Priest Afanasy Gumerov answers:
Dream of Joseph the Betrothed
The most reliable information about St.
righteous Joseph the Betrothed are in the Gospel. They are few, but they are precious. His very election by Divine Providence to preserve the virginity of the Most Holy Theotokos speaks of his high moral purity. How much spiritual nobility is revealed by his desire to secretly let go of his wife, who was not idle. With complete trust in God and submission to His will, the 80-year-old St. Joseph abandons his patronymic name and flees to Egypt to save the Child. He shows touching concern for the Child Jesus: “Behold, Your Father and I sought You with great sorrow” (Luke 2:48).
At this time, Righteous Joseph was over 90 years old. Researchers suggest that St. Joseph died before the public ministry of Jesus Christ began. He is no longer mentioned in any of the Gospels.
The church tradition recorded by the Byzantine historian Nicephorus, who followed the Hieromartyr Hippolytus (3rd century), allows us to expand our knowledge about this saint. The information preserved in legend was included in the life of St. Saint Joseph, compiled by Saint Demetrius of Rostov (December 26). He came from the royal family of David. His parent was Jacob, who, according to the rules of levirate marriage, married the widow of his brother Eli, who died childless. In accordance with the law, Eli was considered the father of the born son (Joseph). St. was married. Joseph on Solomiya. She was the daughter of Haggai, brother of St. Prophet Zechariah - father of St. Prophet and Forerunner John. They had 4 sons (Jacob, Simon, Judah, Josiah) and 2 daughters (Esther and Tamar). In the Synaxar (the week of the myrrh-bearing women) it is also said about the third daughter - Solomia, who was married to Zebedee - the father of the apostles John and James. At the time of his engagement he was about 80 years old. He died, according to legend, at the age of 110. The burial place is not mentioned. His memory, together with the prophet David and the apostle James, is celebrated on the week after the Nativity of Christ (the first resurrection after the great holiday). There is an Akathist to St. righteous Joseph the Betrothed (Akathistnik, book 1, Nizhny Novgorod, 1995). A separate iconographic image is posted on the Orthodox Calendar website.
May 11, 2004
Iconography
The holy righteous man is depicted on icons according to evangelical stories.
For example, we can name the compositions:
- "The Betrothal of Mary";
- "The Presentation of Mary to Joseph";
- "The appearance of an angel in a dream to Joseph."
Single images are very rare. In early images, the righteous man is a dark-haired man with a thick beard, wearing royal or apostolic robes. It is typical for later iconography to depict a gray-haired old man.
Temples
The first church in the name of the saint was built in the 4th century in Jerusalem. During the period of Byzantine rule, there were chapels in honor of the righteous man in the basilicas of Bethlehem and Nazareth. In Russia, the first building appeared in St. Petersburg at the beginning of the 18th century.
The wooden church was rebuilt first into the stone Church of the Holy Trinity with the chapel of the holy man, and then into a chapel in the name of the head of the holy family. In the 30s it was destroyed. In pre-revolutionary times, churches in honor of Joseph the Betrothed prevailed in the western provinces.
Currently, churches have been restored in Ukraine: in the Kherson, Kharkov, and Dnepropetrovsk regions. In the Russian Federation, there is an active church in Crimea.
They pray to the icon of Joseph the Betrothed for meekness and humility
What does it help with, and what do they pray for to the icon of Joseph the Betrothed? They ask Saint Joseph for meekness, humility, and love for one’s neighbor.
Everyone who bears this name must have an icon at home. You can buy such an icon in almost all churches and monasteries.
In front of the icon of Joseph the Betrothed, mothers pray for the arrangement of the fate of their daughters.
If you buy an icon in a temple, then you can immediately place it in the red corner of the house, but if the icon was purchased, for example, in a jewelry store, then it must be consecrated in the temple before placing it at home.
Notes
- Calendarium Romanum (Latin): Ex decreto Sacrosancti Œcumenici Concilii Vaticani II instauratum auctoritate Pauli PP. VI promulgatum. Editio typica - Civitas Vaticana: 1969. - P. 25.
- ↑ 12
Joseph the Betrothed // Christianity. Encyclopedic dictionary in 3 volumes. Ch. edited by S.S. Averintsev. - M.: Great Russian Encyclopedia, 1993. - T. 1. - P. 640. - ISBN 5-85270-050-9. - The Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ into the world (Russian), Church-Scientific
. Retrieved November 13, 2021. - Patristic heritage - Eusebius, bishop. Caesarea. Ecclesiastical History, Book One (1848) (unspecified)
. tvorenia.russportal.ru. Access date: November 13, 2021. - The mysterious old man on the icon (undefined)
.
