009 

Icon: Synaxis of Archangel Michael

Synaxis (assembly of archangel Michael an all other bodiless Powers.

The feast of the Archangel Michael and the other heavenly powers was instituted, to be celebrated in November 8. Why in November? Because November is the 9th Month after March, and it is thought that the world was created in the month of March. The 9th month after March was chosen because of the nine orders of Angels that were the first created beings. Saint Dionysius the Areopagite writes of these 9 Orders in his book: ‘Celestial Hierarchies’. These Orders are as follows: Six-winged Seraphim, many-eyed Cherubim, godly Thrones, Dominions, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels and Angels. The leader of the whole Angelic army is the Archangel Michael.

Link to translation of texts and description: https://russianicons.wordpress.com/2017/03/20/the-council-of-the-archangel-michael/