It's been a busy week, as they all seem to be lately. I have a week before Adrian's First Holy Communion, the schooling of 5 kids, and the dreaded Changing of the Seasonal Wardrobe to deal with. My great urge is to hole up in the bedroom with my Kindle and my knitting and not come out for anything!
Today is the Feast of the Holy Archangels. When I was looking for images for this post, I came across so many that I found just plain wrong. Although the angels are spirits, and therefore in their true form lack gender, I dislike images of female angels. Why, it the Bible, do they always choose to appear as males? Maybe it is because of their nature. They do not seem, when they make an appearance, to be soft, nurturing beings with those attributes we connect most frequently with females. They are powerful, they are protectors, and they are clearly quite awesome, as they usually have to tell those to whom they appear to not be afraid. I wouldn't want to dishonor them with insipid depictions.
Take a few moments to honor them, these generals in the Army of God who are assigned to aid us poor, weak human beings and keep evil at bay. Below is a hymn that comes from the Orthodox Christian tradition.
HYMN OF PRAISE
The Holy Archangel Michael and all the Bodiless Powers of Heaven
Heavenly Commanders,
Who watch over us with great care,
Cover us with your wings,
And shield us with your power.
Armed with the power of God,
Crowned by His glory,
You wield flaming swords,
To cut the demons down.
Swift, swift as rays of light
You soar on the clouds-
The clouds of the air-
Where you do battle for God.
Without fatigue and without sleep
You hover ceaselessly
Over men and created things,
And over countless worlds.
Behold, yours are mighty armies,
Legions virtuous,
And gentle battalions of angels:
And, according to the Creator, our brothers.
Commanders of the might of heaven,
Lead us where we need to go-
To the throne of the Most High
Who created us from nothing.
From the Prologue of Ochrid
November 8
by St Nikolai Velimirovich
Blessed feast day to all of you! I do love the pictures you chose. I also despise insipid depictions, which is often how the world portrays them. Father mentioned this morning about how the angels came and ministered to Our Lord after He was tempted by the devil, and He was tired and hungry from fasting. So they can have a nurturing side, but it's definitely not fluffy. (and just to show you how geeky I am, I confess that while Fr. was speaking the film scene of Galadriel appearing and strengthening Frodo in the tunnel, all surrounded with light, came to mind)
ReplyDeleteI adore your geekiness, Kimberlee! Would that we were not separated by so many miles!
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