighth of his day, a new event.They became the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and the other Heavenly Bodiless.
Modern people are surprised that the November holiday, and celebrate in the church decided on the ninth month.The fact is that the old chronology, he was the ninth month after March.
Symbols
Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and the other Heavenly Bodiless contains just two references to the Holy Scriptures, in the celebration of his own dates.
So, nine months - is a direct indication of how many angels there are hierarchies in Christianity.
eighth day - a heavenly court.According to legend, during the apocalypse happens meeting of all the angels and spirits.According to the old calendar, the eighth day is equivalent to 21 to the new calendar.Officially, November 21 - Orthodox celebration Michael and the angels.
Angelic ranks
- Seraphim - saints with six wings.They carry the flame and the selfless love of God.
- cherubim - with four wings, giving knowledge, wisdom, and intelligence.
- Thrones - messengers who bear God.It is as if on a throne, seated in court accomplishments.
- Dominions - Angels, who have advice and guidance to help the monarchy and those who are in power.
- Force - responsible for the miracles that happen to those who please God.
- authorities - are to tame the devil's power.
- Archons - govern the entire universe and the elements.
- Archangels - teachers who protect people, giving them the necessary knowledge for this.They exalt the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael.
- angels - last in the list.Most often in contact with people.There are on the ground in order to push the man to the right act.
mentioned in Revelation seven cherubs, each of which is an indication of the messenger, holding the pipe.Why
church created a holiday
This holiday was established, first of all, not to honor the saints, and to distinguish between the divine and angelic force.
According to church, angels are more like humans, have a human likeness.According to the Old Testament, they could come down to earth and live together with the living.From the union with the envoys appeared Nephilim - half people, poluangely.
Seraphim, according to church representations, as well as people pray to God, asking for forgiveness and truly serve him.The icon "Cathedral of the Archangel Michael" angels continue, kneeling, his appeal to the Creator.
Legend of holiday
According to the sacred writings, God, before you create all visible to the human eye, as well as the man himself, has created another world.He peopled his incorporeal creatures, spirits, angels.This place is several times larger than the human.
Thus, Moses said that God created the heavens and the earth.Church interprets this message as an indication of the celestial world.They are given two designations providence: as a visible person, and not a visible place, populated by souls.
In the world live angels - spirits without flesh.All of them were created by God.It shows their icon "Archangel Michael Cathedral."
In order to help the poor people, the descendants of Adam and Eve, once kicked out of Eden, a perfect world, God sent the cherubim to the ground.
- Archangels Archangel Michael was the leader of the army in heaven, ready to defend the kingdom of God during the end of the world.The church believes that he once defeated Satan, is preparing to yet another battle.And the evil spirits had to make all the painters in the world to depict the terrible battle in which she lost to Michael and lay at his feet.In honor of the Archangel Michael mark November 21 Orthodox holiday.
- Archangel Gabriel, whose name means "God's man", is designed to carry the joyful news.He guards the chosen people.Gabriel dedicated to various Orthodox holidays.So, his honor, and on March 26 and 13 July, as was the custom under the old calendar style.
- Barachiel - he's "a blessing from God."This angel is not found in the Bible, it can be found only in legends.Barachiel endows righteous people for their faith in God.Often depicted with white roses on his chest, which he gives to people for their kindness.
- Salathiel - "praying to God".This is not archangel mentioned in the Bible only in the non-canonical writings.Salathiel should warn and instruct people through prayer.Even the icons he is depicted in prayer.Holidays Orthodox Church do not include exactly the specified day of the archangel.
- Jehudiel - "praise God".Archangel there in ancient legends.The images Jegudiel he holds in his hand a wreath of gold as a gift from God for those people who by their exemplary behavior redeemed original sin and become saints.
- Raphael - the angel of God called to help.Users should follow the example of the saint and also try to help our actions to the Lord.
- Uriel - the archangel name translates as "God's fire."According to the tradition of the Orthodox Church, this is the saint stood up at the gates of Paradise, after he had been driven out of their sins first people.This angel enlighten the ignorant, it gives them knowledge.
- Jeremiel Archangel - "God's mountain".It should be sent by God to the people who have lost hope, or have begun to conduct unworthy of life.Holy should be directed to the high road that will lead them to Grace.
"Cathedral of the Archangel Michael" - the icon
Traditionally, the image shows all the archangels, which should come at a time when there will be a decisive battle of good versus evil.
In the center of the icon - himself Archangel Michael. In this imageyou can see that a host of angels with Michael does not claim to divine role. They willingly glorify the Lord God, and the whole Trinity is indivisible.
Icon patron Mikhail
According to the 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 was regarded as the patron saint of the chiefs, commanders and soldiers. The icon took with them during combat, put in their rooms, those who wanted to achieve greater.
The most popular icon from Novgorod. It was written in the late fifteenth century and is considered to be made on the canon.However, in every church has its own icon, celebrates the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael and the Heavenly Army - the defenders of the people, the messengers of God's will.
Michael is the patron saint of many cities and countries.Once in Kiev appeared to Christianity, he had built a huge at the time, unprecedented scale temple.Cathedrals in honor of the archangel are in Nizhny Novgorod, Smolensk, Veliky Ustyug, Staritsa, Sviyazhsk.
Moscow towering temple-tomb on the main square in the Kremlin.This temple is dedicated to the saint.They celebrate the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael.Preaching at this time to read a solemn.
The icons saint is usually depicted standing over the defeated devil, holding in one hand a date palm branch as a sign of victory and peace, and the other - a spear or sword.On his arms are usually painted red cross.The date
branch also symbolizes a tree that grew in Paradise.He gave her to the Virgin Mary as a sign of his love and faithful service.
