St Michael
On Tuesday (29 September), the Western church celebrates the Feast of St Michael and All Angels.
Because of its convenient placement near the autumn equinox, the feast day has given its name to the academic and legal term that starts every autumn (‘Michaelmas term’). As the drawing by Albrecht Durer drastically shows, the central story that is being commemorated is something rather dramatic that was believed to have happened: St Michael with his assistant angels fought a victory in heaven, an epic battle and finally victory of good over evil.
In the Bible this war is alluded to in what is known as the apocalyptic literature (the books of Revelation and the Daniel for example).
The philosopher and educationalist Rudolph Steiner thought it a most important festival because it gives expression to the fact that the battle has been won in Christ, and that we can therefore be confident and without self-destroying fear in this world.
Bernhard Schuemann
27 September 2026
