Posted on 11/06/2015 9:44:28 PM PST by NRx
Brooklyn has just one saint, and his name is Raphael Hawaweeny. Stories from Our Advertisers
He was not Catholic. Or of European descent.
He was Syrian, and at the turn of the 20th century he helped build the Eastern Orthodox Church in this country. He founded a cathedral in Brooklyn’s Little Syria and crisscrossed the country tending his scattered flock.
To the Orthodox, he is St. Raphael of Brooklyn (not to be confused with St. Raphael of Lesbos, martyred by the Turks in 1463).
And on Friday night, the saint’s icon will be adorned with red and white flowers and paraded through the ornate St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Boerum Hill, as worshipers mark the 100th anniversary of his death — the Centennial Jubilee of the Falling Asleep of St. Raphael of Brooklyn — by celebrating his life.
He may not be a household name in his adoptive borough, but he is a source of pride.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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 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.
Kontakion, 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!
Prayer to St. Raphael of Brooklyn:
O wise and loving hierarch of the Church of Christ God, good shepherd of the lost sheep in America, sustenance for our souls, admonition for the lost, defense against foes, uniter of the Orthodox world, proclaimer of the truth, uplifter of the oppressed, guardian of the faith, father to orphans, protector of widows, friend of the poor, reconciler of foes, great light from Antioch, new Moses who led your people out of the wilderness into the Promised Land, new Elias who has placed within the holy Church a double portion of your spirit, new Ezra who built up the Temple of God, new Apostle of Christ our God, lover of the holy prayers and divine services, adornment of the holy Church, seeker of the lost, joy of all the Orthodox, son of Antioch, boast of America, O holy Father Raphael: Mercifully hear these supplications which are offered to you by your grateful children. O high priest of the Most High God, lift up your hands and bless us, O you who are thrice-blessed of the All-holy Trinity. O comforter of the oppressed who is a bearer of the heavenly King, the Comforter and Spirit of Truth, take us to your bosom and shelter us from all harm. O shepherd who is a servant of the Lamb and a sheep of His flock, take up your staff and guide us to secure and verdant pastures. O father who is a son and heir of the Unoriginate Father, lift up your arms and intercede with him that the Church may be preserved in tranquility; that her God-appointed hierarchs may be granted peace, safety, honor, health and length of days, rightly dividing the word of truth; that her priests may be clothed with righteousness; that her God-fearing monastics may shine forth as paradisaical lights upon the world; and that her Christ-loving people may be granted mercy, life, peace, health, salvation and visitation, pardon and forgiveness of sins. Pray to Him that we may be granted to live a peaceful life in this age, and to see the good things in the age which is to come, always glorifying the unoriginate Father, the only-begotten Son and the all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, the consubstantial Trinity, unto ages of ages. Amen.
I loved my Uncle Ralph. He always bought the BIGGEST cars in the world. He had a '52 white Packard, which he gave to us when he bought his brand new '59 Caddy. The caddy did fit into his garage with less than an inch to spare on each side.
The Packard had power brakes but NO power steering. It was a bear to drive and I wouldn't do it. Thus, I waited until I was 18 to get my driver's license. By that time the Packard had been replaced by a smaller used car. That's all we could afford.
When me daddy went out to get a "new car" that only meant "another car," and always used.
With my FIRST paycheck I bought a new VW bug, the previous year's model, but brand new to me.
When your name is Raphael Hawaweeny you had better be a saint.
Sounds like he was a great guy.
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