Yet joseph here is a disciple of jesus, a model to be imitated, one of the few rich men who squeezed through a needles eye by. The joseph of arimathea and the arthur legends at glastonbury arthurs body was discovered in 1191 both arose during a period of crisis. John of glastonbury wrote a history of the abbey in 50. From there joseph or arimathea became britains first christian evangelist, and here joseph died by tradition on 27th july, in 76 or 82 ad and was buried in the old church. As a member of the jewish council, or sanhedrin, he was a man of considerable influence in his own country. The encyclopaedia britannica, 11th edition, states. Further legend believes that joseph of arimathea returned after the death of jesus and started the first cristen church of england in the village of glastonbury around 60 a d. By the time it reached its final edition in 1955, smithett lewiss st. Joseph of arimathea brings together modern research, ancient legends, and unique storytelling to trace the journey of joseph of arimathea from england to palestine as he performs an annual pilgrimage there. Several ancient manuscripts indicate that after the passion of christ, joseph of arimathea was commissioned by st.
Joseph removed christs body from the cross, prepared it for burial, and placed it in his own sepulchre. He is also commemorated on the sunday of the myrrhbearersthe second sunday after pascha along with st. Joseph was the man who had taken christs body down from the cross and given up his own tomb for christs last restingplace. Nov 09, 20 further legend believes that joseph of arimathea returned after the death of jesus and started the first cristen church of england in the village of glastonbury around 60 a d. The two streams revolve around the romantic figures of joseph of arimathea and king arthur. He is also commemorated on the sunday of the myrrhbearersthe second sunday after pascha. Joseph of arimathea was, according to all four canonical gospels, the man who assumed. Click download or read online button to get joseph of arimathea book now. This is the origin of the socalled glastonbury thorn. Pdf the glastonbury thorn in christian traditions and popular. William blakes dramatic poem jerusalem familiar nowadays as an inspirational hymn, draws on the myth that christ himself may have.
Josephus, also called josephe or josephes, is the son of joseph of arimathea and an early keeper of the holy grail in some tellings of the arthurian legend. St joseph of arimathea at glastonbury the lutterworth press. At this stage, suffice it to say, no one should dispute glastonburys preeminence in having had the first christian church established there by joseph of arimathea. Because there is no historical location of arimathaia, scholars propose arimathaia is probably an invented word, meaning best doctrine town. A collection of the legends surrounding st joseph of arimathea and his association with glastonbury and other parts of england. Jan 22, 2019 genealogy profile for saint joseph of arimathea.
Now this joseph of arimathea was a rich man, a prominent councilman, and was himself waiting for the full revelation of the kingdom of god. Aug 06, 2016 in the middle ages, it was believed that jesus worked as a miner in england and that his uncle joseph of arimathea brought the holy grail to somerset read more category. It was on this site that later monks built the great monastery at glastonbury where they venerated josephs remains. Joseph of arimathea 82 carlislefaulk family genealogie. He was a relative of jesus, possibly very close to him. All that is known for certain concerning him is derived from the canonical gospels. William of malmesbury mentions josephs going to britain in one passage of his chronicle of the english kings, written in the 1120s. His feast day is march 17 in the west, july 31 in the east. There are two main streams of legend that surround glastonbury, though they twine around each other to some degree. Joseph of arimathea download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi.
I am joseph ben abijah, pharisee and member of the ruling sanhedrin from the town of arimathea. This shows that joseph was an influential member of society, making it easy to believe that the roman govern of judea would grant his request. Jun 07, 2017 this video examines the evidence that joseph of arimathea brought jesus as a small boy to the west country of britain when he traded for tin. He added the details that joseph brought a wooden cup used at the last supper, and he also brought two cruets. Joseph of arimathea and the soul poetry of glastonbury. A number of stories that developed during the middle ages connect him with glastonbury, where the stories said he founded the earliest christian oratory, and also with the holy grail legend. Joseph of arimathea was a wealthy disciple of jesus. According to these tales, jesus came to england in the company of his mothers uncle, joseph of arimathea, a tin merchant trading with cornwall. Joseph of arimathea was a wealthy jewish man who buried the body of jesus christ after the crucifixion. Another account is given by john of glastonbury, who wrote a history of the abbey about a. Paul weston glastonbury unique personal transformation blend. A local tradition says that joseph buried the cup of the last supper above the spring in glastonbury and hence the water has a red color to it. According to the gospels, he donated his tomb for the body of jesus after the jesus crucifixion.
Aug 06, 2007 joseph of arimathea was quite an enigma. Writers were repeating and expanding the legends of joseph of arimathea and the holy grail. Antiquity of glastonbury and origin of the national church part ii. Joseph of arimathea the alternative journey to glastonbury. Posted on april 28, 2016 february 19, 2019 by alastairswinnerton previously i talked about josephs journey to glastonbury on his first arrival in england, but now i want to pose the question, was he buried there as the legend says, or. Cardinal baronius, the great church historian, and most learned librarian of the vatican, in his ecclesiastical annals, on which he spent 30 years, under the year a. Himself a disciple and believing that jesus was the promised messiah for he was a studied man he was fully persuaded that jesus would rise from the dead. Philip, the apostle, to take the gospel to britain. According to the legends the first church of glastonbury was a little wattled or thatched building erected by joseph of arimathea as the leader of the twelve apostles that is, the 12 missionaries mentioned earlier sent over to britain from gaul by st.
