Pilgrims from across North America gathered at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery, South Canaan, PA, May 28-29, 2000 to celebrate the glorification of the first Orthodox Christian bishop to have been consecrated on North American soil—Saint Raphael Hawaweeny.
Today—February 27, 2015—marks the 100th Anniversary of Saint Raphael’s repose. His many missionary and pastoral journeys across North America to gather Orthodox Christian faithful of Middle Eastern background had taken their toll. He fell ill early in 1915, patiently bearing his infirmities at home. At 12:40 a.m. on February 27, he fell asleep in the Lord.
