Joseph of Arimathea

St Joseph of Arimathea, who buried the crucified Christ.

The holy and righteous Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy member of the Jewish Sanhedrin and a secret follower of Christ (Matt. 27:25; John 19:38). His feast day is July 31.

Along with St. Nicodemus, St. Joseph removed Christ's body from the Cross and placed it in his own sepulchre. Jewish spies found out about this and told their authorities who imprisoned St. Joseph. However, the resurrected Christ appeared to St. Joseph in prison and convinced him of his Resurrection. Some time later the Jews released St. Joseph from prison and banished him from Jerusalem. He then traveled throughout the whole world preaching the Gospel, eventually sowing the seeds of salvation in Britain, where he reposed in the Lord.

Hymn

Troparion (Tone 2)

The noble Joseph, taking down thy most pure Body from the Tree,

wrapped it in clean linen and sweet spices and laid it in a new tomb.

But on the third day thou didst rise, O Lord, granting the world great mercy.

Source

• St. Nikolai Velimirovic, The Prologue of Ohrid

External link

• Righteous Joseph of Arimathea (OCA)
• Icon and Story of St. Joseph of Arimathea