Early Christian views and devotions , Antiphonale Cisterciense'' (15th century), Abbey Bibliotheca,
Rein Abbey, AustriaFrom the second-century onward, evidence exists attesting early Christian identifications of Michael as identical with the Christ particularly in works concerned with or by non-
proto-orthodox groups such
Pseudo-Cyprian's
De Centesima,
Epiphanius's description of the
Ebionites and the sect of the
Elcasaites,
Tertullian's attack on
Valentinian Christology, and certain magical texts, especially the
Testament of Solomon. The
Shepherd of Hermas, possibly
Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 1152, the
Gospel of the Hebrews, the
pseudo-Clementine writings, and Epiphanius's
Panarion appear to share this view. Other second- and third-century texts show that identifying Christ with an angel was not uncommon at the time—these include the
Gospel of Thomas, the
Gospel of Nicodemus, the
Testament of Dan, and the
Epistle to Diognetus. These beliefs likely derived from similar pre-Christian Jewish beliefs, such as those found in the
Prayer of Joseph and the beliefs of the
Magarites. Epiphanius of Salamis ( – 403) in his Coptic-Arabic
Hexaemeron additionally referred to Michael as a replacement of
Satan. Accordingly, after Satan fell, Michael was appointed to the function Satan served when he was still one of the noble angels. Byzantine tradition attributed two Bosporus-shore sanctuaries of the Archangel Michael to
Constantine. The first at Hestia/Anaplous—plausibly in the area of modern
Arnavutköy, about 35 stadia by sea and over 70 by land from
Constantinople. The second at Sosthenion, commonly identified with modern
İstinye.
Sozomen is the earliest witness for the Hestia site, while
John Malalas places a Michaelion at Sosthenion and embeds it in a foundation legend that repurposes a pre-existing pagan shrine tied to the
Argonauts. Later sources often use "Anaplous" for the wider western Bosporus shore, which helps explain why Hestia/Anaplous and Sosthenion are sometimes conflated in the literature. He was
syncretically identified with the attributes of the god
Attis in Phrygia and thus associated with pre-Christian healing springs in
Phrygia, his main cult site was in
Chonae. A painting of the Archangel slaying a serpent became a major art piece at the
Michaelion after Constantine defeated
Licinius near there in 324. This contributed to the standard
iconography that developed of the Archangel Michael as a
warrior saint slaying a dragon. The Michaelion was a magnificent church and in time became a model for hundreds of other churches in
Eastern Christianity; these spread devotions to the Archangel. In the fourth century,
Saint Basil the Great's homily (
De Angelis) placed Saint Michael over all the angels. He was called "Archangel" because he heralds other angels, the title Ἀρχαγγέλος (
archangelos) applied to him in
Jude 1:9. Into the sixth century, the view of Michael as a healer continued in
Rome; after a plague, the sick slept at night in the church of ''
Castel Sant'Angelo'' (dedicated to him for saving Rome), waiting for his manifestation. In the sixth century, the growth of devotions to Michael in the
Western Church was expressed by the feasts dedicated to him, as recorded in the
Leonine Sacramentary. The seventh-century
Gelasian Sacramentary included the feast
"S. Michaelis Archangeli", as did the eighth-century
Gregorian Sacramentary. Some of these documents refer to a
Basilica Archangeli (no longer extant) on
via Salaria in Rome.
Catholicism '', by
Jacopo Vignali, 17th century
Catholics often refer to Michael as “Holy Michael, the Archangel” or “Saint Michael”. He is generally referred to in Christian
litanies as “Saint Michael”, as in the
Litany of the Saints. In the shortened version said at the
Easter Vigil, he alone of the angels and archangels is mentioned by name, omitting Saints
Gabriel and
Raphael. In
Roman Catholic teachings, Saint Michael has four main roles or offices. He is viewed as the angelic model for the virtues of the “spiritual warrior”, his conflict with evil taken as “the battle within”. The second and third roles of Michael in Catholic teachings deal with death. In his second role, he is the angel of death,
carrying the souls of Christians to Heaven. Catholic prayers often refer to this role of Michael. In his third role, he weighs souls on his perfectly balanced scales, a common object he holds in art. In his fourth role, Saint Michael, the special patron of the Chosen People in the Old Testament, is also Guardian of the Church. Saint Michael was revered by the
military orders of knights during the
Middle Ages. Moreover, doubtless for the same motive he was considered the patron saint of a number of cities and countries. Catholic tradition includes also elements such as the
Prayer to Saint Michael, which specifically asks the saint to “defend” the faithful from evil. The
Chaplet of Saint Michael consists of nine salutations, one for each choir of angels.
