Miracles of the
Chief-commander of the Bodiless Host, the
Archangel Michael, in Byzantine Times
In the period after the
New Testament, there are also accounts of
the Archangel Michael's cures and wonders.
Therefore, on this day, we call upon him as
the protector of our lives, and celebrate
his honored feast with the remembrance of
some of his marvels.
The Church of the
Archangel Michael in Sosthenion
When Emperor Constantine the
Great (r. 306-337) was building
Constantinople, it came to pass that he
constructed a church dedicated to the
Archangel Michael in the surrounding suburb,
known as Sosthenion. The account of how this
church came to be built is curious indeed. In
the outlying suburb, there was a statue of a
man with wings. The great Constantine
marvelled at the work and wondered what it
could mean. He asked his nobles, [t no one
knew to whom it was dedicated. He then
besought God, "Reveal to me after whom the
statue was fashioned. " At night, the
Archangel Michael appeared to him and said, "I
am the Archangel Michael, the helper of the
Christians, even as I have assisted thee in
thy victories over thine enemies. For this
cause, do thou build a church in my name, and
I shall preserve thee from all thine enemies
until the end of thy life." When the emperor
awoke, he immediately set about fulfilling the
command of the archangel. The church he
erected was huge, for which he apportioned
considerable revenues. On the feast day of the
archangel, Christians from the suburbs were
assembling at the new church from the outlying
areas. One of the faithful had a child who was
deaf and dumb from his mother's womb. The
father brought the lad into the church and
besought the archangel to heal him. After much
supplicating, the archangel hearkened to the
prayer of that poor father. During the divine
Liturgy, the child was brought before the icon
of the Chief-commander Michael. When the
deacon was about to say, "Let us attend,"
followed by the priest, "The Holies for the
holy," the child, instead, spoke up and said,
"Let us attend." From that hour, he was
healed. The father returned every year to
commemorate and thank the commander of the
bodiless host.3
The Deliverance of
Constantinople from the Perils of the Avars,
Persians, and Arabs
The Avars, mounted warriors,
came to capture Constantinople. They used
their sabers, long lances, and reflex bows
that they might gain the advantage. The
hierarch at that time gathered the faithful of
the city, and they went to the Church of the
Chief-commander Michael, where they entreated
God to be delivered from captivity to the
barbarians. Then, when the Avars were about to
enter the city, the Archangel Michael, as a
flash of lightning, appeared in their midst.
Out of their intense fear, many of the Avars
fell prostrate on their faces, while others
took to their heels and retreated. That same
night, the archangel appeared to the khan of
the Avars and said, "Leave quickly with all
thy host, otherwise tomorrow thou shalt die
and thy soldiers with thee. " The khan,
terrified, that same night, departed with his
entire army and returned to his own place.4
At another time, the Persian
armies assembled and besieged Constantinople.
They encamped outside the walls and prevented
food and supplies from being brought into the
city. The populace was in danger of dying from
starvation. Having their hopes only in God,
they also brought to mind the previous miracle
performed by the Archangel Michael. The people
went to his church and supplicated him that he
might work a miracle as before. Then on the
day that the Persians decided to enter the
city, as they laid their ladders against the
walls, the Archangel Michael appeared to the
invaders. Once again, he appeared as
lightning, throwing the Persians into a panic.
In the commotion created by this visitation,
the Persians, in their confusion, began
fighting with one another, thinking they were
battling the citizens of the city. The
Constantinopolitans, beholding the confounded
Persians, exited the city, slaying as many as
they were able.
At another time, by sea, a
multitude of Arab Moslems attacked the city
the strongest citadel in the world. This
occurred during the reign of Emperor
Constantine IV (669-685) grandson of
Herakleios.5 The Arabs had already ravaged the
countryside in Asia Minor, dragging off
inhabitants to slavery. They already held
Cyprus, Rhodes, and Kos. The peninsula of
Kyzikos was also seized, which was in the
neighborhood of the capital, thus providing
the Moslems with a base for attack. News was
then heard that part of the Arab fleet had
captured Smyrna and other sections. The Arabs
tried again and again to take the city. Once
more, the faithful flocked to the Church of
the Chief-commander Michael, imploring God and
His archangel for help. The archangel
hearkened to their cries. He pierced and bore
through the Arab ships, causing most of the
marauders to die of drowning. After a
five-year siege, only three ships out of the
entire fleet remained, and they turned and
sailed back home in 678.
