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Saint Michael the Archangel

Image - The gold Chernihiv zmiiovyk medallion (presumably belonging to Prince Volodymyr Monomakh) with the depiction of Archangel Michael. Image - Yov Kondzelevych: Icon of Archangels Michael and Gabriel from the Maniava Hermitage iconostasis (1698-1705).
Image - Alimpii Halyk: Icon of Archangel Michael in the Trinity Gate Church of the Kyivan Cave Monastery.

Saint Michael the Archangel (Архангел Михаїл; Arkhanhel Mykhail). The supreme angel in Christian belief. Ukrainians shared many of the Christian beliefs about Saint Michael, particularly about his leading role in the struggle against Satan—hence, the name Arkhystratyh Mykhail ‘the Supreme Commander Michael.’ He was believed to have taken thunder away from Satan and handed it over to Saint Elijah. Ukrainians adopted Saint Michael as the patron saint of hunters and the city of Kyiv.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 4 (1993).]


Image - Monument of Saint Michael the Archangel, patron of Kyiv. Image - Monument of Saint Michael the Archangel, patron of Kyiv. Image - Ivan Rutkovych: icon of Archangel Michael (ca. 1697-99). Image - Saint Michael the Archangel: fresco in the Saint Michael's Church, Kyiv. Image - Petro Kholodny: Icon of Archangel Michael from the iconostasis in the Holy Spirit Chapel of the Greek Catholic Theological Seminary in Lviv (1920s).

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