The Feast of the Archangel Michael, celebrated in the Catholic tradition on September 29, was considered mandatory in the Middle Ages, but gradually lost its solemn significance starting in the 18th century. Since ancient times, the veneration of Archangel Michael has been associated with faith in the triumph of good over evil.
In iconography, Michael was often depicted as a warrior-defender, the patron of God's people in their struggle for freedom. The Revelation of St. John the Theologian says: «And there was a war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought against them, but did not resist, and there was no longer a place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was overthrown, the ancient serpent, called the devil or Satan, deceiving the entire universe, was cast down to earth, and his angels were cast down with him» (Rev. 12:7-9).
The Church Fathers teach that it was Michael who was the cherub placed at the gates of paradise to guard the path to the tree of life, he also led the Israelites during the exodus from Egypt, through him God bestowed the Ten Commandments in Sinai, he stood in the way of Balaam and defeated the army of the Assyrian king Sennacherib. Other important biblical episodes are also associated with Archangel Michael.
In the Old Testament, Archangel Michael acts mainly as the military patron of the chosen people. It is he who is the herald of victories over the troops of the pagans. It would seem that the military function of St. Michael should have passed into the Christian tradition. However, this did not happen. Not because ancient Christians did not have patron saints of the — army, of course, they did, but this role was played mainly by martyrs.
Christian warriors turned to Saints George, Theodore, Dimetrius and others for intercession. They prayed to Saint Michael for his health. This is probably due to the fact that Archangel Michael was perceived as the winner of evil spirits, which were considered the source of disease. In Phrygia (in ancient times a country of central Asia Minor), where the veneration of St. Michael mainly took shape, his importance as a healing angel also eclipsed the military image.
In many places in Asia Minor there are healing springs dedicated to St. Michael. The most famous spring is in the town of Herotope, not far from the Colossus, according to legend, created by the Archangel himself, where every weak person, having swam and cried to the Most Holy Trinity and St. Michael, received healing.
St. Michael is revered as his heavenly intercessor by the sick, dying, as well as doctors and «ambulance drivers». He is also the patron saint of sailors, military, police and, of course, knights of the Church.
In Ireland in the Middle Ages, the authority of the Archangel Michael was not inferior to the authority of the Mother of God: an appeal to Michael was regularly combined with an appeal to the Virgin Mary, and could even come first: «St. Michael, pray for us, St. Mary, pray for us...». This role of Saint Michael, as a mediator between God and man, is reflected in some depictions of the Last Judgment, where the Archangel Michael weighs the souls of the dead on the scales of justice.