On Friday, November 21, 2025, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of the Synaxis of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel and of all the heavenly, divine, bodiless Powers, at their Holy Monastery situated by the seaside in the city of Yaffo.
This Holy Monastery is dedicated especially to the Archangel Michael. Its church was destroyed by fire in the 1950s and rebuilt by its present Hegumen, Archbishop Damaskinos of Yaffo.
In this feast the Church commemorates all the heavenly Powers of the nine ranks, namely Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Authorities, Lordships, Principalities, Powers, Cherubim, and Seraphim, but especially the Archangel Michael, who assembled the angels together and proclaimed unto them, “Let us attend! Let us stand aright, let us stand with fear,” when Lucifer rebelled against God. This event, the Church calls a Synaxis, “the meaning of which is attentiveness, concord, and unity.”The name of the Archangel Michael, as minister of God, is mentioned in many passages of the Old Testament. In the above-mentioned Holy Monastery, and in honour of all the heavenly Powers, and especially of the Archangel Michael, this feast was solemnly celebrated in Yaffo.
On the morning of the feast, Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem was warmly received by the Scouts’ Corps with music, and thereafter presided over the Divine Liturgy, concelebrated by the renovator of the Monastery, Archbishop Damaskinos of Yaffo; by Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth; and by the visiting Hierarchs from Greece, Anthimos of Alexandroupolis, Iereneos of Florina, and Ioustinos of Nea Krini and Kalamaria; together with the Elder Chief Secretary, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina; with concelebrating Holy Sepulchre Fathers Hieromonks, first among whom the Elder Kamarasis Archimandrite Nektarios; with the Hegumens of the Orthodox Monasteries of the neighbouring regions, Archimandrites Niphon, Markellos, and Artemios; with the Secretary of the Holy Synod, Archimandrite Christodoulos; with Archimandrite Raphael; with the visiting Fr. Charalambos; with Archdeacon Mark and Hierodeacon Patrick; with the Priests serving as parish clergy of the Holy Monastery; and with many Priests of other Orthodox Churches.
The mixed chanting was offered in Greek by the chief cantor of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Deacon Eustathios, and in Arabic by the choir of Yaffo, with the prayerful participation of the Greek-speaking, Russian-speaking, and Romanian-speaking flock, and with the honourable presence of the Ambassador of Greece in Tel Aviv, Maria Solomou, and other members of the Embassy staff; the Ambassador of Cyprus; the Ambassador of Russia, Anatoly Viktorov; and many military attachés representing diplomatic missions.
Unto this devout flock, His Beatitude preached the divine word before the Holy Communion as follows:
“O Origin of all created beings, immaterial essence, Maker of the angels, of Thy pure thrones that surround Thee, crying out: ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, may the All-Potent One be glorified,’” exclaims the hymnographer of the Church.
Beloved brethren in Christ,
Pious Christians and pilgrims,“He Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire” (cf. Heb. 1:7), our Lord Jesus Christ has gathered us here today, in this most honoured monastery dedicated to the Chief Archangels Michael and Gabriel and to the rest of the holy, incorporeal, and heavenly hosts, to celebrate their commemoration.
The holy angels, as the Apostle Paul says, are “ministering spirits sent forth to serve for those who shall inherit salvation” (cf. Heb. 1:14). These ministering spirits are arranged in nine orders, distinguished as Angels, Archangels, Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, Authorities, Powers, Cherubim, and Seraphim.
According to the vision of Isaiah at his prophetic calling, these angelic orders, and especially the Seraphim, “stood in a circle around him, and one cried to another, saying: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory” (cf. Isa. 6:2–3). By the angels’ singing of this Trisagion hymn, the ineffable and incomprehensible holiness of God is revealed, as well as the triadic nature of His Persons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Regarding the nature of the angels, let us hear the authoritative teaching of the Fathers of the Church, Saint John of Damascus:
“This God of the angels is their Maker and Creator. He truly brought them into being, giving them habitation and form, creating them with a natural body, something akin to spirit or fiery substance, as the divine David says (cf. Heb. 1:7): ‘He makes His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.’”
Interpreting these words of David, the Church teaches that while the angels were created, God Himself is uncreated. His bringing them into existence is a true production, not a creation in the sense of being made from pre-existing matter.
According to Saint John of Damascus: “Through the Word of God, all the angels were honoured, and through the Holy Spirit, by sanctification, they were perfected, each receiving in accordance with the order of their illumination and grace.”
