A Middle-Eastern Saint
Saint Rafka
Blessed Rafka, A Lebanese Maronite Nun, Canonized on June 10, 2001
“Born about the year 1832, Blessed Rafka was first known by her baptismal name Boutrossieh (Pierrette or Petronila in French). Before dying, Blessed Rafka told of her life to Sister Ursula, superior of the monastery in which she died, “There is nothing important in my life that is worthy of being recorded … my mother died when I was seven years old. After her death, my father married a second time.
When Blessed Rafka was 14 years old her stepmother wanted her to marry her brother, and her maternal aunt wanted her to marry her son. Rafka did not want to marry either of the men and this caused a great deal of discord in her family. After overhearing her stepmother and aunt exchange insults, Rafka asked God to help her deal with the problem. She then decided to become a nun and went straight to the convent of Our Lady of Liberation at Bikfaya. This decision was not just to escape the problem of her marriage but a response to a true calling.
As Rafka recounts, “When I entered the Church I felt immense joy, inner relief and, looking at the image of the Blessed Virgin, I felt as if a voice had come from it and penetrated the most intimate part of my conscience. It said to me: You will be a nun.” - The Eparchy of St. Maron website.
[Art: An icon I did for the Maronite Church of the Holy Family in South St. Paul, Minnesota. Unfortunately, it isn't a very good photo and it definitely did not scan well.]
November 21st, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Very cool icon! I also like the stories of saints of other rites and had never heard of St. Rafka. Very interesting.
Hope you post more of your art in the future. Typically, in my limited experience with the more Eastern rites, blue is used for Our Lady. Is there some significance to the choice in this icon? And, the peacock? Just curious.
Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving, Terry!
November 21st, 2007 at 3:20 pm
I’m embarrassed that I can’t remember all of the symboliism in the background, it was quit awhile ago I painted the image. I’ll do my best: The Cedar of Lebanon is in the form of the Maronite cross, the mountain - Mt. Zion, the peacock represents eternal life, the cave - the resurrection, the waters flowing forth, the sacramental life of the Church - flowing into the fountain, symboloizing Baptism, etc. You can’t see it, but the earth is in flower, and in the background is Rafka’s monastery. The resolution is very poor and does not do the painting justice - you can not even recognize the gold leaf. Oh - and her habit is black with blue hi-lights.
November 21st, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Do you still write icons?
November 21st, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Awesome, Terry. I also would like to see more of your work.
November 21st, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Thanks Julie - I will try to get some stuff scanned.
Anon. - I will if commissioned - otherwise I paint in a more or less Spanish Colonial style.