St Michael the Archangel ranks among the Seven Archangels and is one of the three angels mentioned by name in the Scriptures. The others are St Raphael and St Gabriel. The Archangel Michael is mentioned twice in the Old Testament and twice in the New Testament. The first reference to St Michael is in the Book of Daniel Chapter 10 where St Michael comes to comfort Daniel after he received a vision and promises to be his helper in all things. In Daniel Chapter 12 St Michael is called "the great prince who mounts guard over the people".

In these references St Michael is shown as the great supporter of Israel during the seventy years of the Babylonian captivity. Daniel, their wise and holy leader that he was, wanted his people to understand that God had not forgotten them, and that, even though they were no captives living in exile, they had a royal champion. In the New Testament (Jude verse 9) we are told about an argument between St Michael and the devil about the body of Moses. This is the only mention of this in the Bible.

In the Old Testament, the Jews saw St Michael as the special protector of Israel and for Christians he has become the great Protector of the Church. Christians ask that St Michael the Archangel should be 'our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil'. He is also referred to as the 'Captain of the Heavenly Host' because of what St John tells us about him in the Book of Revelation (Chapter 12 verses 7 to 9):

The story told in Chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation is the most dramatic reference to the Archangel St Michael as St John tells of the dramatic battle in Heaven in which the evil angels under Satan revolt against God, and how St Michael, leading the faithful angels, defeats the hosts of evil and drives them out of heaven.

St Michael has been depicted by many artists in his defeat of the Devil and the poet Milton in Book 6 of Paradise Lost also tells us about this famous battle. Because of this victory St Michael is revered in Christian tradition and liturgy as the Protector of the Church in the same way as he was once the protector of the Israelites. In the Eastern Church, and amongst many theologians in the West, St Michael is placed over all the angels as Prince of the Seraphim.

As well as being the Patron Saint of this Church Saint Michael the Archangel is also the special patron of the Sick, of Seafarers and of Ggrocers. In Asia Minor many curative springs were dedicated to him and his cult has also been popular in Egypt, Rome, France, and Germany. His emblems are a banner, a flaming sword and scales, as well as the dragon or serpent, representing the devil, but sometimes shown in human form. The name "Michael" means, in Hebrew, "Who is like God?"

A Prayer to St Michael

St Michael the Archangel,
defend us in our day of battle;
protect us against the deceit and wickedness of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray.
And thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God banish into hell
Satan and all of the evil spirits
who roam through the world seeking the ruin of souls.

The Feast Day of Ss Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels, is 29th September