Copyright © 2005 Jonathan Dee Michael is the leader of the angelic host, and is one of the angels named in Biblical accounts. He is known as Mikal to the followers of Mohammed and is one of the four supporters of God’s throne. His name means “Who is like God”, and he is considered to be the “Marshall of Paradise” and patron angel of police officers. He is also the only angel to be described as a saint. Even though there is some dispute as to which of the remaining three great Archangels governs the sun, the balance of the argument must weigh in Michael’s favor, since he is definitely the angel of Fire. His day therefore is Sunday and his direction to the South. Michael is said to have emerald wings and a coat of saffron hairs, each hair having a million faces and a million tongues, each tongue speaking a million languages, all of them begging God for mercy. The two million eyes on the faces also weep seventy thousand tears each for good measure. In Western art, Michael is usually shown in armor with a red cloak, holding a flaming sword or a spear to show his military character. Sometimes, Michael is shown holding scales to symbolize his role as the angel of judgement. Michael is said to be rather humorless, because he hasn’t laughed since the creation of hell. He is mainly concerned with the end of life and is thought by some to be the angel who will blow the last trump. He is also the angel of judgment, who weighs the souls to determine their fate. The song “Michael, row the boat ashore”, shows that it is this archangel who ferries the souls of the dead to their appointed place in paradise. As the defender of righteousness, it was Michael who cast Lucifer into the pit of Hell, and commanded God’s armies against the forces of darkness during the war in Heaven. Due to his martial might, Michael has the power to purify evil places. Michael is also one of the seventy Ethnarchs, guardian angels of nations or people. In his case, the nation being Israel. In Jewish folklore, he is said to be the only Ethnarch not to be corrupted by the morals of the people he was set to look after. The same cannot be said for the other sixty nine. Michael has no trouble following orders. He was the first of the celestial hierarchy to bow before Adam at God’s command. An instruction that Lucifer found too demeaning to be obeyed; the occurrence that started all the trouble. After Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, Michael took pity on the hapless pair and taught Adam how to farm, to support his growing family. On another occasion, Michael ferried Adam to Heaven to see the burning face of God, who told Adam that, one day, he would be forgiven. After this one and only visit, Michael made an impenetrable barrier around paradise to discourage casual visitors. | 
