Orthodox Icon of St. Joseph of Arimathea

St. Joseph of Arimathea COPYRIGHTED ART. Do not copy or deep-link to without prior permission from "COME AND SEE" Icons, Books & Art.

July 31st
Troparion
The Noble Joseph having taken your Most Pure Body down from the Cross, wrapped it in a clean shroud and anointed it with fragrant spices and laid it in a new tomb.
But on the third day You arose, O Lord, granting the world great mercy.

Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin (the ruling council of the Jews). He was a secret believer after visiting Jesus by night with Nicodemus. (John 3) The two of them removed Christ's body from the Cross and laid it in Joseph's new tomb. (Matt. 27:57; John 19:38) For this public act of faith, the Jews fettered him and put him in prison. The resurrected Lord appeared to him there to confirm and encourage his faith. The Jews released Joseph, but banished him from Judea, driving him out. St. Joseph travelled to the ends of the earth to preach the Gospel. He spent some time with Apostle Philip in Europe, then he went to England. There, he was exiled to an island, where he fell asleep in the Lord after a long and fruitful ministry. He is depicted here with the burial cloth or epitaphios draped over his shoulder and arm.

This icon is by the hand of Ilya Balavadze. It belongs to C. Joseph Coulter, the owner of "Come and See" Icons, Books & Art. The inscription is in Georgian.

Order # lkg-41