It is noteworthy, in this regard, and concerning the nature of the angels, to consider further the teaching of Saint John of Damascus:
“In their nature, the angels are rational, intellectual, and self-determining. They are mutable according to their will, for all that is created is mutable, whereas only the uncreated is immutable, and every rational being is self-determining. Thus, in their rational and intellectual nature, they are self-determining, yet as created beings they are mutable, possessing the power both to progress towards the good and to turn towards the worse.”
In simpler terms, the angels possess a nature that is rational, intellectual, and self-determining; they are mutable in accordance with their will, since all created beings are mutable, while only the uncreated is immutable. As rational and intellectual beings, they are self-determining, but as created beings, they are mutable, with the capacity both to advance toward the good and to turn toward evil.
Indeed, the nature of the angels is created and therefore mutable. They possess the power both to remain steadfast and to advance toward the good, or to turn toward the worse. This is most clearly attested by Christ Himself, Who says to His disciples: “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (cf. Luke 10:18).
Interpreting this word of the Lord, Saint Cyril of Alexandria says: “This means that Satan was cast down from the height of heaven to the earth, from excessive pride to humility, from glory to contempt, from great power to complete weakness. And this is true, for at the first coming of the Saviour into the world, the devil held dominion over the world.”
According to Saint Theophylactos, who cites the commandments of the Apostles: “The one who cast down Satan, from heaven to earth, did not do so by a local rupture, but by stripping him of honour and by the judgment of his malice.”
Today, beloved brethren, the choir of angels rejoices, and the human race celebrates together with them. This is because the angelic orders marvelled when they beheld the incarnate Christ, the Word of God made flesh, dwelling in mortal human nature.
The ultimate purpose of their ministry is, as it were, “to serve God, to serve our salvation”, for “you are servants of the Son of God, and they are sent on our behalf everywhere; this is their ministry, that everywhere they are sent for us.”
Saint John Chrysostom says: by the testimony of the Gospel, the angels remain the messengers of God’s Great Counsel, as the Prophet Isaiah says, both in the Old Testament and in the New.
The Angel Gabriel was sent by God to the Virgin Mary to announce to her the birth of Christ, the Saviour of the world (cf. Luke 1:26–38).
A multitude of the heavenly host, with that angel, appeared to the shepherds, understanding God, and they said: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14).
It is also noteworthy the word of Christ to His disciples: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels in heaven always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 18:10).
It is clearly demonstrated that the eternal choir of the heavenly powers, who surround God and execute His commands, constitutes an inseparable part of sacred history, of the mystery, that is, of the Divine Providence, the salvation of mankind.
“And behold, angels came and ministered to Him” (Matt. 4:11).
Moreover, in the book of Revelation according to John, the ceaseless worship of the angels in heaven is attested, who say: “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is, and is to come” (Rev. 4:8). This clearly demonstrates the extension of this heavenly worship into the liturgical and eucharistic practice of the Church here on earth.
For this reason, we, who honour this festal gathering of the Holy Angels together with the Hymnographer, say: “Pray, O Lord of Hosts, that we, singing melodiously, may be granted success and enduring joy, and may the Archangels, Michael and Gabriel, most glorious, partake of Thy Divine Radiance.” Through the intercessions of the All-Holy and most blessed Theotokos, the Mother of God. Amen.
Many happy returns. Peaceful and blessed.”
After the Divine Liturgy, the renovator of the Monastery, Archbishop Damaskinos of Yaffo, offered a reception and festal meal.
In the Old City of Jerusalem
Likewise, the commemoration of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel and of all the heavenly, divine, bodiless Powers was celebrated at the Patriarchate’s Holy Monastery of the Archangel Michael, situated near the Patriarchate and built following a miraculous appearance of the Archangel Michael.
The Great Vespers on the eve and the Divine Liturgy on the day of the feast were presided over by Metropolitan Isychios of Capitolias, concelebrated by Holy Sepulchre Fathers Hieromonks, such as the Rites keeper of the Holy Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, Archimandrite Alexios, Archimandrite Claudios, Priest Nektarios, and Hierodeacon Prodromos.
The chanting was led by the Hegumen of the Monastery, Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, together with Angelos from Greece, with a large congregation of local Jerusalemites and devout pilgrims participating.
After the Divine Liturgy, the renovator of the Holy Church of the Monastery, its Hegumen, Archbishop Demetrios of Lydda, offered refreshments in the Refectory and in the courtyard of the Church.
