The Archangel Michael is venerated in Christianity as the leader of the heavenly army and called the ‘chief commander’. He is depicted as a young man with wings and various paraphernalia: a scroll, a staff or a sphere-like mirror, which symbolises the gift of foresight.
The Old Russian icons present the Archangel Michael dressed in a suit of armor, traditional Jewish clothes of the early centuries - a chiton and a himation cape, or in the clothes of a member of the royal household since he is the warrior of the Heavenly King. In Ancient Rus, this image was used for murals in churches and for icons of the Deesis tier in the iconostasis (alter screen) - the name of the tier with the images of Christ the Almighty and those who turn to Him in prayer, the Theotokos and St. John the Baptist, as well as saints and angels.
The Synaxis (or Assembly) of the Archangel Michael is an Orthodox Christian feast in honour of all Heavenly Powers. There are nine Angelic Ranks. The closest to God are the six-winged Seraphim, four-winged tetramorph Cherubim and Thrones which are painted in the icons in the form of winged wheels with many eyes. The other Angelic Ranks are drawn with human-like bodies: they are Dominions, Powers, Authorities, Principalities, Archangels and Angels in the narrow sense.
The Old Russian icons present the Archangel Michael dressed in a suit of armor, traditional Jewish clothes of the early centuries - a chiton and a himation cape, or in the clothes of a member of the royal household since he is the warrior of the Heavenly King. In Ancient Rus, this image was used for murals in churches and for icons of the Deesis tier in the iconostasis (alter screen) - the name of the tier with the images of Christ the Almighty and those who turn to Him in prayer, the Theotokos and St. John the Baptist, as well as saints and angels.
The Synaxis (or Assembly) of the Archangel Michael is an Orthodox Christian feast in honour of all Heavenly Powers. There are nine Angelic Ranks. The closest to God are the six-winged Seraphim, four-winged tetramorph Cherubim and Thrones which are painted in the icons in the form of winged wheels with many eyes. The other Angelic Ranks are drawn with human-like bodies: they are Dominions, Powers, Authorities, Principalities, Archangels and Angels in the narrow sense.
