World · Philippines Bureau
Iligan bishop invokes St. Michael for truth as city celebrates patron saint
The Catholic bishop of Iligan City has called for divine intervention in the triumph of truth over falsehood during the feast day of St. Michael the Archangel, the city's patron saint. Tens of thousands of devotees participated in a morning procession Tuesday to honor the revered archangel.
LSN Philippines ·
ILIGAN CITY—The local Catholic prelate led spiritual observances Tuesday as the faithful marked the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, Iligan's patron saint, with prayers for the victory of truth in an apparent reference to broader societal concerns.
More than 20,000 devotees, many carrying small statues and icons of the archangel, processed through the city streets in a traditional show of veneration. The morning procession, a centerpiece of the annual celebration, drew worshippers from across the region to pay homage to the saint revered in Catholic tradition as the defender against evil.
The bishop's invocation of St. Michael's symbolic role—the archangel is traditionally depicted vanquishing Satan—underscored the spiritual dimensions of the feast while touching on contemporary themes of moral and social concern. The celebration reflected the deep religious traditions of the predominantly Catholic city in Mindanao.
The feast of St. Michael the Archangel, observed annually on September 29, holds particular significance in Iligan, where the saint serves as a spiritual patron and rallying point for the community's faith observances.