 The Rt Rev Jack L Iker, SSC, Bishop The Rev Mark A Stockstill, SSC, Vicar Office 325.356.2997 Vicarage 325.356.2198 Cell 325.330.2411 mstockstill@fwepiscopal.org |
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St.
Raphael is one of seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord.
He was sent by God to help Tobit, Tobiah and Sarah. At the time, Tobit was
blind and Tobiah's betrothed, Sarah, had had seven bridegrooms perish on the
night of their weddings. Raphael accompanied Tobiah into Media disguised as
a man named Azariah. Raphael helped him through his difficulties and taught
him how to safely enter marriage with Sarah. Tobiah said that Raphael caused
him to have his wife and that he gave joy to Sarah's parents for driving out
the evil spirit in her. He also gave Raphael credit for his father's seeing
the light of heaven and for receiving all good things through his
intercession. Besides Raphael, Michael and Gabriel are the only Archangels
mentioned by name in the bible. Raphael's name means "God heals." This
identity came about because of the biblical story which claims that he
"healed" the earth when it was defiled by the sins of the fallen angels in
the apocryphal book of Enoch. Raphael is also identified as the angel who
moved the waters of the healing sheep pool. He is also the patron of the
blind, of happy meetings, of nurses, of physicians and of travelers.