The month of November is chosen for the feast of the Angels, as it is the ninth from March, which was once the beginning of the year, and the number nine corresponds to the nine angelic orders.
According to Sacred Scripture and tradition, the following Archangels are known: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jegudiel, Barachiel, and Jeremiel. They are not called Archangels in the strict sense but belong to the order of Seraphim, and are referred to as Archangels as leaders of the angelic hosts.
Archangel Raphael is the healer of human ailments, a guide, and a physician of God. The name Raphael in translation from Hebrew means – God’s help, healing, divine healing.
Archangel Raphael is mentioned in Sacred Scripture, in the book “The Book of Tobit,” where he, in the form of a young man, accompanied the righteous Tobit, protected him from unforeseen dangers, freed him from the evil spirit Asmodeus, gave Sarah to Tobit as a wife, and healed Tobit from blindness.
When Tobit and Raphael came to the river Tigris, Raphael told Tobit about the fish that wanted to devour him, and taught him how to heal from demons and blindness. In Ecbatana, where Sarah lived, he protected Tobit from the evil spirit, and after the wedding, healed Tobit by anointing his eyes with fish gall.
After the healing, Raphael commanded Tobit and Tobiah to bless God and glorify His deeds. He said that he is one of the seven holy Angels who present the prayers of the saints.
Archangel Raphael taught that a good deed is prayer with fasting and almsgiving, and that almsgiving delivers from death and cleanses from sin. He commanded to glorify God and to remember all that has been accomplished.
The Holy Church depicts Archangel Raphael holding a vessel with healing substances and leading Tobit, who carries the fish.
