The History of Saint Michael
Saint Paul's Episcopal Church of Lewiston
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The scriptural word " angel" (Greek: angelos) means, literally, a
messenger. Messengers from God can be visible or invisible, and may
assume human or non-human forms. Christians have always felt
themselves to be attended by healthful spirits - swift, powerful, and
enlightening. Those beneficent spirits are often depicted in Christian art
in human form, with wings to signify their swiftness and spacelessness,
with swords to signify their power, and with dazzling raiment to signify
their ability to enlighten. Unfortunately, this type of pictorial
representation has led many to dismiss angels as "just another mythical
beast, like the unicorn, the griffin, or the sphinx."
Of the many angels spoken of in the Bible, only four are called by name:
Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael. The Archangel Michael is the
powerful agent of God who wards off evil from God's people, and delivers
peace to them at the end of this life's mortal struggle.
"Michaelmas," as his feast is called in England, has long been one of
the popular celebrations of the Christian Year in may parts of the world.
messenger. Messengers from God can be visible or invisible, and may
assume human or non-human forms. Christians have always felt
themselves to be attended by healthful spirits - swift, powerful, and
enlightening. Those beneficent spirits are often depicted in Christian art
in human form, with wings to signify their swiftness and spacelessness,
with swords to signify their power, and with dazzling raiment to signify
their ability to enlighten. Unfortunately, this type of pictorial
representation has led many to dismiss angels as "just another mythical
beast, like the unicorn, the griffin, or the sphinx."
Of the many angels spoken of in the Bible, only four are called by name:
Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael. The Archangel Michael is the
powerful agent of God who wards off evil from God's people, and delivers
peace to them at the end of this life's mortal struggle.
"Michaelmas," as his feast is called in England, has long been one of
the popular celebrations of the Christian Year in may parts of the world.
Michael is the patron saint of countless churches, including Mont-Saint-Michel, the monastery fortress of the
coast of Normandy that figured so prominently in medieval English history, and Coventry cathedral,
England's most famous modern church building, rising from the ashes of the most devastating war of our
time.
coast of Normandy that figured so prominently in medieval English history, and Coventry cathedral,
England's most famous modern church building, rising from the ashes of the most devastating war of our
time.
1.O everlasting God, who hast ordained and constituted the ministries of angels and men in a wonderful
order: Mercifully grant that, as thy holy angels always serve and worship thee in heaven, so by thy
appointment they may help and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord,who liveth and reigned
with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2. Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in wonderful order the ministries of angels and
mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your
appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Psalm Lessons103
Genesis 28:10-17or 103:19-22
Revelation 12:7-12John 1:47-51
order: Mercifully grant that, as thy holy angels always serve and worship thee in heaven, so by thy
appointment they may help and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord,who liveth and reigned
with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2. Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in wonderful order the ministries of angels and
mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your
appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Psalm Lessons103
Genesis 28:10-17or 103:19-22
Revelation 12:7-12John 1:47-51