JB writes: "Why are angels sometimes referred to as Saints (e.g., St. Michael the Archangel)? I thought only people could become saints."
A.
This is an excellent question. The word "saint" literally means "holy one" (hagioi in Greek is translated "saints"). In the Tradition of the Church, "holy ones" or "saints" are thought of as worthy of veneration which is why they are honored and celebrated in the liturgy. So, "Saint Michael the Archangel" can also be translated as "Holy Michael, the Archangel."
I would also like to take this opportunity to point out something for those who, in the Serbian tradition, celebrate Saint Michael the Archangel as their Slava or Family Patron Saint. In celebrating the feast, they often do not make wheat in remembrance of the angel, since the Archangels and the bodiless powers are heavenly hosts, created before the creation of the physical universe. However, the slava is a celebration and remembrance of the saints (holy ones of God) as well as the family. So, remembering departed love ones is an integral part of the Slava festival. Therefore, we prepare wheat for the St. Michael Slava, not in memory of the Angel who is not human, but in memory and prayerful remembrance of one's departed ancestors, from whom we inherit the family Slava.
Q.
JB writes: "In the consecration hymn, we sing to God saying "...we bless Thee...". I thought that blessings go from a senior ranking being/person to someone lower/junior. It seems strange to give our blessing to the highest Being. Can you explain?"
A.
This is another excellent question. the word bless (barak in Hebrew and eulogeo in Greek) means to worship or praise, as well as to bestow goodness and favor. When applied to God, the term implies homage or adoration offered in gratitude to Him by His servants. This is why we pray: "We Bless Thee...." or from the psalms "Bless the Lord, O my soul..." The tradition in the ancient East was the blessing of a son by his father whereby the father's blessing or goodness and favor was given to his son. In the Bible, such blessings from one person to another were literal and of extreme importance. For example, the blessing which Isaac granted to Jacob was held to be irrevocable (Gen. 27:33-35).
I would also point out that this is what we do when we venerate the hand of the priest or bishop. Technically, we do not "kiss the bishop's hand" or "kiss the priest's hand". Rather, we receive the blessing of the bishop or priest and then venerate the hand, since it is the blessing of God which the ordained priest or bishop bestows upon a person. Though the gesture appears to be the same whether "kissing the hand" or "receiving a blessing" from the priest, I would like to share this important distinction once made by a bishop friend of mine. During a social gathering, the bishop was introduced to a distinguished woman, who upon approaching the bishop greeted him with the words: "I don't kiss bishop's hands". The bishop replied, "Oh my, neither do I. One should only kiss a lady's hand. Bishop's hands are not for kissing, they are for blessing!".
