Who was this Angel?
In one of the legends pertaining to Saint Anthony the Great an Angel appeared to learn him how to tie the Prayer Rope we all cherish and love today. Without this Angel in the legend we would not have any Prayer Bracelets or Prayer Necklaces to wear or help us with our prayers. Who was this Angel?
The Angel I am referring to is one of the seven who stand before the throne of God. That means it could be Archangel Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Salaphiel, Jegudiel or Barachiel.
Well let me not leave you in suspense, it is Archangel Raphael the merciful healer. He was the one who helped Saint Anthony the Great and learned him to tie the Prayer Rope. Archangel Raphael is mentioned in the book of Tobit where his story is told.
The book is about two righteous Israelite families, one belonging to Tobit and the other to Raguel. Both families were struck by tragedy, Tobit got demoralized after he was blinded and the daughter of Raguel, Sara was tormented by a demon called Amodeus. Archangel Raphael helped both families. First he banished the demon who was tormenting poor Sara and later he went to Tobit and helped him to regain his site.
Archangel Raphael was in a human form when he helped Sara and Tobit, after his divine work was done he revealed his true identity to Tobit. Saying the well known line in Orthodoxy “I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, which present the prayers of the saints, and which go in and out before the glory of the Holy One.” (Tobit, 12:15)
Again a wonderful Orthodox story with Myth and Legend that surround the lovely Orthodox Prayer Ropes. Of course available in our store.
And indeed your prayer ropes and bracelets are lovely. I honestly don’t know where I’ve seen such bracelets and prayer ropes.