#Feasts of #Hedar_12
✞✞✞On this day we commemorate Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Joshua the Prophet, Saints Dorotheus and Theobesta, Saint Bahran the Priest and Emperor Baeda Maryam I✞✞✞
✞✞✞In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen!✞✞✞
✞✞✞ Saint Michael the Archangel✞✞✞
=>Saint Michael was appointed over the order of angels called Powers that are found in the Realm of Eyor (The 3rd Heaven - Shehaqim) at first. Then, when Satan defected, he was elevated by the Will of God, and for his humility and empathy, and appointed over all the 99 Hosts of Angels.
✞From creation, after our Lady, there is none that is as honorable and kindhearted as St. Michael. He is an angel known for his intercession and aid. Manuscripts call him as “God’s council”, and as “whose name means compassionate”. And that is because he is an angel without resentment that hastens for aid and is kind.
✞And because he was a grace to all the saints of the Old Testament, aided and saved them as well, he was called “Megabi Beluy”/ “The Steward of the Old [Testament]”. He has also led and nourished Israel for 40 years in the desert. And Holy Scripture articulates much about him. (Gen.48:16, Josh. 5:13, Judg. 13:17, Dan.10:21/12:1, Ps.33 (34):7, Rev.12:7)
✞[In addition to that] the compassionate angel has a unique love for our Lady which is delighting. And from her mother’s womb up to now he is with her. He joyously obeys her. And when he wants to intercede, he says to her, “My Lady! Go before me!” Thus, they enter the fiery curtains together and bring down mercy together with blessing to the world.
✞✞✞Saint Joshua the Prophet✞✞✞
=>Again on this day, the Church teaches that St. Michael aided Joshua [in his battle]. And if asked how that came to be, it was as follows.
✞As it is written in the Book of Joshua chapter 5, the Holy Angel appeared to Joshua. When the Arch-prophet St. Moses who led Israel through the desert departed, there was great sorrow and shock.
✞However, God raised Joshua and comforted them. St. Michael, who led Israel for 40 years - covering them with clouds, bringing down manna, stretching his wings over them and defending them from their adversaries with Moses, also to be with Joshua, he came down from heaven.
✞Around Jericho, he was seen to Joshua in majesty with his sword drown. Then, Joshua went near him and asked, “Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?” And St. Michael responded, “To help you as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come”.
✞And at that moment, the great prophet St. Joshua bowed down and prostrated before St. Michael the Archangel. Then, St. Michael added, “Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy.”
✞Thus, Joshua did what he was told. And that is why our Church says, “The angels deserve veneration (with prostration) and that one should not stand before the Saints with shoes on.” That ground, as the Archangel stood on it, became holy. Hence, today, where his church is built and his altar tablet/board is inscribed, the holy angel is, so one should enter with shoes removed and in readiness.
✞The Archangel St. Michael with Joshua abolished the enemies of Israel including Amalek. He has also destroyed the walls of Jericho. And he aided in the inheritance of the promised land. He has helped Joshua when he stopped the sun on its path at Gibeon and the moon in the deserts of Aijalon as well.
✞✞✞ Dorotheus and Theobesta/ Theopista✞✞✞
=>Since the Saints Dorotheus and Theobesta are devotees of St. Michael they are also commemorated on this day. As we find it written in the Homily about St. Michael and the Synaxarion, the two Saints lived within the boundaries of marriage, executing the commands and laws of God, being compassionate to the poor, and receiving the Holy Body and Honorable Blood.✞In particular they held the feasts of our Lord, our Lady and St. Michael without intermission. However, after a while, they struggled because all their wealth was exhausted.
