Devotion to the Archangel Michael has shaped the people of Kiev over the centuries, as shown by a striking statue in the mighty Independence Square, overseeing the city of Kiev.
Patron of Kiev
The bronze and gold statue was placed atop the Lach Gates monument in 2002, showing the devotion to the Archangel Michael that the people of Kiev have had for centuries.
One of the architectural works in Kiev recognized by many organizations around the world is the "Golden Dome" Monastery, built in 1108 in honor of the Archangel Michael. It is said that the Archangel, the patron of soldiers, was chosen at that time to honor military victories in the 12th century.
During the early 20th century, the convent and church were demolished, and it was not until the 1990s that work began to restore the Monastery of Saint Michael and create the new visible Golden Domes. nowadays. Oleksandr Kozlovskyi explained in an article for the Ukrainian Religious Information Service as follows:
This revival of the Monastery of Saint Michael was a miracle of God, for when the monastery was destroyed, no one believed that the monastery could rise from the ruins. This is proof that God can raise his temple from the ashes, whether it be a monastery or ourselves.
Furthermore, Saint Michael has been featured prominently on the seals of the Kings of Kiev and later on the coat of arms of the city of Kiev since the 17th century. When the city voted on the new coat of arms in 1995, they were restore the original design featuring Archangel Michael.
More recently, the Ukrainian Orthodox leader reiterated on September 19, 2020 the enduring devotion to Saint Michael that the people of Kiev have had for many years.
What is symbolic, he said, is that our ancient temples were built by our ancestors in honor of the Archangel Michael: like the sanctuary of Saint Sophia of Kiev, the Monastery of the Archangel Michael The Golden Dome, the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and the Vydubychi Monastery, which prove that we have a history of thousands of years and that our Ukrainian state and our Ukrainian Church have such historical roots."
Saint Michael remains a strong defender, along with the Virgin Mary, for the people of Kiev.
May Archangel Michael protect Kiev.
According to Aleteia.org/ Conggiao.vn