The Preservation of the
City of Akolia
On the Black Sea, the city of
Akolia was under attack by the Saracens. They
tarried long with their forces outside the
city. Not being able to take the city, they
decided to depart. There was, however, a
certain traitor inside the city who informed
against the Christians to the Saracen chief,
saying, "The Christians have a church
dedicated to the Chief-commander Michael. It
lies by the citadel wall. It is there that
they supplicate God for His help, and for this
reason you cannot launch an attack. " The
Saracens, receiving this piece of
intelligence, set about making war machines to
breach the citadel wall. After they had
prepared their ropes, rolling battering rams,
and catapults, they readied one large boulder
to thrust against the narrow church. As soon
as it was catapulted, the faces of the emir
and his officers, who were responsible for
flinging that boulder, turned backwards. Those
wretched men wasted no time loading down the
camels with plenty of incense, lamps, and oil.
They also took silver from the bridles of
their horses and went together to the Church
of the Archangel Michael. They swore among
themselves that they would never come again to
Akolia for many years, and that the city would
come to no harm. After they had sworn this
vow, their faces returned to their proper
places.
The Archangel Michael at
Colossae and Germia
The Archangel Michael is
remembered also for the miracle
he performed at Chonae, near Colossae in
Phrygia. He parched the waters of the river
which the infidels released against his holy
shrine and Saint Hermippos. The archangel's
large basilica in Chonae, decorated with
mosaics, was a center of pilgrimage and great
trade fairs.6
Now also in Germia, a city in
western Galatia, below Mount Dindymon, the
Archangel Michael wrought numberless cures. In
454, the consuI of Constantinople, one
Stoudios, was sick and near death. No
physician could offer him a cure or any
treatment. At that time, a certain man, named
Goulio, who was from Germia, came to the
capital. He visited the sick consul and began
recounting how many miracles were taking place
in Germio at the archangel's healing spring.
Even the little fish, with the aid of the
Archangel Michael, were effecting cures. As
Stoudios listened to the ,accounts, he
believed that God would help him.
In the company of other ill
folk, Stoudios traveled to Germia. Straghtway,
as he entered that holy spring, he was cured.
Not only Stoudios received healing, but also
his entire traveling party. One of the members
was suffering from glaucoma, and he too
received a swift cure for his eyes. Studios,
beholding the number of miracles taking place,
then resolved to most of his fortune building
a great church to the archangel.
The five-aisled basilica of
ashlar masonry with much sculptured decoration
still survives in Galatia. He endowed the
church also with revenues for its maintenance.
The consul also built homes for the sick and
aged. All the while, sick people kept flocking
to the site of the archangel's healing waters.
Having come with faith, they were leaving
healed, including many blind folk who
recovered their sight, and the lame who were
enabled to walk.7
The Cure of the Monk
Markianos and the Physician
At the time of the restoration of
the icons, during the reigns of Empress
Theodora (842-856) and her son Emperor Michael
III (842-867), there was a certain monk, named
Markianos, who was living at the Monastery of
the Archangel Michael inside Constantinople.
Whenever Father Markianos became ill, he did
not take reftige in physicians and medicines.
His only recourse was to fall before the icon
of the Archangel Michael, who always cured him
of whatever ailed him. It happened one time
that the monk became gravely ill. According to
his custom, he hastened to the icon of the
Archangel Michael seeking help. This time,
however, the archangel wished to test him, and
did not render a cure. The relatives and
friends of Markianos came and reproved him for
not seeking medical treatment, but he would
not listen to their counsel. Unbeknownst to
Markianos, they contrived among themselves
that they would seek out a physician on his
behalf. They found one and learned from him
the proper course of treatment and received
medicines appropriate to Markianos' condition.
They were to administer them while Markianos
was asleep. They, therefore, took the drugs
and hid them in his head cushion, and waited
until sleep should overtake him.
That night, instead of Father
Markianos finding rest, those waiting to
administer the drugs fell asleep. Father
Markianos, not being able to sleep, remained
wide awake. It then appeared to him that he
saw the Archangel Michael exiting the holy
sanctuary of the church, being escorted by two
beautiftil and wondrous youths. He walked over
to Father Markianos, as he lay on his pillow.
Seeing the drugs, he said to the monk, "What
are these?" The monk answered, "I do not know,
0 archangel." The chief-commander then said to
the youths, "Take these medicines and put them
under the pillow of the physician who
concocted them. " Markianos then observed the
youths walking out of the church. The
archangel then took oil from the oil lamp
before his icon. He proceeded to anoint Father
Markianos, who was instantly cured. Father
Markianos, sensible of the healing, kept
giving thanks to God.
