Raphael is an archangel, not a human saint. His name means "God heals". He appears mainly in the Book of Tobit (Old Testament), where he guides the young Tobit on a journey, heals his father of blindness and drives out a demon. He is venerated as the guardian angel of travelers, the sick and doctors. His role is to bring physical and spiritual healing. His cult spread to Europe, especially in Lorraine, where he is invoked for protection and healing. He is often depicted with a pilgrim's staff and a fish, symbols of his intervention with Tobit.
