By his own admission through various apparitions, as well as historical, theological, and scholarly documentation, Michael is a multi-faceted angelic character of innumerable roles. Multiple references define his name as meaning “like unto God” or “Who is like unto God?” Contemplation of this definition demands respect for the close association of Michael with God. To be “like unto God” intimates a similarity that goes beyond comparison and declares a commonality surpassing mortal comprehension. Humanity can only imagine the superhuman or supernatural qualities of a God-like being because of limited transcendental powers stifled by corporeal distractions.
Historical texts or late ancient hagiographies (see fig. 1) contain information regarding people, places and events relating to a specific period. The most reliable and factual accounts are penned by historians and scholars, but oftentimes information from eyewitness accounts or testimonies comprise a large portion of these texts.
Two late ancient hagiographies, one Greek the other Latin, state declared admissions of identity by Michael himself. The Greek hagiography tells the story of a hermit at a shrine in Anatolia. Having chosen a life of solitude in a holy place, this hermit intended the development of personal devoutness with great spiritual purpose. Perhaps then while in deep meditation, he chanced to witness a “pillar of bright flame searing upwards from earth into the heavens” (West 1) when the Archangel appeared, identifying himself as Michael the Arxistrategos. With this pointed declaration, Michael freely states his primary function as an angel of the Lord. His singular use of the word strategus, Greek for “leader of an ancient and especially an ancient Greek army” (merriam-webster.com), directly implies his role as sole leader of the army he represents. The pronouncement (made in Greece using a Greek title of reference to a humble hermit) serves to underscore his Archangel role as commander-in-chief of the heavenly host.
Centuries later, a Latin hagiography not only makes plain the close association of Michael with God, but also establishes an angelic identity with extraordinary powers akin to those from which it flows. Michael’s appearance during this instance occurred “to the west across the waters of the Mediterranean in Italy” (West 2), at which time he states, “Lo! I am Michael the Archangel, who stands always in sight of the Lord” and “I am the watcher and the guardian of this place and all things which are done here” (West 2). For one to stand always in the sight of another, places them within close proximity to the object being referenced. Thus, if Michael “stands always in the sight of the Lord” as he says, the Lord must stand always in the sight of Michael. In this instance, he also names himself “the watcher and guardian” which adds to Michael’s repertoire of designations. It must be noted that Watchers and Guardians are two separate and distinct orders or classes of angels. Therefore, Michael is imparting the knowledge he not only commands these two categories of angels as an Archangel himself, but as the Arxistrategos of an army comprised of various other classes of celestial beings.
WORKS CITED
“Strategus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strategus. Accessed 11 Jan. 2021.
West, Christopher, “St. Michael the Archangel in Late Antiquity” (2014). Undergraduate Honors Theses. Paper 737.
Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Dec. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagiography. Sulpicius Severus.