The Archangel Michael is one of the few angels named in the Bible. He is regarded as the leader of the heavenly hosts and is depicted with a sword and scales. His name means “Who is like God?”.
Who is the Archangel Michael?
Michael is not a human being who lived, but an angel. The Bible mentions him in the Book of Daniel (Daniel 10:13 and 12:1) as the guardian of God’s people, in the Epistle of Jude (verse 9) in the dispute over the body of Moses, and in Revelation (Revelation 12:7), where he fights the dragon with his angels.
Veneration began early in the East and spread to the West. Famous places of pilgrimage are Monte Gargano in Apulia and Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy. 29 September recalls the dedication of a church of St Michael in Rome.
Legend and tradition
The image of the victory over the dragon comes from the Revelation of John. It is symbolic language for the victory of good over evil and is understood in that way in art and devotion, not as an account of a historical battle.
Feast day
29 September is the joint feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Regional and denominational calendars may differ.
Patronage
- The whole Church
- Police officers and soldiers
- By tradition: the sick and the dying
“Patron” means that people ask the Archangel to intercede for them with God. No guarantee or promise of miracles is attached to it.
Attributes and depiction
Michael is shown in armour with a sword or lance, often with a shield, the devil or a dragon at his feet. The scales in his hand stand for the weighing of souls at the end of life.
A short prayer
St Michael the Archangel, stand by us in the struggle against everything that separates us from God. Be our protection in danger and give us courage to do good. Amen.
A simple prayer in our own words, to pray along.
Customs
Michaelmas on 29 September used to be a day for paying rent and leases and marked the end of the farming year. In many places there are Michaelmas markets, Michaelmas fairs and St Michael’s Masses.
As the Archangel is the patron of police officers and soldiers, some police associations celebrate Michaelmas. The name Michael is among the most popular first names, and the name day on 29 September is celebrated in many families.
Matching items at LUNEXUS
- St Michael the Archangel with scales – hand-carved wooden statue from South Tyrol
- St Michael the Archangel with the devil – hand-carved wooden statue from South Tyrol
- The Archangel Gabriel – hand-carved wooden statue from South Tyrol
- The Archangel Raphael as guardian angel – hand-carved statue from South Tyrol
The wooden statues from our woodcarving workshop are hand-carved in Val Gardena (South Tyrol) and come directly from the workshop: delivery time approx. 3–4 weeks, insured shipping to Germany and Austria only (€6.90). The statues are not blessed in our warehouse, and the 14-day statutory right of withdrawal applies to them.
More to choose from: angels and guardian angels as wooden statues and all patron saints. Parishes and groups will find an offer on request on the quantity discount page (does not apply to wooden statues from the woodcarving workshop).
Keep reading in the magazine: Guardian angels and archangels: the difference
Frequently asked questions
When is Michaelmas?
On 29 September. Since 1969 it has been kept as the joint feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.
Why does Michael have a sword and scales?
The sword stands for the fight against evil, the scales for the weighing of souls at the end of life.
Is Michael a guardian angel?
The guardian angel accompanies each person individually. Michael is an archangel with a special task and is venerated as protector of the whole Church.
Sources: Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon (Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints), the Martyrologium Romanum and the regional calendar for the German-speaking area. We flag legends as such; prayers are, unless stated otherwise, our own simple wording. Compiled by Denis & Belinda, as of October 2026.
