St. Raphael of Brooklyn | Antiochian.org Orthodox Church

St. Raphael of Brooklyn New York

Troparion for St. Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn (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, and 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.

Burial site of St. Raphael at the Antiochian Village

Kontakion of Saint Raphael - Tone 3

Today the memory of blessed Raphael hath shone on us; For having received Christ’s call, he faithfully took up his cross and followed Him becoming a fisher of men. Let us cry aloud to him saying: Rejoice O Father Raphael!

Churches Founded by Saint Raphael

1. St. Nicholas Cathedral (Brooklyn, New York) - 1895

2. St. Nicholas Church of Canada (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) - 1899

3. St. George Church (Boston, Massachusetts) - 1900

4. St. George Church (Worcester, Massachusetts) - 1902

5. St. George Church (Kearney, Nebraska) - 1903

6. St. Mary (Dormition) Church (Wilkes-Barre,

Pennsylvania) - 1904

7. St. George Church (Lawrence, Massachusetts) - 1904

8. St. Mary (Dormition) Church (Johnstown, Pennsylvania) - 1906

9. St. George Church (Glens Falls, New York) - 1906

10. St. Nicholas Church (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) - 1908

11. St. George Church (Vicksburg, Mississippi) - 1908

12. Archangel Michael Church (Beaumont, Texas) - 1908

13. St. George Church (Grand Rapids, Michigan) - 1908

14. St. George Church (Chicago, Illinois) - 1908

15. St. John of Damascus Church (Boston, Massachusetts) - 1909

16. St. George Church (Washington, D.C.) - 1909

17. St. George Church (Mexico City, DF, Mexico) - 1909

18. St. Simeon the Stylite Church (Ironwood, Michigan) - 1909

19. St. George Church (Michigan City, Indiana) - 1911

20. St. George Church (Charleston, West Virginia) - 1911

21. St. Nicholas Church (Cleveland, Ohio) - 1911

22. Archangel Michael Church (Geneva, New York) -

1912

23. Prophet Elias Church (La Crosse, Wisconsin) - 1912

24. St. George Church (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) - 1912

25. St. George Church (Macon, Mississippi) - 1913

26. St. George Church (Utica, New York) - 1913

27. St. George Church (New Kensington, Pennsylvania) - 1914

28. St. George Church (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) - 1914

29. St. Michael the Archangel (Monessen, Pennsylvania) - 1914

30. St. George Church (Toledo, Ohio) - 1914

When I think of a saint, I usually think of someone born many centuries ago and who didn’t live in the country we’re all in now. With the story of saint Raphael Hawaweeny, Bishop of Brooklyn, my views dramatically change.

"The life of saint Raphael changes the way I think about saints. It makes me see that saints were alive in the same century that I was born. So it raises the bar and takes away the excuse that we can’t live and strive for the life of a saint, because of the day and age we live in. Also many of us go to churches that Saint Raphael founded, we read the magazine he started, and many of us attend the camp where his body lies. He sets an example that we should try to follow. Even though he wasn’t a wonder worker, he was a true Orthodox Christian and had a zest for Christ, and for life. May he remember all of us in his prayers."

-Joey Abdallah-

In Syria, November 8, 1860, St. Raphael was born to Michael and Mariam Hawaweeny. Like all of us he attended elementary school. Unfortunately his father was not able to afford the tuition, so the Metropolitan of Homs recommended to Patriarch Hierotheos, of Antioch, that Rafla (Saint Raphael’s name given at his baptism) be accepted as a student of the Patriarchate to prepare for the priesthood. This preparation lead to his tonsuring as a monk on March 28, 1879. Fallowing his tonsuring he studied at the School of Theology at Halki. On December 8, 1885 he was ordained to the diaconate. By Bishop Slylvester, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1889. Only a month later he was raised to the position of Archimandrite. This humble man served the church in Russia for many years.November 2, 1895, Archimandrite Arrived in New York. Making several cross country journeys, seeking out the Arab-Americans of the country. Finding the lost sheep of the church he preformed marriages, baptisms, heard confessions, and celebrated Divine Liturgies in the homes of the faithful. Being the Sheperd of the Lost Sheep, he founded 30 churches across the United States, and became know as the Shepherd of the Lost Sheep In America. In December of 1901 Saint Raphael became the Bishop of Brooklyn and in 1904 the 1^st Bishop to consecrate the American soil. Saint Raphael also founded the Word magazine we read today. He died February 27, 1915 at the age of 55, from heart ailment. The wonderful man was berried in New York and then moved to the Antiochian Village Camp. March 29, 2000 his sainthood was proclaimed by the holy synod of the Orthodox Church in America. With all this said, Oh holy father Raphael pray unto God for us.