Orthodoxy in Tatarstan
. - Archbishop Nikon (Rozhdestvensky).
Take care of the treasures of church traditions // Danilovsky evangelist. Publication of the Moscow St. Danilov Monastery: magazine. - 1992. - No. 4. - P. 87-88.
Canons and akathists
Kontakion 1
Chosen to be the guardian of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the nurturer and nourisher of the God-man, righteous Joseph, glorifying your service to the ineffable mystery of the incarnation of God the Word, let us sing praises to you. Now you, standing before the throne of Christ our God and having great boldness towards Him, pray for us who cry to you:
Rejoice, righteous Joseph, quick helper and prayer book for our souls.
Ikos 1
By an angel, the incomprehensible mystery of the birth of God the Word from the Immaculate Virgin, keeping clean from the slander of people and the deceit of the devil, to you, righteous Joseph, the humble tecton, God has chosen to be the guardian and witness of the virginity of the Most Holy Mary. In the same way, glorifying you, as the chosen secret one of God, we cry to you:
Rejoice, honorable branch from the root of Jesse;
Rejoice, adorned within with royal majesty.
Rejoice, thou who through poverty in earthly things has acquired spiritual wealth;
Rejoice, having gained eternal glory through obscurity.
Rejoice, more glorious than kings;
Rejoice, righteous one more than the patriarchs and forefathers.
Rejoice, righteous Joseph, quick helper and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 2
Seeing the Virgin Mary, brought up in the temple, now of age, the high priest Zechariah cried out to the Lord: Lord, show me a man worthy to be betrothed to the Virgin; When Joseph's rod flourished, handing over the Virgin to him, you sang to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Your righteousness, Saint Joseph, is understood by all the ends of the earth, for you were granted the incomparable honor of being the betrothed of the Most Blessed Virgin, from Whom Christ God came forth unmarried, for you were strong for the sake of faith, purity, humility and success in all virtues, you were chosen for this. We also appeal to you:
Rejoice, righteously betrothed to the most pure;
Rejoice, man of faith, who received under your roof the Holy Virgin Mary, who by faith became the Throne of God.
Rejoice, humble in spirit;
Rejoice, simple hearted one.
Rejoice, adorned with virtues;
Rejoice, holy one, who served the Most Holy.
Rejoice, righteous Joseph, quick helper and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 3
The power of the Most High will then bring forth an unartificial conception, a wondrous mystery that Joseph does not know, but taught by God Himself, he will cry out to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
Seeing the Virgin with the God-pleasant womb, Joseph was dismayed, in vain thinking about the marriage and the stolen marriage; but he is righteous, with the desire to let go, to God, who knows everything, entrusting judgment and teaching us to cry:
Rejoice, champion of chastity;
Rejoice, O Israelite, there is no flattery in him.
Rejoice, good-hearted one;
Rejoice, meek of morals.
Rejoice, place all your trust in God;
Rejoice, entrusting yourself and others to His providence.
Rejoice, righteous Joseph, quick helper and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 4
Having tamed the storm of doubtful thoughts of the chaste Joseph, the Angel reveals the secret of the birth from the brideless Mary of the Son of God, the Savior of the world, like the verb: and you will call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins, and to Him we all cry: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Hearing in the scriptures the Lord saying: Behold, the Virgin in her womb shall receive and bear a son Emmanuel, you believed, O righteous Joseph, which was spoken by an Angel, like a book sealed, in which the Word was written with the finger of the Father, and you received Mary into your house, like a servant, serving More pure with fear and jealousy. For this reason we appeal to you:
Rejoice, for you have applied your heart to the knowledge of the law of God;
Rejoice, for you have opened your meaning to receive the mysteries of God.
Rejoice, for before all people you were honored to reveal the great mystery of piety, as if God appeared on earth;
Rejoice, for you have known His coming for the sake of saving people from their sins.
Rejoice, for you undoubtedly believed what was revealed to you;
Rejoice, for faith has been credited to you as truth.
