On November 8, Christians celebrate the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel, known as the leaders of the bands of angels, the guardians of people from birth to death and guides of souls on their way to heaven. Every year, on November 8, the Church honours the Council of Saints Michael and Gabriel and of all the heavenly Powers to the disembodied. So, on November 8, not only the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel are celebrated, but all the angelic hosts who have not separated from God. The archangels in the church calendar are the leaders of the hosts of angels, with wings and swords, as a symbol of victory, and are guides of souls on their way to heaven.
Who are the Archangels Michael and Gabriel
The archangel Gabriel was sent by God to the Virgin Mary to announce to her the great mystery of the incarnation of the Lord, and he also brought to the righteous Joachim and Anna the news of the birth of the Mother of God. In Romanian religious folklore, Archangel Michael is a more revered character compared to Archangel Gabriel. He sometimes carries the keys of heaven, is an ardent fighter against the devil, and watches over the sick, if they are destined to die, or at their feet, if they are destined to live.
We often meet him joining Saint Elijah, when he thunders and strikes or arranges the hail alone, with the cannon. He also keeps the plague under control, like Saint Haralambie. In the past, in Bukovina, Archangels were celebrated because „they are the guardians of people from birth to death, praying to God for their health.”
The archangels, in the popular vision, also attend the last judgment, they are patrons of the house, they burn the sins accumulated by the natural human passions and they purify, through fasting, the consciences.
Customs and traditions of Saints Michael and Gabriel
In the mountainous areas, where the Archangels were also celebrated as owners of sheep, the owners of these animals made a large cake of cornflour, called the „ram cake” (rams being rams separated from sheep), which was considered to be fertile. This cake is thrown in the morning of November 8 in the sheepfold. If the cake fell face up, it was an encouraging sign of joy among the shepherds, considering that in the spring all the sheep will have lambs. If the cake fell face down it was a big upset.
In the popular calendar, the council of Saints Michael and Gabriel is celebrated for three days, on November 8, 9 and 10. The first day is called the head of the Archangel, the second day the middle of the Archangel, and the third day the tail of the Archangel.
We know about Archangel Michael that he is the leader of the heavenly-angelic armies, and we know about Archangel Gabriel that he is the herald of the Virgin Mary who will give birth to the Savior of the world, the baby Jesus.
At the same time, an old custom says that on the feast of Saints Michael and Gabriel, candles are lit both for the living people and for those who passed to the saints without a candle or disappeared in dire circumstances.
Otherwise, on the day of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel, the great commemoration was made for all the dead in the family. The Day of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel is celebrated because they take people's souls when they die.
It is said that he who works on this day, by the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel, will be tormented in the hour of death until the death of the soul. November 8 is also the „Summer of the Archangels”, which lasts one day. In addition, between the Archangels and Christmas there must be between two and four serene and warm days that are popularly called „Winter Summer”.
On the Saturday before the holiday, feasts are held for the souls of the dead. Almsgiving offerings for the dead, on the eve or on the Day of the Archangels, are called „Estates of Archangels”.
The sourse:
Niciun comentariu:
Trimiteți un comentariu