Story
English: Raphael — Hebrew: רָפָאֵל — Greek: Ραφαήλ — Coptic: Ravahl.
The Archangel Raphael is one of the seven holy archangels who stand before the throne of God, and the Holy Church venerates him as a great healer, a guardian of travelers, and a tender helper of those in distress. He is mentioned by name in the Book of Tobit (one of the canonical books of the Holy Bible, "the Old Testament," which the Protestant community did not include in the Beirut edition of the Bible). There he revealed himself, saying, "I am Raphael the angel, one of the seven who stand before the Lord" (Tobit 12:15). The word "Raphael" means "the medicine of God," and some of the Fathers call him the angel "who gladdens hearts," for he is sent to bind up the wounds of the body and of the soul.
The Book of Tobit recounts for us many miracles that the angel Raphael wrought for Tobias and his father; and because of the importance of this account, we shall set it down in full, that the importance of the angel Raphael among the heavenly hosts may appear. When the righteous Tobit, who had grown blind, sent his son Tobias on a long and perilous journey to recover a debt, the Lord in His mercy sent His angel Raphael to walk beside the young man in the likeness of a fellow traveler.
Along the way the angel guarded Tobias from a great fish that sought to devour him, and taught him how its heart, liver, and gall might be used for healing. By the angel's counsel Tobias was wedded to the faithful Sarah, from whom the angel drove away the evil spirit that had afflicted her; and at the journey's end the angel anointed the eyes of old Tobit, so that the father beheld once more the light of heaven. Then the angel made himself known:
"Then Tobias answered and said to his father: Father, what wages shall we give him? Or what can be worthy of his benefits? He took me and brought me back safe and sound; he received the money from Gabelus; by his means I obtained my wife; he restrained the evil spirit from her; he gave joy to her parents; he delivered me from being devoured by the fish; and he has also made you to behold the light of heaven... Then he (the angel Raphael) addressed them privately and said: Bless the God of heaven, and confess Him before all the living for the mercies He has shown you...
As for me, I declare the truth to you, and I will not hide any hidden matter from you. When you prayed with tears and buried the dead, and left your dinner, and hid the dead in your house by day and buried them by night, I offered up your prayer to the Lord. And because you were acceptable before God, it was necessary that temptation should prove you. And now the Lord has sent me to heal you, and to deliver Sarah your daughter-in-law from the devil. For I am Raphael the angel, one of the seven who stand before the Lord.
And when they heard what he said, they were troubled, and falling upon their faces upon the ground, they trembled. And the angel said to them: Peace be to you; fear not, for when I was with you, I was so by the will of God; bless Him and praise Him. I seemed indeed to eat and drink with you; but I make use of an invisible food and a drink that no man can see. And now it is time that I return to Him who sent me; but bless God, and declare all His wonders." (Tobit 12:2-20)
This beautiful account shows us the power of the intercession of the angels and their love for mankind, for he remained a long while with Tobias in order to aid him, deliver him, and guard him on his journey; and he ate and drank before them, so that Tobias did not know that he was an angel sent from God until the angel Raphael revealed himself, lest Tobias be terrified at his appearance. From this the Church learns that the holy angels carry our prayers and tears, like fragrant incense, before the throne of the Most High, and that they minister unseen to the faithful who walk in righteousness. Therefore the believers seek the intercession of Raphael for the sick and the suffering, for those who journey far from home, and for households troubled by the snares of the enemy.
The Coptic Church commemorates him on the third day of the Little Month (the Nasi), and there is a famous story concerning him with St. Andronica, who came from Rome especially to build a church in his name in Alexandria, because the angel Raphael had helped her when she interceded with him. She had vowed to build a church in his name in the days of Pope Theophilus, who fulfilled her desire and ordained her two sons as bishops for their holiness (this miracle is recounted in detail in the Synaxarium of the Church — synaxarion — in the Synaxarium of the eighteenth day of the month of Babah).
A Glorification for the Glorious Angel Raphael:
"This saint, 'Andronica,' came forth from Rome with her two sons and came to Alexandria, to our father St. Anba Theophilus, saying thus: I have come forth from my city, O my holy father, to Alexandria with my son; but I have not heard the name of Raphael, chief of the angels, in the city of Alexandria... For in truth God has chosen seven archangels in all the orders... Michael, the great one among the archangels, who is the first among the angels... and Gabriel also, the chosen herald, who is the second in all the ranks...
Michael is exalted, and Gabriel is honored... but Raphael also I did not know... Grant me authority, O my holy father, to build a church in the name of Raphael. So she obtained what she asked of the Lord, and her two sons she made bishops. The interpretation of your name is in the mouths of the believers; O God of Raphael, help us. By the intercession (Book of the Annual Psalmody) of the angel Raphael, O Lord, grant us the forgiveness of our sins."
Thus the holy Archangel Raphael continues to stand before the Lord as a minister of healing and a faithful guardian, lifting up the prayers of the faithful and bringing down the mercies of God upon the sick, the sorrowful, and the wayfarer. May his intercession be with us. Amen.
* See also: Names of churches in the name of the angel Raphael, who gladdens hearts, in Egypt