The Annual Feast of St. Michael and St. Lalibela
🕊️ Wishing you a peaceful annual feast of St. Michael and St. Lalibela! 🕊️
“He who flies from the ends of the earth to the ends of the earth; known as the Eagle of the Highest Heaven (Nesre Aryam), whose praise is as sweet as honey, the glorious and honored chief of the holy angels is St. Michael.”
The 12th of Sene (June 19th) is the day the angel of mercy and help, St. Michael, performed 5 (five) great miracles and mysteries; it is also a great memorial feast of saints.
🌟 The 5 Wondrous Deeds of St. Michael Performed on This Day
- His Feast of Appointment (Ba’ale Simet): This is the day he was appointed by the will of God as the Chief (Archangel) over all the 99 tribes of angels. He replaced Satanael, who fell from grace after desiring divinity, taking his place as the commander of the heavenly hosts.
- The Salvation of St. Afomia (Euphemia): The day he saved St. Afomia, the wife of Asteranikos (Aristarchus), from the deceit of Satan. This day also marks her feast of repose.
- The Salvation of Bahran: The day he miraculously saved the child Bahran from the deceit and death plotted by a ruthless, wealthy man.
- The Consecration of Alexander’s Church: The day Patriarch Alexander of Egypt (who lived 312-326 AD) demolished the pagan temple of “Saturn,” built a church in its place, placed the Tabot (Ark) of St. Michael within it, and celebrated its consecration.
- The Rapture of St. Lalibela’s Soul to Heaven: The day he caught up the Ethiopian King, St. Lalibela, into heaven and showed him the architecture and mystery of the heavenly sanctuary.
⛪ Memorial of Other Saints
- King St. Lalibela: This day marks the repose of the righteous Ethiopian Emperor St. Lalibela, who built the rock-hewn churches after witnessing the heavenly mysteries.
- Abba Kyrillos (Cyril): The repose of the 67th Patriarch of Alexandria.
- Abba Yostos (Justus): The repose of the 6th Patriarch of Alexandria, who received Christian baptism and was ordained as a deacon and priest by the hands of St. Mark.
📖 What We Learn from Today’s History (About Bahran’s Father and the Rich Man)
“Do not neglect giving alms to the poor; and never cease celebrating the feast of St. Michael every month!”
This charge, left by the God-fearing father of Bahran to his wife, remains a great lesson for us today. Even though the wicked rich man, out of envy, placed the infant Bahran in a box and threw him into the sea, the intercession of St. Michael saved Bahran from death and made him a “gift of the sea.” The evil counsel of man is in vain before God!
May the angel St. Michael shield us with his wings and deliver us from the snares of the wicked and from all deceit. May the blessing and grace of the righteous King St. Lalibela be with us all!
Glory be to God.