Saint Michael the Archangel prayer Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy The
Eastern Orthodox accord Michael the title
Archistrategos, or “Supreme Commander of the Heavenly Hosts”. The Eastern Orthodox pray to their
guardian angels and above all, to Michael and Gabriel. The Eastern Orthodox have always had strong devotions to angels. In contemporary times, they are referred to by the term of “Bodiless Powers”. Archangel Michael is mentioned in a number of Eastern Orthodox hymns and prayer, and his icons are widely used within Eastern Orthodox churches. In many Eastern Orthodox
icons, Christ is accompanied by a number of angels, Michael being a predominant figure among them. In Ukraine, the Archangel Michael is the patron saint of the capital city, Kyiv. He became popular since the time of
Prince Vsevolod of Kievan Rus'. While in the
Serbian Orthodox Church Saint Sava has a special role as the establisher of its autocephaly and the largest Belgrade church is devoted to him, the capital
Belgrade's Orthodox
cathedral, the
see church of the patriarch, is devoted to Archangel Michael (in Serbian:
Арханђел Михаило /
Arhanđel Mihailo). The place of Michael in the
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria is as a
saintly intercessor. He is the one who presents to God the prayers of the just, who accompanies the souls of the dead to heaven, who defeats the devil. He is celebrated liturgically on the 12th of each
Coptic month. In
Alexandria, a church was dedicated to him in the early fourth century on the 12th of the month of
Paoni. The 12th of the month of
Hathor is the celebration of Michael's appointment in heaven, where Michael became the chief of the angels.
Protestantism United States; memorial to the dead of the First World War Protestants recognize Michael as an archangel. The
Anglican and
Methodist traditions recognize four archangels: Michael,
Raphael,
Gabriel, and
Uriel. The controversial Anglican bishop
Robert Clayton (d. 1758) proposed that Michael was the
Logos and Gabriel the
Holy Spirit. Controversy over Clayton's views led the government to order his prosecution, but he died before his scheduled examination. The
Lutheran Churches of
St. Michael's Church, Hamburg and
St. Michael's Church, Hildesheim are named for Michael. In
Bach's time, the annual feast of Michael and All the Angels on 29 September was regularly celebrated with a festive service in Lutheran churches, for which Bach composed several cantatas, for example the
chorale cantata Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir, BWV 130 in 1724,
Es erhub sich ein Streit, BWV 19, in 1726 and
Man singet mit Freuden vom Sieg, BWV 149, in 1728 or 1729. Like the aforementioned early Christian groups, many Protestant theologians identify a relationship, (e.g.
typological or identical), between Michael and Christ in some or all Biblical mentions of the name including:
Martin Luther Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg,
Andrew Willet Herman Witsius W. L. Alexander, Jacobus Ode,
Campegius Vitringa,
Philip Melanchthon,
Hugh Broughton,
Franciscus Junius,
Hävernick Amandus Polanus,
Johannes Oecolampadius,
Samuel Horsely, William Kincaid
John Calvin Isaac Watts,
John Brown, and James Wood.
Charles Spurgeon once stated that Jesus is "the true Michael" and "the only Archangel".
John Gill comments on Jude 9, "'Yet Michael the archangel ...' By whom is meant, not a created angel, but an eternal one, the Lord Jesus Christ ..."
Seventh-day Adventists Seventh-day Adventists believe that "Michael" is but one of the many titles applied to the pre-existent Christ, or Son of God. According to Adventists, such a view does not in any way conflict with the belief in the full deity and eternal preexistence of Jesus Christ, nor does it in the least disparage his person and work. According to Adventist theology, Michael was considered the "eternal Word", and the one by whom all things were created. The Word was then born incarnate as Jesus. They believe that name "Michael" signifies "One Who Is Like God" and that as the "Archangel" or "chief or head of the angels" he led the angels and thus the statement in
Revelation 12:7–9 identifies/refers to Jesus as Michael.
Restorationism Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses believe Michael to be another name for
Jesus in heaven, in his pre-human and post-resurrection existence. They say the definite article at Jude 9—referring to "Michael the archangel"—identifies Michael as the only archangel. They consider Michael to be synonymous with Christ, described at 1 Thessalonians 4:16 as descending "with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet". They believe the prominent roles assigned to Michael at Daniel 12:1, Revelation 12:7, Revelation 19:14, and Revelation 16 are identical to Jesus' roles, being the one chosen to lead God's people and as the only one who "stands up", identifying the two as the same spirit being. Because they identify Michael with Jesus, he is therefore considered the first and greatest of all God's heavenly sons, God's chief messenger, who takes the lead in vindicating God's
sovereignty, sanctifying his name, fighting the wicked forces of Satan and protecting God's covenant people on earth. Jehovah's Witnesses also identify Michael with the "
Angel of the Lord" who led and protected the Israelites in the wilderness. Their earliest teachings stated that Archangel Michael was not to be worshipped.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Members of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that Michael is
Adam, the
Ancient of Days (Dan. 7), a prince, and the patriarch of the human family. They also hold that Michael assisted
Jehovah (the
pre-mortal form of
Jesus) in the creation of the world under the direction of
God the Father (
Elohim); under the direction of the Father, Michael also cast Satan out of heaven. ==Islam ==