Orthodox Icon of St. Raphael of Brooklyn

St. Raphael of Brooklyn

1st Saturday in November & February 27th
Apolytikion (Tone 3)
Rejoice, O Father Raphael, Adornment of the holy Church! Thou art Champion of the True Faith, Seeker of the lost, Consolation of the oppressed, Father to orphans, friend of the poor, Peacemaker and Good Shepherd, Joy of all the Orthodox, Son of Antioch, Boast of America; Intercede with Christ God for us and for all who honor thee.

St. Raphael was born Rafia Hawaweeny in November 1860 in Beirut, Lebanon. He was tonsured a monk in 1879, ordained Deacon in 1885, Priest in June 1889, and Archimandrite one month later. In 1895, Fr. Raphael came to the United States to organize the scattered Syro-Arab Orthodox community, and set up St. Nicholas Church (later St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn.) Fr. Raphael traveled extensively across the United States and Canada, for months at a time, performing marriages, hearing confessions, and celebrating the Divine Services. Fr. Raphael worked tirelessly for Christ's church, and in a span of fifteen years he established twenty-nine parishes. In 1904, St. Raphael became the first Orthodox bishop consecrated on American soil, at the hands of Archbishop (Saint) Tikhon (Belavin) and Bishop Innocent (Pustynsky). Bishop Raphael consecrated the grounds for St. Tikhon's Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania in 1905. Bishop Raphael founded al-Kalimat magazine ("The Word") as the official publication of the Syro-Arab Mission in 1905 and remained its editor until his repose. Bishop Raphael reposed on February 14/27, 1915.

This Icon is by the hand of Father Paul Albert. (Mounted icon is cut to shape.) Inscriptions in English, Russian & Arabic.

Order # ipa-01