At midnight, the priest went to
the church that he might chant the Orthros
Service. He found Markianos healthy and
restored as before. That same morning, the
priest was called to the house of the
physician, who had become gravely ill during
the night. The priest then recounted all that
he had heard from Markianos. The physician,
therefore, came to understand the cause of his
sudden illness. He rose up, being supported by
others, and went to the Church of the
Archangel Michael. He remained there all day,
lying before the icon. By evening, he was
cured, but he did not return to his house or
profession. He decided to remain at that
church and become a monk, bequeathing all he
had to that church.
This and many other miracles
were wrought by the commander of the bodiless
host, Michael. Now let us recount selected
miracles wrought by both Archangels Michael
and Gabriel, that we may bring our account to
a close.
The Archangels Help the
Fathers at Docheiariou Monastery
 The Docheiariou
Monastery is located on the southwest tip of
the Athonite promontory, northwest of
Xenophontos. Though the origins of the
monastery are somewhat obscure, it was first
established by Efthymios Docheiarios (the
cellarer) in the tenth century.8
The saint had a nephew, the
patrician Nicholas, whose father had been a
duke during the reigns of Emperor Nikephoros
II Phokas (963-969) and John Tzimiskes
(969-976). Since Nicholas' uncle was abbot of
an Anthonite monastery, he loved to visit the
elder and lavish gifts upon the monastery. At
length, Nicholas forsook the world and the
things of the world, and joined the
brotherhood headed by his venerable uncle. In
the holy tonsure, Nicholas was given the name
Neophytos by Saint Efthymios. In time,the
saint entrusted the holy Neophytos, as one
superior in virtue, with the governance and
concerns of the monastery. The holy Neophytos
renovated,expanded, and improved the
monastery. However, his fortune from the world
had not sufficed to cover the expenses of
iconography for the new and larger church.
Nonetheless, our Savior hearkened to his
prayer for this God-pleasing endeavor, in the
following marvellous manner, during the reign
of Emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates (r.
1078-1081).
The Chalkidike peninsula of
Longos is approximately sixty miles opposite
the Holy Mountain. This is where Docheiariou
Monastery had its metochion, that is, a
monastery holding. Near the monastery's
holding there atop an ancient pillar the
following inscription: "Whoever will strike my
head will find much gold! " Needless to say,
many cast stones at the top of the .column,
but no treasure was to be had. Yet the riddle
meant the top of the shadow that was cast by
the pillar-that is where the treasure was
hidden. However, God, in His economy, desired
to unravel this mystery at the proper time.
At the metochion, there was a
lad of about twenty years of age, named Basil,
who was paid a wage as a laborer. He, too,
with many others, visited the column and
wondered at its promise of gold. One day, as
the sun was descending, the youth went to the
column. He noted where the pillar cast its
shadow and began to dig at that spot.
Thereupon, he came upon a marble slab. Below
the slab, he uncovered a copper vessel filled
with gold coins. Upon beholding this enormous
find, the youth was completely overcome; but
he quickly covered up the spot and hastened to
Abbot Neophytos.
Approaching the abbot, he
declared, "Holy master, a tremendous amount of
gold is buried at our metochion! Send me back
with some of the monks that we might transport
it here to the monastery. " Saint Neophytos
then dispatched three monks, who were
seemingly pious, with the monastery boat.
Thereupon, they went to the spot and took up
the gold, its vessel, and the slab which
concealed it. They proceeded to the shore and
departed.
However, the monks were
ill-intentioned. They were enticed by the
treasure and plotted to keep it themselves.
Therefore, they took up the slab and bound
that honest young man to it from his neck.
Then-alas!-they cast him into the depths of
the sea.
Evening was drawing nigh. Upon
being cast overboard, the lad invoked the aid
of the holy archangels. Straightway, the
bodiless host, Archangels Michael and Gabriel,
appeared before him and, as eagles with golden
wings, they caught him and took him from the
depths of the sea. Then, in a moment, the
young man found himself inside the monastery
church at Docheiariou! Terror-stricken, he lay
motionless in the church.
In the meantime, the three
wayward monks divided the treasure among
themselves. They hid their portions outside
the monastery and then stayed by the dock till
morning.
When the hour for Orthros
approached, the caretaker of the lights and
candles went about his obedience, so they
might commence chanting the service. He found
the youth in the church, but he thought he
beheld a phantom. Therefore, he began to draw
back, but then changed his mind and decided to
approach, to take a better look at this
spectacle. Not quite sure what he was gazing
upon, he took to his heels, seeking the abbot.
