Saint Archangel Michael

published on 11/5/10 10:26 AM

Saint Archangel Michael

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Hello and welcome to this edition of Folk Studio on Radio Bulgaria! Today we offer you a feature on an important feast in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church calendar, the Day of the Holy Angels and Saint Michael the Archangel, the supreme commander of all bodiless powers against the dark and evil. The feast of Saint Archangel Michael is the second biggest autumn feast next to the Day of Saint Demetrius. Stay with us in the next twenty minutes to learn more about it!

Life in patriarchal Bulgarian society was tightly linked to the veneration of ancient deities who created the surrounding world. From birth till death, people had to follow certain customs and ethical laws that were handed down from generation to generation. They believed that the correct conduct in life would keep from evil and would make their families bigger and wealthier.

Bulgarian folklore has preserved traces of various cults practiced by ancient Bulgarians mostly in songs, although some symbols cannot be easily deciphered. Songs tell about three main groups of characters. The first includes the representation of the natural forces and is directly linked to the pagan period – the Sun, the Moon, dragons, fairies and other creatures. With the adoption of Christianity in Bulgaria, the pagan deities took on some Christian features but also kept some of their earlier functions. The third group includes characters of more humanlike qualities, and they often appear in folk songs and fairytales.

Archangel Michael or Rangel, as people in Bulgaria call him, is to some extent linked to either of the three groups.

One song tells about how the Mother of God planted three trees that bore golden apples. Archangel Michael had to guard the trees because the apples were believed to have healing powers. After they grew ripe, the apples had to be taken by their guard. This song shows another important function that Archangel Michael performed according to folk beliefs, and namely being a healer. This interpretation overlaps with another one, depicting him as an ancient pagan priest.

The most widespread belief is that Archangel Michael was one of seven brothers who were given the whole world by God, each being entrusted with an important task. Archangel Michael was in charge of the souls of the dead. In folk beliefs, he was described as being exceptionally just and fair, and everyone respected him because he treated both the rich and the poor equally. Fairytales also describe how Archangel Michael seduced the souls of people with a golden apple and then brought them out of the bodies of the dying persons with his sword. For this reason, people call the saint “the soul-taker”. The saint is in charge of guiding the souls of the dead to afterlife. And then, together with Saint Peter, they either take souls to eternal bliss or to eternal suffering. In traditional iconography, Archangel Michael is most often depicted with a spear in hand, tramping upon the devil lying under his feet. The saint is also depicted holding scales in his hands and weighing the sins of people.

Folk legends link the saint not only to death but also to life. In a fairytale, he killed the plague because it prevented the perpetuation of life on earth. Archangel Michael was also so merciful and pitiful that he could not stand the weeping and wailing of the bereaved, so God made him deaf.

On the Saturday preceding Saint Archangel’s Day, the Bulgarian Orthodox church marks one of the most important days of the dead in the year, called Rangelova Zadushnitza. A special bread is prepared that has the same symbolism as the ritual breads for remembrance of the dead. After the church service, everyone bearing the name Angel, Angelina, Michael, Gavrail, Radka, Rangel, Raicho, Raina, and others is happy to welcome numerous guests at home.

With this we wind up this edition of Folk Studio on Radio Bulgaria, bringing you today a feature on folk beliefs and customs related to the Day of Saint Archangel Michael the Archangel celebrated on November 8.
Thank you for listening and don’t forget to be with us next time!

Translated by: Rossitsa Petcova

По публикацията работи: Albena Bezovska

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Saint Archangel Michael

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