A Question
18 April 2008 - 14 ניסן 5768 by Huw
Dear Readers -
On 1 May - Feast of the Ascension according to the Gregorian Calendar - I’ll be received back into the Anglican Communion from Orthodoxy. This will complete my set, as far as being presented to the Bishop. I was Presented to Paul Moore for Confirmation. I was presented to Bill Swing to renew my Baptismal Vows after having been a Pagan Gnostic for nearly 20 years. And the only other thing for which you need to be presented to the Bishop is to be received from either the Roman Church or Eastern Orthodoxy. I may be the only Episcopalian to have a matched set :-)
In a real sense my names have shown my journey, my path, my way:
When Pastor Jim Lowry baptised me at Acworth United Methodist, it was as Bill Bailey.
Paul +New York confirmed me as William Francis.
Bill +California “renewed” me as Huw (after the name change).
Fr. Victor gave me the name Raphael…
What should I say to Michael +Buffalo?
In all honesty, after 5 years of people calling me Raphael, I’ve kinda gotten used to it. People don’t usually address you by your “confirmation name” in the western liturgical tradition. I don’t think I’ve ever heard “Francis” uttered out loud by any other person other than Paul Moore. But I know that St Raphael wasn’t, exactly, a big fan of the Anglican Communion after we started to pirate his laity. And years after he ordered them not to hang out in our churches Anglicans (even ones who should have known better) were still saying “Oh, no, really it’s ok…”
But his own rootlessness reminds me of mine. I really have no physical home to claim: my father was a wandering Aramean. My home is only by the way, the Tao, and in my heart.
Raphael means “healing of God” where “healing” comes from the same root that means “salvation” and “wholeness”. In a world without roots, the healing and wholeness of God is my only home. Raphael seems to be the right name.
What say you?
No firm view from me…but I\’d say if Raphael is close to you, you may like to keep it.
And my prayers for your reception. May it be a blessed day.
I would stick with Raphael. I’m also in the process of leaving Orthodoxy and going back to being Anglican, but one thing I admire about Orthodoxy is its soteriology, particularly its focus on healing from the God who assumed our flesh rather than a legal decree by a wrathful God often prevalent in western christianity. I think the name Raphael will remind you of all that is good with Orthodoxy. It could be a source of rootedness minus the often chauvinistic aspects that come with that quality,
May God grant you many years,
St. James
Names are important. They mark us.
Many years ago, when dinosaurs walked the earth, I was a novice in a Roman Catholic religious order and was given the name Teresa (after Teresa of Avila). Although I now recognize that I was trying to take refuge in celibacy as a way of avoiding dealing with my sexuality, I have kept the name as my middle name even though I also have a confirmation name. It’s an essential part of the struggles and joys of my spiritual life, and I think Teresa of Avila is pretty cool anyway.
If Raphael is still resonating with you, there’s no reason not to continue using it. The name sounds like it’s been an important part of your spiritual journey.
I concur, there is no real reason to change it, and Raphael is a beautiful name.
God bless you on your Reception.
Well, obviously I am in favor of archangel names …
Well… this isn’t an Angelic Name, per se. St Raphael Hawaweeny was the first Orthodox Bishop consecrated in the US.