Archangel Michael

Oversimplified

• The chief of the angelic hosts — "who is like God?" — the great defender who casts down the dragon and champions God's people.
• With Gabriel, one of the two archangels named in canonical Scripture; leader of the bodiless powers.

Summary

The Archangel Michael (Hebrew Mika'el, "Who is like God?") is named in Daniel as "the great prince who has charge of your people" (Daniel 12.1), in Jude as contending with the devil (Jude 1.9), and in Revelation as leading the angels who cast down the dragon (Revelation 12.7-9). Orthodox tradition honors him as the Archistrategos, commander of the heavenly hosts.

The bodiless powers

Michael heads the nine ranks of angels who worship God and serve His providence; the Church keeps a feast of the Synaxis of the Archangels.[^1] He is invoked as protector against evil, an icon of the creature whose whole being answers his own name — "Who is like God?" See Angels, Demons, The Divine Council.

[^1]: Orthodox tradition honors Michael as the Archistrategos, commander of the heavenly hosts, in the hymnography of the Bodiless Powers and the feast of the Synaxis of the Archangels.