Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers
Categories: orthodox-life
Date: 07 November 2004 09:00:46
Kontakion: [and the Troparion of our parish, Sts Michael and Gabriel]
O Commanders of the heavenly hosts, we who are unworthy beseech you:
By your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory,
And faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry out to you:
Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commanders of the powers on high!
Troparion:
O Commanders of God's armies and ministers of the divine glory,
Princes of the bodiless angels and guides of men;
Ask for what is good for us, and for great mercy,
O Supreme commanders of the bodiless hosts.
We celebrated the Feast of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel and All The Other Bodiless Powers today at church. A special day, as Sts Michael and Gabriel are our patron saints. You can read about the Heavenly Hosts on this page.
After Divine Liturgy [where I learnt, among many other things, why St John the Baptist has wings in an icon we have -- it symbolies a messenger, as it does on the iconic depictions of angels] we had a special Feast Day lunch and programme. Great thanks need to go to all the members of our parish who helped organise the afternoon: it was fantastic.
The catered lunch included some of the food you can view under the Menu option here (YUM!), and plenty of desserts -- homemade and catered -- including a huge chocolate cake with the icing sugar text "Happy Feast Day Sts Michael and Gabriel". It is now 19.55 and I am still stuffed! Apart from the food we had a trivia section [our table came fourth...not too bad considering two of the other tables had clergy present on them!]; a talk by our priest on the role of Angels and their history in Jewish and Christian faith; a light-hearted "interrogation" of some kids whom we got to know better [but who preferred to slide on their behinds on the stage and only answer when chocolate was presented! ;-]; and some wonderful singing by our choir of the above Kontakion, a new melody for the hymn to the Theotokos:
It is truly right to bless you, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and the mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, without defilement you gave birth to God the Word: True Theotokos, we magnify you!;and a wondrous Bulgarian chant of "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us!" that brought a tear to my eye. Our priest's family also chanted the Lord's Prayer. Beautiful.
Happy Feast Day!