The decision to proceed with the Rite of Canonization, scheduled to take place at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, South Canaan, PA May 28-29, 2000, followed an intensive three-year study of Bishop Raphael’s life, works, and ministry by the Joint Canonization Commission composed of representatives of the Orthodox Church in America and the Englewood, NJ-based Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.
Bishop Raphael’s legacy is especially felt in the Antiochian Archdiocese, where pious veneration of him has increased in recent years.
After a thorough review of the Commission’s report, members of the Holy Synod of Bishops signed a formal Proclamation on the Glorification of Our Holy Father, Bishop Raphael. Also signing the Proclamation as a witness and representative of His Eminence Metropolitan Philip, Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, was His Grace Bishop Antoun, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese.
Members of the Holy Synod also decided that the Primates of the world’s autocephalous Orthodox Churches will be informed of Bishop Raphael’s glorification for inclusion in their respective calendars.
Born in Beirut in 1860 to parents of Damascene background, Bishop Raphael was ordained to the diaconate at the Halki Theological School in 1885 and to the holy priesthood at the Kiev Theological Academy in 1889. His education and travels in numerous countries enabled him to learn several languages, preparing him for missionary labors in America where he ministered to people of diverse national origins. In 1904, after nine years of priestly ministry in North America, he was elected to the episcopate. His was the first Orthodox episcopal consecration to take place on the North American continent.
Bishop Raphael also was the author of several books and the founder of The WORD magazine, which still serves as the official publication of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.
His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, will preside at the Rite of Canonization. Concelebrating with him will be His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland, members of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America, and guest hierarchs. It is anticipated that at least two Auxiliaries of the Antiochian Archdiocese will also concelebrate at the canonization.
His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of Pittsburgh of the Orthodox Church in America and his Grace Bishop Basil of the Antiochian Archdiocese, together with three priests and one layperson, served on the Joint Canonization Commission which laid the foundation for Bishop Raphael’s glorification.
This Press Release on the Glorification of Bishop Raphael was issued by the Orthodox Church in America (OELA) and published by The WORD maga­zine, after some editing.