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Michael the Archangel
Michael (Hebrew: מיכאל, Micha'el or Mîkhā’ēl; Greek: Μιχαήλ, Mikhaíl; Latin:
Michael or Míchaël; Arabic: ميخائيل, Mika'il) is the archangel mentioned in the
Book of Revelation 12:7; in the Old Testament Michael is mentioned by name in
the Persian context of the post-Exilic Book of Daniel. There Michael appears as
"one of the chief princes" (10:13) who in Daniel's vision comes to the angel
Gabriel's aid in his contest with the angel of Persia, and is also described
there as the advocate of Israel and "great prince who stands up for the children
of your (Daniel's) people" (10:21, 12:1). The Talmud tradition rendered his name
as meaning "who is like El (God)? (but literally "El's Likeness")" (compare the
late prophet Micah), but according to Rabbi Simeon ben Lakish (AD 230–270), all
the specific names for the angels were brought back by the Jews from Babylon,
and many modern commentators would agree. Michael is one of the principal angels
in Abrahamic tradition; his name was said to have been the war-cry of the angels
in the battle fought in heaven against Satan and his followers.
He is so major an angel in Jewish lore that he was honored as the patron angel
of the nations (out of seventy, or seventy-two according to other sources) who
did not fall from grace, his bias entirely understood since it favored God's
Chosen People.
Much of the late Midrash detail about Michael was transmitted to Christian
mythology through the Book of Enoch whence it was taken up and further
elaborated. In late medieval Christianity, Michael together with St George
became the patron of chivalry, and the patron of the first chivalric order of
France, the Order of Saint Michael of 1469. In the British honours system, a
chivalric order founded in 1818 is also named for these two saints, the Order of
St Michael and St George. St Michael is also considered in many Christian
circles as the patron saint of the warrior. Police officers and soldiers,
particularly paratroopers, regard him as their patron saint.
Catholics refer to him as St Michael the Archangel and also simply as St Michael
while Orthodox Christians refer to him as the Taxiarch Archangel Michael or
simply Archangel Michael.
St. Michael in Scripture
Seraphim Angels
Seraphiel
Metatron
Michael
Vehuel Uriel
Nathanael Jehoel
Chamuel
Lucifer Abaddon
Asmodeus Astaroth
Leviathan Samael
Semyazza
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Angels
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