Mikhailov Day September 19, 2026: who is the Archangel Michael and why he is especially revered

Today, according to the national calendar, Mikhailov Day. The Orthodox Church remembers Archangel Michael, one of the most revered biblical characters.

Archangel Michael is considered the main warrior of the heavenly host, a defender of faith and a fighter against evil. His name translates as “who is like God.” In the Holy Scriptures he is called the “prince” and “leader of the host of the Lord”, and in the book of Revelation describes a heavenly war where Michael and his angels threw down the dragon.

In the church tradition, the archangel Michael is a protector against heresies and all evil, as well as the patron of the dead: he is credited with the role of a judge at the Last Judgment, summoning souls with a trumpet voice.

For the faithful of Michael, the day is an occasion to remember spiritual protection and that the fight against evil is not a metaphor, but part of the Christian understanding of the world.