Rejoice, righteous Joseph, quick helper and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 5
Having received the God-chosen Maiden into your home, blessed Joseph, you loved You like a betrothed, you revered You like the Most Pure Virgin and Mother of the Savior of the world, and you served Her with fear and reverence, striving wholeheartedly, so that everything written in the Law and prophecy would be fulfilled, and together with Mary they cry out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Seeing in the manger of Bethlehem the star that rose from Jacob, you were the first to worship the Born One, and when the sky star, the angels sang, the shepherds confessed and worshiped and gifts offered to Him, but you, righteous Joseph, brought everything to yourself as a gift to the Lord, both life and devoting cares and labors to His service. For this reason we cry out to you:
Rejoice, thou who, first of all, saw the ascent of the never-setting Sun of Truth onto the earth;
Rejoice, first on earth to witness and minister of the incarnation of the Son of God, born before the age of the Father.
Rejoice, earthly tectone, worthy of the name of the father of the Heavenly Architect;
Rejoice, guardian and trustee of the Childhood; the ranks of Angels serve Him with fear.
Rejoice, reverent servant of the Mother of God the Word.
Rejoice, righteous Joseph, quick helper and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 6
Preached by the Law and the Prophets as a man of today, you circumcised him, and you gave the name Jesus, preserved in the Trinity Council, as a precious bead from heavenly treasures, as a revelation to all people, to Joseph, surprising the Angels with it, delighting people, frightening demons, and, like peace Having fragrantly fragrant the whole universe, you cried out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
The light that shone for you, righteous Joseph, in the baby Jesus, through the prophecy of Simeon, for the revelation of tongues and the glory of the people of Israel, is covered with a cloud of sorrow: the people are confused, Herod is raging, searching for the souls of the Child, weapons are predicted to pass into the heart of the Mother, so that your faith and patience will be evident everyone. We also cry to you, who are strong in patience and unshakable in faith:
Rejoice, as gold in the furnace, constantly purified by temptations;
Rejoice, humble in joy, patient in sorrow.
Rejoice, always faithful to the secrets entrusted to you;
Rejoice, unshakable in courage.
Rejoice, guided by faith like a star in the dark paths of life;
Rejoice, having trust in God like an anchor in the storms of everyday navigation.
Rejoice, righteous Joseph, quick helper and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 7
Although you wanted to save the one who came to save the world from Herod’s wickedness, you did not ask, O wondrous Joseph, the Angel who gave you the command to flee to Egypt, whether he who had saved himself could not save himself; but like a man of faith, like a new Abraham, I am ready for obedience, not thinking about the labors of the journey, never testing the time of return, but you rushed to Egypt with Mary and the Child, joyfully crying out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
You seemed new in Egypt, Joseph, more than this ancient patriarch, who saved the people of Egypt from famine: you saved the Savior of the world from death, and you brought animal bread to the people of Egypt, perishing from the famine of wickedness, and you sowed the seeds of eternal life, from which a wondrous vegetation grew. in the deserts of Egypt. We also cry out to you:
Rejoice, joyfully enduring the sorrows and labors of Christ along the way;
Rejoice, teacher of the Child Jesus, who sometimes led Israel in the desert as a pillar of fire and cloud.
Rejoice, feeder of the One who fed His people with manna;
Rejoice, you who bore in your arms the Creator and Bearer of all creation.
Rejoice, you who sometimes saved the people of God from Herod’s malice from the bitter work of Pharaoh;
Rejoice, you who foretold the grace of sonhood to Egypt for slavery.
Rejoice, righteous Joseph, quick helper and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 8
Having seen a strange miracle about Jesus, God, according to the prophecy, was born in the flesh, and the baby was taken into the manger, the Virgin Mother, the angels' praise and circumcision of the flesh, the Magi from the east coming from the east with gifts of worship and the flight to Egypt from Herod's fury, the salvation of all people and the Light of tongues, like the speech of Simeon, and the weapon in the heart of the one who gave birth, you knew His true God of being and the truth of man, and for this reason you cried out to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
Having betrayed everything to God, who through an Angel called His Son from Egypt, you followed His command and lived with Jesus and His Matter in Nazareth, so that the word of the prophet about him would be fulfilled, as he would be called a Nazarite. Likewise, we cry out to you, as a faithful servant of God:
Rejoice, hastener of God's will;
Rejoice, partaker of God's economy.
Rejoice, ever-present interlocutor of the Angels;
Rejoice, dedicated to the earth into the depths of the heavenly mysteries.
Rejoice, having heard the prophecies of the prophets about Jesus;
Rejoice, having kept everything reverently in the depths of your heart, telling it to no one.
