The Feast of the Holy Archangels

Today, we celebrate the feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Archangels; it is our parish feast day. The word, “synaxis,” means, “congregation”; in other words, we celebrate all the angelic powers on this day, which traditionally exist in nine orders: the angels and the archangels, the Cherubim, Seraphim, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Powers, and Virtues. We don’t know what distinguishes one order from another; but all nine orders shine forth with the glory of God, and are the obedient servants of His will.

Everyone knows that the word “angel” means, “messenger.” The patriarch Abraham learned of the promise of the birth of a son from the three angels to whom he had extended the hospitality of his home. The law was given to Moses by the ministrations of angels, and the prophets often were informed by angels. The Archangel Michael was identified as the defender of the nation of Israel. It was the Archangel Gabriel who greeted the Theotokos, and told her of her part in God’s plan for the salvation of the world. The angels filled the heavens with song at the time of our Lord’s birth. An angel told Joseph not to abandon Mary. An angel would tell him to take the child and mother in his care to safety in Egypt, far from the raging of Herod; and later, to return from Egypt.

The Angelic Hosts are the highest order of created beings. They do not possess, by their nature, bodies – at least, not in the way that we have our being defined in part by our possession of a material form. Their nature, different from ours, enables them to behold God in a way that we cannot – at least, not in this life. The nature of angels is such that, if we are not careful, we may be fooled into thinking them to be gods, and worshipping them as such – which, unfortunately, many people are doing today. And yet, for all their powers, Scripture tells us that man is created but a little lower than the angels; and that we will one day be seated upon thrones in heaven, and the angels will yield their place in the circle around God to us. This may be what caused the highest and first of all the created beings, Lucifer, to rebel against God: for, in his pride, he could not bear to see how we, sinful, fallible, weak in body, mind, and will – especially compared with these abilities in the angels – could rise to have power and authority over him.

When Satan – Lucifer – fell from heaven, taking a great number of the angels, now demons, with him, it was the Archangel Michael who arose to become the leader of the heavenly host. The words he issued as a rallying cry for those who had not rebelled against God are words we hear in every Divine Liturgy: “Let us stand well, let us stand with fear, let us attend!” In response, the angels replied, singing the triumphal hymn, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord of Sabaoth: heaven and earth are full of Thy glory! Hosanna in the highest!”

Let’s be sure we grasp what this means. Think of the words of the Cherubic Hymn: Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim, and chant the thrice-holy hymn unto the life-creating Trinity, now lay aside all earthly care, that we may receive the King of all, Who cometh invisibly upborne in triumph by the ranks of angels. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

We mystically represent the Cherubim, who are among the angels closest to God, and who see the fullness of the glory of God. With the angelic hosts, we sing, “Holy, holy, holy!” As we live faithfully the Orthodox way, we draw closer to God, as do the angels; indeed, the monastic way of life is often described as the angelic way. It is a great gift of the mercy and love of God for us that we, who are sinful, impure, fallible, weak, and double-minded are allowed to be His servants, as are the angels. It is a great gift of the mercy and love of God for us that our Lord Jesus Christ became Incarnate – for He identified Himself completely with us by sharing fully in our human nature. He did not do this for the angels!

Brothers and sisters: Today we celebrate the feast of the Synaxis of the Bodiless heavenly powers. Let us mark our celebration above all by remembering how we are privileged to gather here, in the presence of God, to worship Him with the angelic powers. Let us pursue the angelic way of life, by praying, and fasting, by giving alms and offerings, and by struggling against our sins and passions, replacing these with their opposing virtues. Let us honor and glorify the Holy Angels and Archangels by being messengers, in word and deed, and in the transformation of our very being, of the good news of our salvation in Jesus Christ to those in darkness in the world around us. To this end, we pray: Holy Archangels, pray to God for us!