Joseph of Arimathea

Joseph of Arimathea and Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy Jew and probably a member of the Sanhedrin, the ancient Jewish court in Jerusalem.

Other well-known forms of the name are:

• Joseph d' Abarimacie / Abarmacie in Perlesvaus
• Joseph of Armathia at Locust Glastoniensis
• Joseph de Berimathie Robert de Boron

• 2.1 Remembrance
• 2.2 Iconography and Fine Arts
• 2.3 movie

Vita

Bible

Joseph was a disciple of Jesus. For fear of his fellow citizens, he kept it a secret (Jn 19,38 EU). After the crucifixion of Jesus, he asked according to the report of the New Testament the Roman governor Pontius Pilate for the body to place it in its particular really for himself rock grave (Matthew 27.57 to 60 EU); (Mark 15.43-46 EU); ( Lk 23.50 to 54 EU); (Jn 19.38 to 42 EU).

Joseph had already picked out a precautionary own grave for themselves. It lay near the crucifixion site of Golgotha ​​, Jesus was buried here, from where he, according to the Bible record, as the Redeemer rose two days later. The origin of Joseph of Arimathea ( cf. the Greek name ) Ramathaim.

Apocrypha and legends

According to legend, Joseph of Arimathea collected the blood of Christ in a bowl (possibly the Grail ). The blood came from the wound, which had the Roman centurion Longinus Jesus inflicted with his lance.

The apocryphal Acta Pilati (5th century) write the biblical story of Joseph of Arimathea continued. When the body of Jesus was gone by his resurrection from the grave, Joseph is arrested, accused of robbery and sentenced corpse to 40 years in prison. In the dungeon him Jesus appears, gives him the cup, and determined him to his guardian. Joseph is said to have survived the prison only because of the force of the chalice. Every day was a dove, and put a piece of bread out. After his release from prison, the aged Joseph his home is said to have turned their backs.

Then to Joseph ( or with his son Alan his brother- Bron ) have brought the Grail to England where he founded a small church in Glastonbury in Somerset. This church burned down in 1184 and was replaced by the Glastonbury Abbey, which was destroyed in 1539 by King Henry VIII, and of which only the ruins remain. The legend also reports, Joseph of Arimathea is said to have his walking stick plugged in when he arrived in Glastonbury in the earth. This drove out, and it has grown a thorn bush of it. The thornbush said to have flourished for centuries in the small church at Christmas time. Even today there is a growing hawthorn bush as this from Joseph rod adult bush is considered. Supposedly this bush blooms twice a year, which is not common for hawthorn bushes. According to another legend, Joseph is said to have buried the Grail at the foot of Glastonbury Tor. At this point, the iron-containing source Chalice Well was developed, whose red color is associated with the blood of Christ.

The dish was in many legends as the Holy Grail to the subject of the pursuit of a knight. In one it is Galahad permitted to look into the sanctuary. Him to the then deceased before over three hundred years Josef have presented the Grail.

This article refers to a revised version of the Gospel of Nicodemus or the Acta Pilati.

Grave

He is buried after the French Grand St. Graal in the Monastery of Glais in Scotland, according to the " Joseph of Arimathie ", however, in the abbey of Glastonbury, which is now known as " Glastynberg ". Furthermore, the grave of Joseph of Arimathea is venerated in the Holy Sepulchre Jerusalem. It is located in the tiny west apse of the rotunda.

Family

The sister of Joseph, Veronica, Veronica mulier was by Robert de Boron, the mother of the Fisher King.

Worship and reception

Remembrance

• Catholic: 31 August
• Evangelical: July 31
• Orthodox: July 31, the third Sunday of Easter ( the Sunday of the Myrrh carrier )
• Armenian: October 25th, April 9; liturgical celebration on 6th Monday after the Exaltation of the Cross Sunday; October 16 ( transfer of the relics of Akko / Acre to Jerusalem )

Iconography and Fine Arts

The Descent from the Cross, of which the Gospels record only very scarce, has been addressed over and over again within the visual arts. Even the early medieval book painting many examples. Frequently shown on these representations, such as the nails with which Christ was nailed to the cross, are already removed and it sinks into the arms of him intercepting Joseph of Arimathea. These representations often show a three- figure composition consisting of Christ, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Byzantine panel paintings also show Mary and the Apostle John during this scene. One of the most striking illustrations of the Cross is that of Rogier van der Weyden from around 1435th In this middle part of a triptych showing the Deposition of the bearded Joseph of Arimathea as he sees embrace the body of Christ in a white cloth.

Film

Zefirellis film Jesus of Nazareth is based on the biblical role of Josef Arimathäas. In the films, The Gathering and The Da Vinci Code - The Da Vinci Code, reference is made ​​to the legend of the establishment of the first church in England by Joseph of Arimathea. In the film The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson Joseph of Arimathea acts as an advocate of Jesus Christ in the Sanhedrin. Next Joseph of Arimathea is mentioned in the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was the first owner of the Grail, as well as in the Monty Python film The Holy Grail.