Going up to Saint Neophytos, he cried aloud,
"My elder, there is a phantom in the church,
and I cannot go inside!"
The abbot answered, "What dost
thou fear? Make thy Cross and proceed
courageously!" Meanwhile, the other brethren
had assembled for the service. They, too,
beheld the youth and hastened to Father
Neophytos. The abbot then got up and went into
the church with the ecclesiarch. As they
entered the church, they clearly espied the
youth. He was bound and asleep upon the marble
slab that was tied to his neck. The abbot then
tapped him with his staff to rouse him. The
youth awoke, and said, "Tell me, 0 brothers,
where am I? I thought I was in the sea where
the monks had cast me overboard." Abbot
Neophytos then questioned him, saying, "Dost
thou not know where thou art? Behold, the
monastery; behold, the Church of Docheiariou.
Behold, I am Abbot Neophytos. Yet, tell us:
How camest thou here?" The youth replied,
"Leave me a space to come to myself."
After a short time, he related
to the brethren all he had suffered at the
hands of the three monks. Abbot Neophytos then
said, “Tarry here till the morning We will
chant the service until the three criminals
come up from the dock to the monastery. Let
them behold the miracle!"
Morning came, and the abbot
ordered that the three monks ascend from the
dock. As they stood before him, he addressed
them, saying, "How goes your discovery, O
fathers?" Then, in unison, they replied, "O
elder of ours, the inscription played us
false. The lad fooled us, and then, when we
threatened him, he fled!" Abbot Neophytos then
uttered, “Glory be to Thee, 0 God! Let us go
into the church and thank God!"
Upon entering the church, when
those three malefactors caught sight of the
youth bound with the marble slab about his
neck, from their astonishment,
they stood speechless. The abbot then
threatened them. Thereupon, the three men
brought the treasure into the monastery.
Straightway, Abbot Neophytos expelled them
from the brotherhood.
The youth Basil who desired to
become a monk, was then tonsured and renamed
Barnabas. At length, he succeeded the Elder
Neophytos as abbot. Thus, the church
was decorated with sacred icons and named in
honor of the holy Archangels
Michael and Gabriel.9
The Finding of Water at
Docheiariou
Docheiariou Monastery also has a
holy fountain named after the Archangels
Michael and Gabriel. A miracle brought into
existence this well. In the fourteenth
century, during the reign of Emperor
Andronikos Palaiologos, the monks of the
monastery were compelled to fetch water from a
distance of three miles. This caused many
hardships and even sickness for the brethren.
Monk Theodoulos, a builder at the monastery,
planned to lay large underground pipes to
convey water. Then, on the eve before the work
would commence, the two archangels, Michael
and Gabriel, appeared to Theodoulos and said,
"0 man, why dost thou labor and exhaust the
monastery in vain? Know this: Water is inside
the monastery. " As Theodoulos listened, it
seemed to him that he rose up and said to
them, "I beseech you, show me where it is. "
Thereupon, they answered, " Coi-ne, and we
will show thee. " Then, the two archangels
took him by the hands and brought him to a
spot where, today, a well is located.
Arriving at the indicated site,
they took up digging tools and began to work.
Not much time passed before the archangels
offered water to the monk. Theodoulos partook
and found the water very sweet. Straightway,
he awakened from sleep and called the
brethren, saying, "In my sleep, this night, I
beheld a vision wherein the two archangels
came and showed me where water is located on
the monastery grounds. Therefore, let us dig
in that place they showed me!"
The brethren rallied and began
digging. Forthwith, a vein of water sprung
forth. The monks dug deeper, and drinkable
water gushed forth. They glorified God and His
archangels. The well exists to this day. The
water is -well-reputed to be sanctified; and
those who drink with faith find healing from
sickness.
These miracles, brethren, which
we have recounted are but a few of the
countless wonders performed by the archangels.
We have recounted these few which sufficiently
glorify God and His archangels. O angelic
hosts who stand before the throne of God and
ever hold chorus, O archangels, and angels,
principalities, thrones, and dominions,
six-winged seraphim, and divine and many-eyed
cherubim, vessels of wisdom, authorities and
powers most divine, pray to Christ that He
grant our souls peace, great mercy, and His
kingdom.
Through the
intercessions of Thine Archangels
and all of the Celestial Host,
O Christ God, have mercy on us. Amen.
Above is taken from
The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church
- Nov, pp 228-238, Trans. from Greek by Holy
Apostles Convent, Buena Vista, Co.
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