Archangel
Michael Temple
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Michael
(Hebrew, "who is like God?"), called Saint Michael in the Christian
churches, one of the seven archangels (see Archangel) in Judaism, Christianity,
and Islam, presumed to be leader of the angels (see Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1)
and guardian angel of Israel. According to the pseudepigraphic Book of
Enoch, Michael and his command of faithful troops defeated the rebellious
archangel Lucifer and his followers, casting them into Hell. In the Talmud,
his relationship to the other angels is compared with that on earth of
the high priest to Israel; thus, he is considered the immediate lawgiver
to the prophet Moses on Sinai (see Acts 7:38). Michael has been known as
the patron of the sick and of grocers, sailors, and soldiers; he is also
the patron saint of Germany. In art he appears holding scales or a banner
and flourishing a sword against a dragon. Beginning in 1970 Michael's feast
day was combined with that of the archangels Gabriel and Raphael on September
29. See Michaelmas. Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 97 Encyclopedia.
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