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The name Michael means "like unto God" or "Who is like unto God?"
Michael first appears in the [[Old Testament]] in the book of Joshua's account of the fall of Jericho. Though Michael is not mentioned by name in the text, it is said that Joshua "looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand." When the still unaware Joshua asks which side of the fight the Archangel is on, Michael responds, "neither...but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come" (Joshua 5:13-14){{ref|1}}.
In the book of Daniel, Michael appears first to help the [[Archangel Gabriel]] defeat the Persians (10:13). In a later vision it is revealed to Daniel that "at that time [the end times] Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then..." (Ch. 12){{ref|1}}. Michael thus plays an important role as the protector of Israel and later of his chosen people, the [[Church]].
The [[Church Fathers]] also ascribe to Michael the following events: During the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt he went before them in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night; the power of the great Chief Commander of God was manifest in the annihilation of the 185 thousand soldiers of the Assyrian emperor Sennacherib (4/2 Kings 19:35); also in the smiting of the impious leader Heliodorus (2 Macc. 3: 24-26); and in the protection of the Three Holy Youths: Ananias, Azarias and Misail, thrown into the fiery furnace for their refusal to worship an idol (Dan 3:22-25). Through the will of God, the Chief Commander Michael transported the Prophet Habbakuk (December 2) from Judea to Babylon, to give food to Daniel in the lions' den (Dan. 14:33-37). The Archangel Michael disputed with the devil over the body of the holy Prophet Moses (Jude 1:9).
* [http://www.goarch.org/en/chapel/search.asp GOA:Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the other Bodiless Powers, The Miracle at Colossai] (again, search for Nov. 8 for the Synaxis and Sept. 6 for Colossae)
* [http://www.westsrbdio.org/prolog/prolog.htm Prologue from Ohrid]
*{{note|1}} Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
[[Category:Angels]]