Changes

Jump to: navigation, search

Joseph the Betrothed

194 bytes removed, 19:25, June 14, 2017
ro
The holy and righteous '''Joseph the Betrothed''', also referred to as '''Joseph of Nazareth''', was the foster-father of [[Jesus Christ]], according to the [[New Testament]] ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 1:16; [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 3:23). Not much is known of Joseph except that he was "of the House of David" and lived in the town of Nazareth. His date of death is unknown, though he was still living when Jesus was 12 years old.
He was betrothed to the [[Theotokos|Virgin Mary]] at the time that Mary conceived Jesus. [[Luke ]] says that he lived at [[Nazareth ]] in Galilee (Luke 2:4); however, according to Matthew, it was only after the return from Egypt that he settled in Nazareth (Matthew 2:23). He is called a "just man". He was by trade a carpenter (Matthew 13:55). He is last mentioned in connection with the journey to Jerusalem, when Jesus was twelve years old. It is probable that Joseph died before Jesus entered on his public ministry because only Mary was present at the [[marriage]] feast in Cana of Galilee, and he is not described at the [[crucifixion]] along with Mary ([[Gospel of John|John]] 19:25). In addition, St. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] asked for the body of Jesus, a duty that would have fallen to St. Joseph had he been alive.
[[Jesus Christ]] is described as being the brother of [[James the Just|James]], [[Apostle Justus|Justus]], [[Apostle Jude|Jude]], and Simon, and several sisters ([[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] 6:3; Matthew 13:55). A tradition at least as early as the second century, still adopted by the [[Orthodox Church]], explains that these "brothers and sisters" were from Joseph's marriage to Salome who left him a widower before he married was betrothed to Mary and so making them step-brothers and step-sisters. He was the older brother to [[Apostle Cleopas|Cleopas]], who was also married to a woman named Mary.
That Jesus commended Mary to the care of [[Apostle John|John the Evangelist]] while he was hanging on the cross has been interpreted to also suggest that Joseph had died by that time, and that Joseph and Mary did not have any other children who might care for Mary.
In many [[icon]]s of the [[Nativity]], Joseph is shown being tempted by the [[Devil]] (depicted as an old man with furled wings) to break off his betrothal, and resisting that temptation (cf. [[Nativity Icon]]).
 
Also in the imagery of the Christian church, statues of Joseph depict his staff topped with flowers, recalling the [[Gospel of James|Protevangelion]]'s account of how Mary's spouse was chosen. Among the collected walking sticks of widowers in Israel, Joseph was distinguished when his staff burst into flower.
St Joseph is commemorated on the Sunday after the Nativity. If there is no Sunday between December 25 and January 1, his feast is moved to [[December 26]], along with [[David]] the King and [[James the Just|James the Brother of our Lord]]. The Righteous Joseph is also commemorated on the [[Sunday of the Forefathers]]. There is an [[akathist]] hymn dedicated to him.
*[http://www.comeandseeicons.com/j/inp135.htm Icon of St. Joseph the Betrothed]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Biblical Saints]]
[[Category:1st-century saints]]
[[Categoryel:SaintsΙωσήφ]][[ro:Dreptul Iosif]]
18,161
edits

Navigation menu