8 November is celebrated as the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. According to church legend, Archangel Michael commands the whole army of angels in the fight against the forces of darkness, and during the second coming of the Son of God, he will come down to Earth with the celestial forces.

• Saint Michael the Archangel - patron of the warriors of justice

In his Book of Revelation, John the Theologian describes the battle by Saint Michael the Archangel and his warriors against the seven-headed dragon, known also as Satan or the Devil. Orthodox iconography depicts Archangel Michael with a spear in one hand, trampling upon the devil whom the archangels have banished down to earth.

At the moment of baptism, every person is assigned their own guardian angel to accompany them throughout their lives and ward off trouble and bad influence. That is why believers pray to their celestial guardian to guide them towards good deeds and to protect them.  

People believe that when the last hour of our soul’s earthly journey comes, then Archangel Michael himself shall come down to separate the soul from the body, and that is why the day of Archangel Michael is connected with honouring the dead and the human soul.

The Bulgarian Orthodox church marks this day with festive divine liturgies.

Edited by Darina Grigorova
Translated and posted by Milena Daynova
Photos: pravoslavenhram.com, pravoslavie.bg, BTA