HAWAWEENY, RAPHAEL

HAWAWEENY, RAPHAEL, bishop, missionary (8 November 1860–27 February 1915). Born in Damascus, Syria, Raphael Hawaweeny was the first Orthodox bishop consecrated in America. After completing studies at the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Halki Theological School, he was ordained deacon and entered the Kiev Theological Academy. After graduation in 1894, he was appointed professor of Arabic language and literature at the Kazan Theological Academy by the Holy Synod.

At this time, the Arabic-speaking community in the United States was growing rapidly, and a Syrian Orthodox Benevolent Society was organized in New York City in 1895. The president, Dr. Ibrahim Arbeely, contacted Hawaweeny about the needs of the fledgling community, whereupon the latter was ordained to the priesthood in Russia and was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. This occurred so that he could serve Arab-Americans in the United States; and he proceeded there accompanied by two other “Syro-Arabs” who had been in Russia. Archimandrite Raphael was placed in charge of the whole of the Syrian Mission, and organized St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn. His extensive travels throughout the United States led to the establishment of many other parishes, and by 1898 he published a large Arabic liturgical book (q.v.).

In 1901 he was twice elected bishop by the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch, if he would but return to Syria, but he deferred to his missionary work in the New World. After the approval of the Holy Synod of Russia Bishops, Tikhon Belavin (q.v.) and Innocent Pustynsky consecrated him Bishop of Brooklyn. Bishop Raphael’s work was by no means limited to Arab-Americans, and he actively assisted Archbishop Tikhon. For example, he prepared the agenda for the historic first All-American Council at a clergy conference and also consecrated the new grounds of St. Tikhon’s Monastery and Orphanage in Pennsylvania. He was the founder of the magazine, Al-Kalemat, in 1905-still published today by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese (q.v.) as The Word. He issued edicts to explain the complexities of the American religious scene to his people. At the time of his death thirty Syrian Orthodox parishes had been established in the United States with approximately 25,000 faithful. A proposal for Bishop Raphael’s canonization was recently presented at the Patriarchate of Antioch.