Michaelmas
- What
- Michaelmas
- When
- 9/29/2021
- Where
- Christian
Michael and All Angels, sometimes referred to as Michaelmas, is celebrated in Western churches on September 29th. Given St. Michael’s traditional position as leader of the heavenly armies, veneration of all angels was eventually incorporated into his feast day. In the Roman Catholic Church, Michaelmas is now more commonly celebrated as the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, the archangels; in the Anglican Church, its proper name is the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels.
Michael is revered as the leader of the angels and the one that remained faithful to God, casting out Lucifer at God’s command. His powerful aid has always been invoked by the Church in times of emergency.
The Anglican church celebrates all angels, both name and unnamed on one day. Roman and Orthodox Churches separate them into two categories (with the unnamed angels having their feast day on October 2nd). This celebration however, is the oldest of the ancient festivals for angels. From early on Michaelmas was an important holiday coinciding with the religious equivalence for the Autumn equinox. Holding consistent importance even today, marking the start of a new business year, a time for electing officials, making contracts, paying rent, hiring staff, holding court and starting school.