Product Description
Saint Michael the Archangel: one of three angels mentioned by name in the Scripture; figure in early Christian, Jewish and Islamic traditions; patron saint of ambulance drivers. This enigmatic ecumenical figure was the subject of hagiography, liturgical texts, and relics from Italy across Western Europe during the eighth century, culminating in a cult following. Despite this following, Michael has been poorly served in Anglophone religious and historical studies. This book explores the formation and diffusion of the cultus from c. 400-c.800, isolating its emergence within the orthodox traditions of the Greek-speaking East, and then following its development within Latin Catholicism. The cult of Michael, far from being extraneous or marginal, proves crucial to the formation of orthodox doctrine.