Today, the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Archangel Michael and all the other bodiless powers.  This feast day in the Orthodox Church dates back to the beginning of the 4th Century.

We have previously discussed the Archangel Michael, Archangel Gabrial, Archangel Uriel and Archangel Raphael and what their names mean in Hebrew.  But there are other archangels revealed in scripture.  According to the Orthodox Church in America’s link here, some others are:

Selaphiel: the prayer of God, impelling to prayer (3 Ezdras 5:16). He prays to God for mankind.
Jehudiel: the glorifying of God, encouraging exertion for the glory of the Lord and interceding for the reward of efforts.
Barachiel: distributor of the blessings of God for good deeds, entreats the mercy of God for people.
Jeremiel: the raising up to God (3 Ezdras 4:36)

Outside in nature, it is that time of year where the bright autumn colors in the leaves fade and die and fall from the trees.  Fall moves in with its cooler winds and rain and reminds us of the death in nature that must come with winter.

In the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar today is Saturday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time.  The second reading from the Office of Readings of the Divine Office, carries on this theme of death with a brief excerpt from a treatise on death as a blessing by St. Ambrose.  These words from St. Ambrose really spoke to me in prayer, and I hope they do to you as well:

The Lord allowed death to enter this world so that sin might come to an end.  But he gave us the resurrection of the dead so that our nature might not end once more in death; death was to bring guild to an end, and the resurrection was to enable our nature to continue forever… The word “death” must not trouble us; the blessings that come from a safe journey should bring us joy.  — St. Ambrose

The Archangel Michael and all the other bodiless powers that our Orthodox brothers and sisters venerate today are just those companions, whose ministry and guidance can help us know the blessings and joy of traveling safely in our spiritual journey here on earth.

The following prayer from Orthodox liturgy is a beautiful blessing to pray when we feel lost in our journey or the journey seems too insurmountable to bear:

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 to you:
“Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commanders of the powers on high!”

Archangel Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael, Selaphiel, Jehudiel, Barachiel, Jeremiel and all the bodiless powers, pray for us.

Originally Published November 8, 2014