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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 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.
*[http://hometown.aol.com/dangellbrown/akathistjoseph.html The Akathist Hymn in Honor of the Righteous Joseph, the Betrothed of the Most-Holy Virgin, Mary], according to the usage of the Kyivan Church of the Catholic Communion ([[Uniate]])
*[http://www.comeandseeicons.com/j/inp135.htm Icon of St. Joseph the Betrothed]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Biblical Saints]][[Category:1st-century saints]]
[[el:Ιωσήφ]]
