Raphael (archangel)

Raphael (Latin spelling Rafael; Hebrew: רפאל rafa'el, to German "God heals" ) is one of the apocryphal Old Testament ( Protestant denomination) or Deuterocanonical ( Catholic denomination) texts mentioned archangel or angel. He is also revered in circles of the esoteric.

Old Testament

Raphael is in the Book of Tobit (Old Testament) the angel who hears the prayer of Tobias (son of Tobit ) ( Tob 3,16 EU), accompanied him on his journey to Rages of Nineveh, Ecbatana in him as a wife Sara mediated ( Tob 6.10 to 13 EU) and Tobias ' father Tobit heals.

Jewish tradition

The Book of Tobit is not part of the Tanakh. Raphael is mentioned several times in other texts of the Jewish tradition as one of the angels, for example, in the Babylonian Talmud ( Tractate Yoma 37a), where he healed Abraham. The Hebrew rapha'el or raphach means " God heals (the soul ) ". Raphael is known as the angel of healing. Its name reflects the root word with the Hebrew word for healing ( Rophe ).

Christian tradition

Idea

In the New Testament, is an idea of angels to find, but the archangel Raphael is not mentioned by name. Raphael Archangel as alongside Michael, Gabriel and Uriel was recorded by early Christianity by the late writings of the Old Testament faith in the idea, from which also the presentation of Raphael can be derived in the Catholic tradition.

Iconography

In the iconography of Christian art Raphael is usually depicted as a pilgrim with staff and traveling bag as the companion of Tobias, also with fish, on the healing offal Raphael Tobias points ( Tob 6.8).

Patronage and Commemoration

Raphael is true in the Christian tradition from the Middle Ages as the patron saint of the sick and pharmacist. As he accompanied Tobias on his journey, he has since then represented as a saint of travelers, and the sailors and emigrants and pilgrims. He is traditionally regarded as a saint of the roofers and miners. Raphael is by Anselm Grün not only the angel who heals wounds ( Sara's obsession, Tobit's blindness), but also " healing relationships " allows.

The Memorial Raphael was in the Catholic Church 1924-1969 October 24, today the " Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Rafael " is celebrated on 29 September.

Raphael is honored by Catholic blind because of its function as a companion of Tobias as a patron saint.

The chapel at the International center for the blind in the country battle TG in Switzerland and the blind center in Bolzano in South Tyrol are dedicated to the Archangel Raphael. In Austria, a measuring Chapel St.. Raphael in Gößl.

In addition, in the German language are often companions who stand blind or severely visually impaired people available, " Raphael " called.

Islamic tradition

• Azrael
• Israfil

Esoteric

After esoteric conception governed Raphael etheric vitality and the ( electro) magnetism and brings beschützendes intervention in threatening situations.