Before writing this blog, I must first express my profound guilt to for Saint Michael the Archangel for having neglected him for so long.
Coming from a Protestant background, I never thought much about Saint Michael the Archangel. I have always gone first and foremost to pray to Jesus, the Intercessor par excellence, the light who led me out of the abyss of despair—an experience I described in my last blog.
Later, however, I experienced some terrible things that opened my heart to perceive the hesed of Saint Michael. In those moments, my heart began to perceive the quiet mercy and protection associated with Saint Michael. What I had once regarded as distant or merely symbolic suddenly felt living and real. It compelled me to reconsider what Saint Michael truly represents in a deeper and more concrete sense.
Two years ago, I was assigned as a senior consultant for religious statues and sent to Moscow for a week-long visit with loyal customers who have booked a statue of St.Michael from our regional statue factory . At that time,the region was already affected by the conflict with Ukraine. Yet from the viewpoint of a foreigner, Moscow appeared calm and orderly. Life seemed to go on as usual.
We spent time together admiring the statue of Saint Michael in their graden. My hostess were so warm and hospitable that she invited me to visit the Cathedral of the Archangel with her. I gladly accepted and even cancelled a concert ticket I had booked for that afternoon at Crocus City Hall.
Inside the Cathedral of the Archangel, we stood before the portraits of the saints. My customer Anna, a devoted Eastern Orthodox believer, turned to me and asked, “Nancy, do you know why I bought a statue of Saint Michael for my garden?”
“To protect the people around us from the forces of visible or invisible darkness—evil, temptation, and spiritual harm,”
I replied.
“Not enough.”
Anna smiled and then said softly.
“Nancy, what do you think Saint Michael truly represents?”
I hesitated for a moment.
“In the apocalyptic visions of the Book of Daniel, he is Michael, your prince, ‘who stands beside the sons of your people.’ And his name in Hebrew means, ‘Who is like God?’”
“In this sense,” I continued, “Michael can be seen as a personification of one of the principal attributes of God—His unstoppable power, his leadership in the heavenly host, and his divine mission to protect humanity against evil.”
Anna nodded thoughtfully.
“Good,” she said. “And a ‘saint’ refers to a holy being—human or angelic—who lives in complete union with God. The title given to Saint Michael reflects the Church’s recognition of his holiness and faithfulness. But what Saint Michael represents is more than that.”
“Exactly!” I replied. “I have seen many different statues of Saint Michael. Most commonly, He is portrayed as a young warrior of surpassing beauty, clad in Byzantine armor with great wings extended. Often he stands over Satan—depicted as a dragon or serpent—raising a spear or sword in one hand in victory, while the other hand holds a shield symbolizing protection and guardianship.These images expresse his resolve to cast down darkness and injustice, reminding us that evil can ultimately be overcome through divine strength and faith.”
“Yes,” she said softly, “all of that is true. and the statue in my garden means something even more personal to me.”
I looked at her with curiosity.
Anna continued,
“Saint Michael is not only the commander of the heavenly armies. He is also the guardian who stands at the boundary between order and chaos. When people place his image at the entrance of a house or in a garden, it is like setting a spiritual watchman there.”
“A watchman?”
I asked.
She nodded.
“Yes. A reminder that this home belongs to God. A reminder that evil has no authority here.”
For a moment we stood in silence beneath the divine light of the cathedral.
“Every morning,” she said, “when I see Saint Michael in the garden, It humbles my heart before the day even begins. And every night, when darkness falls, the statue reminds me that no darkness is stronger than the light that comes from God.”
She paused and smiled again.
“So you see, Nancy,” she said gently, “the statue is not only decoration. It is a prayer made visible.”
Then she smiled and asked, “Nancy, Do you still remember the design of the Saint Michael statue I ordered from your factory？”
“Of course,” I replied. “It is a very unique statue. Saint Michael is holding a pair of scales in which he weighs the souls of the departed.”
I answered confidently, because Anna and I had discussed the details of this statue many times online. Together we studied the traditional representations of Saint Michael so that we could create the most authentic statue for her garden.
“Yes,” Anna nodded.““You know what this design of Saint Michael represents?” she asked.
“Hmm… I think I understand,” I said,“This statue shows that Saint Michael can also be seen as a divine measure of hesed.”
“Yes,” Anna nodded and said,
“We talked about this before. Hesed is a Hebrew word. In its most basic sense, it means acting with selfless love for the good of another without expecting anything in return. It is mercy practiced for its own sake—a mercy that stands at the very heart of the Judeo‑Christian faith.”
“So Saint Michael is not only the protector of humanity,”
I continued.
“The St.Michael is the mighty angel who defends God’s people from evil, from Satan, and from all visible and invisible darkness. At the same time, he is also a reminder of divine hesed, guiding people toward goodness and the elevation of the soul.”
“Nancy, wonderful!”
Anna said with a smile.
“You are always a good student.”
We both laughed and continued to admire the sacred images and statues throughout the Cathedral of the Archangel.
As I was absorbed in the beauty of the icons, Anna suddenly stopped, turned back toward me, and asked with a smile,
“Nancy, do you know why I have chosen your factory for so many years?”
“Because our devotion to saint statue and high-quailty.“
I replied without hesitation. After more than forty years of experience in the religious statue industry, I knew well the strengths of our factory.
“Of course,”
Anna said.
“I was deeply moved by the marble and bronze statues I ordered from your factory. Both the materials and the craftsmanship are extraordinary. When I see these statues, I sometimes cannot hold back my tears, because I feel the holiness and mercy reflected in the saints. And beyond that, I love the warmth of your team. Everyone in your factory treats customers like true friends. I have ordered dozens of statues from your factory in the passed years, and whenever a problem arises, it is always solved quickly and perfectly.”
Her words touched me deeply.
From the very beginning of my career, I had dedicated my work to the Lord.
For a brief moment, it felt as if the Lord Himself was standing behind Anna, quietly affirming my efforts.
Then I heard myself reply softly,
“May God bless all His children.”
Anna smiled, and together we prayed silently to Saint Michael, asking this commander of God’s heavenly hosts to carry our devotion to the Lord.
After we finished our visit to the cathedral, we parted ways.
I took the subway back to my hotel.
When I sat down and opened the news on my phone, a flood of messages suddenly appeared on the screen.
“Nancy! Are you okay?”
“I heard there was a terrorist attack at a concert hall in Moscow!”
“Please tell me you’re safe!”
My heart raced.
I opened my map and looked at the location of the attack.
It was Crocus City Hall—the exact place where I had planned to attend a concert that afternoon.
For a long moment I sat there in silence.
Perhaps it was coincidence. Perhaps it was simply a change of plans.
But deep in my heart, I felt something else as well—a quiet gratitude, and a sense of protection that I could not easily explain.
Sometimes the powe of faith reveals itself not in dramatic miracles, but in small moments that gently change the direction of our lives.
If you have ever experienced a meaningful moment connected with Saint Michael, I would love to hear your story.
And if you are interested in bringing a statue of Saint Michael into your home or garden, please feel free to reach out to me.
Thank you for reading.
May God bless you, and may Saint Michael watch over you always.
