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Angel Michael

There are three icons of angel Michael = Mantamados, Panomitis and Nenita. These icons are highly different and issue different interpretations to his role in God’s army. He is represented as the Chief Commander o the Heavenly hosts.

Angel Gabriel’s Icons

Commonly, He is depicted as an angel with wings holding a sword in one hand and carries a shield. He sometimes carries a date-tree branch, a spear or a white banner which has a scarlet cross. Another icon of angel Michael suggests him holing an orb in one hand and a staff in the other. He was also represented in some icons as someone who stands horizontally with his left arm held high, holding a small image of a babe. The body in horizontal stance represents a human bring at the time of his death. The image of the baby, on the other hand, represents the soul of the deceased. With this he was believed to by the angel who takes the souls of the dead. This icon signifies the Panormitis icon in Symi of Greece.

In Russia, he is known to be an angel wearing red. There are some instances that his image is found to be on top, trampling the body of the devil under his feet. This devil is sometimes depicted as a dragon. This came from the popular event in angel Michael’s fights. Angel Michael rigorously fought with Satan, his main opponent, in the battle for heaven. Michael was the main protector of Israel. It was said that the devil dragged angel Michael down as he was about to be defeated. Nonetheless, God rescued angel Michael.

The icon which the Orthodox Church solely approves of is the icon of Mantamados. This icon is commonly found in Mytilene, Lesvvos. It challenges the traditional structure of iconography. Angel Michael’s upper torso is represented by a tree dimensional image. This image is mixed with dirt and blood of martyrs. Angel Michael is really considered as a warrior. Angel Michael’s face is alive. His face’s expression was said to mirror the condition of a person’s health.
Many believers think that angel Michael is the angel who will definitely fight for their soul’s good. Angel Michael the Chief Commander of God; greatly in-charge of maintaining the quality of faith the people of the church gives. His Miraculous icons are in Symi Island, Greece (Panormitis) and on Lesvos Island, Greece (Mantamados).

Here are some hymns that most his followers continue to recite until this time.

Troparion (Tone 4)
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!"

Kontakion (Tone 2)

Commanders of God's armies and ministers of the divine glory,
Princes of the bodiless angels and guides of mankind,
Ask for what is good for us, and for great mercy,
Supreme commanders of the Bodiless Hosts.