In the Orthodox Christian calendar, November 8 has been written down as the Council of St. Archangel Michael (Arhangelovden). On this day the Orthodox Church honors the saint angels and in the first place St. Archangel Michael – the leader of the heavenly powers in their struggle against the spirits of darkness and evil.
The angels are God’s messengers – envoys and executors of His will. They are immaculate, immortal, intelligent, clean and bright spirits, and therefore in iconography they are depicted in snow-white robes and wings - a symbol of the speed with which they execute God's commandments. Angels are countless, but the names of the seven leading angels are known to the church. They take an active part in the salvation of humans. At Baptism, every Christian receives a guardian angel who guides and protects from misfortune the human soul entrusted to him.
According to the Holy Scriptures, Archangel Michael is the chief of the heavenly powers and a fighter against the spirits of darkness. In Orthodox icons St. Archangel Michael is depicted with a spear in his hand, treading the devil with his feet. He is considered the protector of warriors fighting for a just cause, as well as a defender of all Christians from the visible and invisible enemies, a helper in grief and protector of sleep.
In traditional Bulgarian folk beliefs Archangel Michael is a "soul-extractor". He is the angel who descends to the dying man and with a knife or sword pulls out his soul. Then the Archangel takes the human soul to the Hereafter, where, along with its companion St. Peter, it is taken to the Garden of Eden or to the boiling cauldron of hell, depending on whether the soul has been righteous or sinful. Bulgarians believed that if the dying man smiled, Archangel Michael had handed him a golden apple.
On the feast of St. Archangel Michael, votive offering to honor the saint is a must in many regions of Bulgaria. Women make and hand out special ritual loaves of bread. This bread is called Rangel’s Bread or God’s Bread. The oldest person in the household is then asked to break the loaf cross-like. Wine is poured over the bread and a blessing is recited: „St. Archangel, St. Nicholas and all saints, help us! We honor you, break a loaf and hope that rye will grow up to the ceiling!”
A solemn service in the church is held on Arhangelovden, after which visits of name day parties begin. In Bulgaria, Nov. 8 is a name day of everybody called Angel, Angelina, Angela, Archangel, Gabriel, Gavril, Emil, Emilia, Lina, Mila, Milan, Plamen, Plamena, Rada, Radi, Radka, Rangel, Rafael, Raya, Rusi, Seraphim and their derivatives.
Compiled by Elena Karkalanova
English Daniela Konstantinova
On the day of Holy Wednesday, one of the last events before the saving sufferings for humanity of the Son of God is remembered. In her sincere repentance, a sinner managed to enter the house where Christ was staying and, wishing to testify to her..
Holy Tuesday is a day for teachings and final moral instructions. On this day the priests and the Jews listen for the last time to the teaching words of the Son of God in the temple. There, Jesus Christ gives an example of how to give charity –..
Passion Week is the last week before Easter. It is also the most austere week of fasting at the end of the long Great Lent, which prepares the faithful for Christ's Resurrection. It begins after the Sunday on which Christians celebrate the Lord's entry..
Elena is the wife of Father Ivan Karageorgiev, a Bulgarian Orthodox priest based in Paris. She has lived in the French capital since 2010. Elena grew..
Clear