Rejoice, righteous Joseph, quick helper and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 9
Every tribe of heaven, earth and hell bows to the name of Jesus, but to you, wonderful Joseph, obeying the Child Jesus as to a father. Wondering at the Lord’s condescension towards you, we cry out to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
The multi-proclaimed Vitiya is perplexed by the merits of praising you, righteous Joseph: the Mother of God, the Queen of heaven and earth calls you her master, the incarnate Son of God calls you father, and your house on earth is the receptacle of the most heavenly shrine, as the King of heaven and earth dwells in it. Moreover, we humbly cry out to you:
Rejoice, chosen one of God, who guards the ark of the most heavenly shrine;
Rejoice, wondrous tectone, in his own house dwelling the Creator of heaven and earth.
Rejoice, nourisher and guardian of the Youth Jesus, who, like God, gives existence to all creatures and provides for the whole world, visible and invisible;
Rejoice, for on earth you were worthy to behold the Son of God and to hold Him in your arms and kiss Him.
Rejoice, for even after departing to the heavenly abodes in the light of His face, the King of glory, you are blessed and glorify Him with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, righteous Joseph, quick helper and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 10
You can save everyone who resorts to your intercession and intercession, O blessed Joseph, because whoever on earth obeyed you in everything will not hear you, who now stands before Him in heaven and cries with the angelic faces: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
Thou art a strong wall to all who resort to thy intercession, O righteous Joseph; so do not despise us, who come to thy intercession, in the storms of temptation, in the troubles and sorrows of life, crying out to thee:
Rejoice, our speedy intercessor in needs and misfortunes;
Rejoice, mighty representative for us before God.
Rejoice, our firm hope in the storm of confusion and bewilderment;
Rejoice, speedy deliverance from human slander.
Rejoice, nourisher of Him who bears all things by the word of His power;
Rejoice, who delivers us from spiritual hunger and all sorrow.
Rejoice, righteous Joseph, quick helper and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 11
We offer all-contrite singing to you, God-wise Joseph, and we pray to you, as you have kept Christ the Lord Himself from all harm and bitterness, preserve His Holy Orthodox Church by your intercession before Him from all the bitterness of enemies, visible and invisible, protect our Russian country from all intrigues by your intercession , let a quiet and silent life accompany us, we cry out to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
You saw the light-giving lamp to those who were in the darkness of unreason in the temple of the twelve-year-old Youth Jesus, giving the light of true knowledge to the teachers of the law of God and revealing the secret of His great ministry according to the predestination of the Heavenly Father. We also cry out to you:
Rejoice, faithful guardian of the law of the Fatherland;
Rejoice, for being zealous for the observance of the law, you brought the Child Jesus to the house of the Heavenly Father.
Rejoice, for when the Youth Jesus remained in Jerusalem, remembering Him among the company, together with His Mother they grieved fatherly for Him;
Rejoice, because you sought Him among your relatives and those you knew and did not find Him, but returned to Jerusalem and after three days you found Him in the church, sitting in the midst of the teachers and listening to them and asking them questions.
Rejoice, for you heard the revelation of the mystery when the Child Jesus said: Do you not know that in those who are my Father, I am worthy to be;
Rejoice, thou who have seen and testified, for Jesus has excelled in wisdom and stature and grace with God and man.
Rejoice, righteous Joseph, quick helper and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 12
Seeing the Youth Jesus abound in grace from God and man, and with the age of your body abound in wisdom, you laid everything in your heart, as a faithful servant, keeping the entrusted treasure in secret until the day, and all the believers began to cry out to Him as God and the Savior of the world: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing your labors and deeds, we glorify your blessed dormition: in the arms of God the Word and His sweet Mother you rested from your labors, righteous Joseph, having an undoubted assurance of blessed eternity. We also cry out to you:
Rejoice, faithful in great service;
Rejoice, for this reason you have been vouchsafed the greatest honor from God.
Rejoice, thou who art united on earth with the glory and beauty of heaven;
Rejoice, Father of the next century, released in peace into the next century.
Rejoice, thou who preached great joy to David;
Rejoice, you who brought the well-known news to all who are in hell, that Christ has come, having the power to free and save the human race.
Rejoice, righteous Joseph, quick helper and prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 13
O holy and righteous Joseph! Accept this little prayer of ours and with your strong intercession to Christ God, beseech Him, that by His grace He may make us firm and unshakable in the Orthodox faith, zealous and unswerving in keeping His commandments, and grant us everything useful for temporary and eternal life, crying out to Him: Alleluia .
(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)
