Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • A Different Kind of Pope – Analysis by Theodore Kalmoukos
    • A Zoom Retreat on “Pride” for Clergy Wives and Widows
    • Pascha With St. John of Shanghai
    • Over 200 Entered the Church this Pascha in Hatfield, UK
    • On the Unity of the Church: An Interview with Dr. Symeon Paschalidis
    • OCA Delegation Attends Funeral of Pope Francis
    • Another Joyful Milestone at St. Vladimir’s Seminary
    • The “Chernobyl Savior” Icon
    Orthodox Christian Laity
    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
    • Home
    • OCL
      • About OCL
      • Leadership
      • OCL News
      • OCL Publications
      • Focused Study and Research Topics
      • OCL Archives at DePaul University
    • Orthodox News & Links
      • Orthodox News Stories
      • Headlines & News Archives
      • Governance & Unity
        • Governance Top Stories
        • Governance & Unity Essays
        • Grassroots Unity in Action
      • OCL Forums
      • Orthodox Christian Laity News
      • Web Links
    • Audio & Video
      • Audio Index
      • Video Index
    • Contact
    • Make a Donation
    Orthodox Christian Laity
    You are at:Home»Orthodox Christian Laity»OCL News»MUSING FROM ARGO PYLE, PRESIDENT OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY

    MUSING FROM ARGO PYLE, PRESIDENT OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY

    0
    By Webmaster on March 31, 2020 OCL News, Orthodox Christian Laity, Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Telegram WhatsApp Copy Link
    St Raphael of Brooklyn

    Source: Orthodox Christian Laity

    Getting to know the Saints who lived, labored and served in America.  Our Neighborhood Saints!

    This Lenten period, observed in the time of the coronavirus, I am more mindful of prayer and looking inward with family and friends.   My prayer life has brought me to appreciate the Orthodox Christian Laity feature on its web site entitled Getting to Know our Orthodox Christian Saints who Lived, Labored and Served in America.   For some reason, I have found solace in the lives of the saints that knew us directly and labored in our neighborhoods throughout the United States.  They left their homelands and laid the groundwork, in synergy with the laity, for the development of Orthodoxy in this land.   The feature is a work in progress, and we hope to present the lives of all 19 saints before the end of the year.

    I find the life and work of St. Raphael of Brooklyn most interesting.  Bishop Raphael was glorified (numbered among the saints) by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America in  March 2000. The glorification services took place in May of that year at St. Tikhon’s Monastery with the participation of bishops representing the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the Church of Poland. He is commemorated by the Orthodox Church in America on February 27, the anniversary of his death, and by the Church of Antioch on the first Saturday of November.  He is buried at Antiochian Village, Ligonier, PA.  Saint Raphael of Brooklyn was a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, auxiliary bishop of Brooklyn, vicar of the Northern-American diocese, and head of the Antiochian Levantine Christian Greek Orthodox mission. He was the first

    Orthodox Christian bishop consecrated on American soil.  He was born in Beirut, Ottoman Syria on November 20, 1860.  He fell asleep in the Lord in Brooklyn, NY on February 27, 1915.

    St Raphael studied at Halki and Kiev, and his ministry took him from one country to another seeking theological knowledge and preaching the word of God.  He was ordained in Moscow, Russia, and raised to the rank of Archimandrite.  He also focused on restoring the Church of Antioch to its native people to free it from foreign dominance (Russia and Greece).  In 1895, he was invited by the Syrian Orthodox Benevolent Society of New York to come to the United States to teach, preach and celebrate the Divine Liturgy.  There was a great need for this at the time, since so many immigrants were turning to other traditions because of the lack of an Orthodox ministry here in the USA.

    He defended the faith and in 1896 undertook many more journeys, giving the sacraments and preaching, and appointing pastors after obtaining the proper authority from the Russian hierarchs. This was the norm until the Russian revolution disrupted church life in Russia and America.  Saint Raphael’s tremendous travels included the northeast, southern and midwest regions of the US; and he ministered to all Orthodox people.  He was asked many times to return to Russia, but his influences in America and his projects were unfinished. He said he was unable to return.  He was committed to his pastoral responsibilities, administration, ordaining priests, making assignments and publishing one of the most important magazines, and first of its kind in America, the “Word”, which included spiritual and moral content.

    He continued his missionary work, and his base was the church he established in Brooklyn, Saint Nicholas Cathedral.  It is here that he understood the necessity of using English in worship for the continuation of the Holy Orthodox and Apostolic Church in America.  OCL shares his example and ministry of outreach to all Orthodox Christians and encourages the use of English.  He was a missionary saint and dedicated his life to bringing the faith to all people.  He understood that the unity of the Orthodox Christians in America was a necessity.

    Rejoice, O Father Raphael, Adornment of the Holy Church!
    You are a 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.

    Argo Pyle, President
    Orthodox Christian Laity

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp Copy Link
    Previous ArticleApostolic Visit of Ecumenical Patriarch to the U.S. Postponed Due to Coronavirus
    Next Article A NEW ICON FOR OUR STRICKEN EPOCH

    Related Posts

    April 30, 20251 Min Read

    Over 200 Entered the Church this Pascha in Hatfield, UK

    April 30, 202513 Mins Read

    On the Unity of the Church: An Interview with Dr. Symeon Paschalidis

    April 26, 20258 Mins Read

    The “Chernobyl Savior” Icon

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Sign the Declaration for Orthodox Christian Unity

    Enter the Slogan Contest

    Share this page
    DISCLAIMER

    All articles represent the views of the authors and  not necessarily the official views of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL). They are posted to encourage thoughtful discussion on topics and concerns relevant to Orthodox Christians living in a pluralistic society. OCL encourages your comments.

    Stay Informed!

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

    WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT AND SUPPORT!

    Your donation impacts and helps advance the unity of the Orthodox Church of America.

    DONATE NOW

    THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

    Upcoming Events
    There are no upcoming events.
    Recent Comments
    • Webmaster on St Catherine’s Circle: Lenten Lectures on Tuesdays at 2:00 pm Eastern
    • Joy smith on St Catherine’s Circle: Lenten Lectures on Tuesdays at 2:00 pm Eastern
    • Webmaster on Ethiopian Bible is the oldest and complete bible on earth
    • Gloria on Ethiopian Bible is the oldest and complete bible on earth
    • Webmaster on A Different Kind of Pope – Analysis by Theodore Kalmoukos
    • Irvinjacksonjr on Ethiopian Bible is the oldest and complete bible on earth
    • George Marakis on A Response to “Xenophobia in the Cloak of Progress How English Liturgies Hurt the American Orthodox Church”
    • Gerry Perdilas on A Response to “Xenophobia in the Cloak of Progress How English Liturgies Hurt the American Orthodox Church”
    • Lakis Velotris on Is Trump the New Constantine?
    • Mary Zaras on Is Trump the New Constantine?
    OCL Archives Online
    Project for Orthodox Renewal
    renewal-resize
    OCL Digital Newsletter

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

    MAKE A DONATION

    St. Symeon the New Theologian and St. Photini are the Patron Saints of OCL

    footer-fnl

    Orthodox Christian Laity
    PO Box 6954

    West Palm Beach, FL · 33405
    561-585-0245

    Sponsored by Ann Souvall in memory of husband George

    DISCLAIMER: All articles represent the views of the authors and  not necessarily the official views of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL). They are posted to encourage thoughtful discussion on topics and concerns relevant to Orthodox Christians living in a pluralistic society. OCL encourages your comments.

    ©2025 Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) ·  Login

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.