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Joseph the Hymnographer

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WITH LOVE FROM EBAUMS WITH LOVE FROM EBAUMS WITH LOVE FROM EBAUMS WITH LOVE FROM EBAUMS WITH LOVE FROM EBAUMS WITH LOVE FROM EBAUMS[[Image:josephhymn.jpg|right|thumb|200px|St. Joseph the Hymnographer]]Our father among the [[saint]]s '''Joseph the Hymnographer''' was a [[monk]] during the 9th century who was a strong defender of the reverence of icons during the iconoclastic period. He is remembered for being a prolific writer of [[hymn]]s, as noted throughout the [[Octoechos|Parakletike]]. His [[feast day]] is commemorated on [[April 3]] in the Greek tradition and [[April 4]] in the Slavic.  ==Life==The future Saint Joseph the Hymnographer was born in Sicily in 816, the son of Plotinus and Agatha, who were Christians. In 830, he and his family moved to Greece to escape the Arab invasions of Sicily. After being brought up by pious parents, he became a monk at the [[monastery]] of Latmos in his youth. Due to his piety and love towards God as a monk, he was praised by Saint Gregory the Dekapolite, who brought Joseph to Constantinople. Together with Saint Gregory, Saint Joseph staunchly defended the reverence of icons and preached his stance to others. This was during the time of iconoclastic [[heresy]] in the Orthodox Church in Constantinople where both the patriarch and the emperor, Leo the Armenian, were iconoclasts. Saint Joseph was chosen by the Orthodox monks of Constantinople as a messenger to Pope Leo III, who was still in unity with the Eastern Church, to obtain his assistance. During this trip, Joseph was captured by Arab bandits, who delivered him to the [[iconoclasm|iconoclasts]] for imprisonment. While in prison he inspired others to stand strong against the [[heretic]]s. It was also during his imprisonment that Saint [[Nicholas of Myra]] appeared to him in a vision and asked him to sing in the name of God. After six years of captivity Saint Joseph was freed from prison. After being freed he returned to Constantinople where he founded a monastery dedicated to Saint [[Gregory the Decapolite|Gregory Dekapolite]], who was no longer living by this time. He also dedicated a [[church]] in the name of [[Apostle Bartholomew]], whom he honored greatly. While in strict fasting before the Feast of the Apostle Bartholomew, the [[apostle]] appeared to him in a dream and encouraged him to write hymns for the church. After writing his first hymn in honor of Apostle Bartholomew, Saint Joseph dedicated other hymns to Saint Nicholas, who freed him from prison, the [[Theotokos]], and other saints. He is credited with composing about 1,000 hymns. When the heresy of iconoclasm returned, he again stood steadfast against the movement and was sent to exile in Cherson for eleven years. Upon his return in 842, during the reign of Empress Theodora, he was appointed keeper of the Sacred Vessels at the Cathedral of the [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Holy Wisdom]]. But, again he was exiled after denouncing Bardas, brother of the empress, for illicit cohabitation. Joseph returned again to Constantinople in 867 after Bardas' death.  When he was at a very old age and ill, the saint was told by the Lord that his life would soon be coming to an end. In response, Saint Joseph prayed intensively until his death, praying for peace for the Church and for mercy on his soul. He fell asleep in the Lord around 883. His legacy carries on as many canons in the [[Menaion]] and hymns in the Parakletike were composed by Saint Joseph the Hymnographer. ==Hymns==[[Troparion]] ([[Tone]] 2):Come, let us acclaim the divinely inspired Joseph,:The twelve-stringed instrument of the Word,:The harmonious harp of grace and lute of heavenly virtues,:Who lauded and praised the assembly of the saints.:And now he is glorified with them. [[Kontakion]] (Tone 3):Your divinely inspired tongue was the pen of a ready scribe,:According to the words of David.:You sang of the contests of the saints:And described the grace they received through their labors.:Therefore, we cry to you: "Rejoice, O blessed harp of holy melody!" ==External links==*[http://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=5 Joseph the Hymnographer] ([[GOARCH]])*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=100984 Venerable Joseph the Hymnographer] ([[OCA]]) [[Category:Saints]][[Category:Byzantine Saints]][[Category:Hymnographers]][[Category:9th-century saints]] [[ro:Iosif Imnograful]]
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