An icon of St Michael the Archangel in the Chora Church in Constantinople (Istanbul). The Eastern tradition of keeping St Michael’s day on November 8th comes from fifth-century Constantinople, where the Archangel was regarded as a patron of healing. The English tradition of keeping the Feast of St Michael and All Angels on September 29th is almost as ancient, dating back to sixth-century Rome, and is shared by the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Introduction
St Michael is the supreme general of all the angels of God, a figure attested in the Book of Daniel, the Epistle of Jude, and the Revelation of St John the Divine, as well as in Rabbinic literature. In the time of St Bede, as still today in the Eastern Churches, he was associated with healing and a safe passage to heaven.
“THE Michaelmas daisies,” says the old rhyme, “among dead weeds, Bloom for St Michael's valorous deeds.”*
The Archangel Michael’s valorous deeds are described in the Bible. St John tells us that there was war in heaven, and Michael and his angels fought against the devil and his angels, and cast them down.* One English legend says that the devil landed on a prickly bramble, which is why blackberries do not make good eating after Michaelmas, on September 29th.*
Michael also stood courteous but firm when Moses died, and the devil falsely claimed ownership. Christians should be like Michael, says St Jude, because he did not hurl insults even when contending with his arch-enemy.*
Mediaeval England took Michael as a patron of truth and justice, borrowing his name for the Michaelmas term of Universities and the Bar, and for one of the four traditional Quarter Days when rents were paid. However, long before this Michael was venerated not as an avenger, but as a healer.
The Aster amellus flowers until October; see a picture from the Hermitage of Braid in Edinburgh (Geograph Britain and Ireland website).
See Revelation 12:7-10.
The feast of St Michael is kept on November 8th ([getgregorian:11-8|F jS] NS) in the Eastern Churches; see The Defeat Of The Dark Side: Orthodox Church Celebrates Michaelmas (OrthoChristian). However, the Serbian Church keeps the feast on September 29th ([getgregorian:9-29|F jS] NS), as is traditional in Britain.
See Jude 9.
Précis
Michaelmas on September 29th is the feast of the Archangel Michael, depicted in the Bible as an angel who cast the devil from heaven, and as a model of courtesy in defiance. Since the Middle Ages, the Autumn term in education and the law has been the Michaelmas Term, but the most ancient role for Michael was as a healer. (60 / 60 words)
Michaelmas on September 29th is the feast of the Archangel Michael, depicted in the Bible as an angel who cast the devil from heaven, and as a model of courtesy in defiance. Since the Middle Ages, the Autumn term in education and the law has been the Michaelmas Term, but the most ancient role for Michael was as a healer.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: besides, despite, if, may, not, ought, since, whether.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
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