Archangel’s Day (St. Archangel Mihail)

On November 8, the orthodox church celebrates the day of St. Archangel Mihail. This is the second most important autumn holiday for the Bulgarian orthodox church, after St. Dimitar’s day. According to traditional beliefs, St. Archangel Mihail is the leader of all heavenly powers and a fighter against the dark ghosts on earth. He is a symbol of the victory of good and justice against the evil. In the Christian icon tradition Archangel Mihail is portrayed as a saint holding a bloody knife in his hands, or scales, which he uses to measure the human sins. That is why he is also called “the one who takes out the souls”. The Saint leads the souls of the dead to the world of the dead where together with his brother St. Peter he determines how sinful the dead were and sends their souls either to Heaven or to Hell. In Bulgarian national beliefs, the day of St. Archangel Mihail is respected in honour of all dead. The Saturday before the feast is the Big All Soul’s Day. It is also celebrated as the day of the souls of all dead soldiers, whose memory is honoured by the people on this day.