During this particular trip to palestine, joseph s world is turned upside down by the political crucifixion of jesus at the hands of his. Joseph and jesus then journeyed on to glastonbury, where joseph planted his staff which grew into the glastonbury thorn tree. Joseph of arimathea or the apostolic church of britain ran to about 200 pages, including appendices, and included a claim that glastonbury was the burial place of the virgin mary. Joseph of arimathea was, according to all four canonical gospels, the man who assumed responsibility for the burial of jesus after his crucifixion. Joseph arrived at glastonbury he planted his staff on wearyall hill, below the tor and like aarons rod it miraculously budded. He also provided the tomb where the crucified lord was laid until his resurrection. Popular tradition has linked glastonbury with king arthur, joseph of arimathea and even jesus himself. Joseph of arimathea monologue contributed by william groover on mar 5, 2002 message contributor based on 70 ratings rate this sermon 11,533 views. Bookmark sun and wind a legend of joseph of arimathea by william boardman duration. Joseph of arimathea at glastonbury, by lionel smithett lewis, pages 9293. He makes appearances in the quest del saint graal section of the lancelotgrail cycle, but his story is fully told in the estoire del saint grail history of the holy grail, a prequel section written somewhat later.
This is a truly fascinating and innovative perspective on the story of st joseph of arimathea, which promises to enthral the reader. However, the bible makes no such connection, so the claim is unsubstantiated. According to legend, joseph of arimathea not only came to britain to visit, but he eventually settled at glastonbury and was gifted land by the king arviragus. Or at least i was a pharisee and member of the sanhedrin. The fact that he had a private tomb and was able to provide the linen for it is evidence of his wealth matt. St joseph of arimathea at glastonbury by lionel smithett lewis. Apr 21, 2016 joseph of arimathea the alternative journey to glastonbury posted on april 21, 2016 february 19, 2019 by alastairswinnerton most people with an interest in mythology know of the legend that joseph of arimathea came to britain after the crucifixion and built the countrys first church at glastonbury, but not so many know the alternative.
Joseph derived his name, joseph of arimathea, from the judean city from which he came and nicodemus was very much like paul, a pharisee of the pharisees, a member of the sanhedrin. He was a wealthy jewish merchant from judea who was also a contemporary follower of jesus christ. For the biblical joseph of arimathea, see joseph of arimathea the first mention of joseph of arimathea in connection with britain is the 9th century life of mary magdalene by rabanus maurus 766856, archbishop of mainz. One contained the blood of christ, the other the sweat of christ. Apr 28, 2016 joseph of arimathea an alternative grave. Joseph s sepulchre as being still at glastonbury, and the learned john ray in his itinerary records that on june 2, 1662, we saw joseph of arimathea s tomb and chapel at the end of the church. For more insight on joseph of arimathea, i will quote, the traditions of glastonbury, by e. Mar 17, 2017 paul weston glastonbury unique personal transformation blend.
Would you like to be able to buy this title as an ebook. William blakes dramatic poem jerusalem familiar nowadays as an inspirational hymn, draws on the myth that christ himself may have visited glastonbury with joseph of arimathea and walked on englands mountains green. A number of stories that developed during the middle ages connect him with glastonbury, england, where. He was born at arimatheahence his surnamea city of judea luke, xxiii, 51, which is very likely identical with ramatha, the birthplace of the prophet samuel, although several scholars prefer to identify it with the town of ramleh. Aug 03, 2010 this is a video about the historicity of joseph of arimathea. Joseph of arimathea, keeper of the holy grail hubpages. Joseph of arimathea although coming only from a small village in judea, joseph was a respected member of the sanhedrin mark 15.
In our visit to glastonbury, we will encounter many references to him. The first literary connection of joseph of arimathea with britain had to wait for the ninthcentury life of mary magdalene attributed to rabanus maurus ad 766856, archbishop of mainz. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Josephs sepulchre as being still at glastonbury, and the learned john ray in his itinerary records that on june 2, 1662, we saw joseph of arimatheas tomb and chapel at the end of the church. In the middle ages, it was believed that jesus worked as a miner in england and that his uncle joseph of arimathea brought the holy grail to somerset read more category. Joseph of arimathea joseph was the biblical figure who took jesus body after the crucifixion. At first sight, this claim may seem quite extraordinary. Joseph of arimathea is a fictional character in the legend of king arthur. Joseph of arimathea, saint prosperous jew who was a secret follower of jesus christ. This small wattle church was revered as the oldest one in england lagorio 209. Joseph of arimathea holds a peculiar place in the mythology and traditions of england.
The men of looe were enormously grateful to joseph for sharing his knowledge and if you look upon the looe town crest today, you will find a picture of joseph of arimathea with the child jesus on their boat at looe. During this particular trip to palestine, josephs world is turned upside down by the political crucifixion of jesus at the hands of his enemies. The bible says that joseph of arimathea gave up his tomb for the burial of jesus christ after his body was taken down from the cross. Joseph of arimathea at glastonbury quotes historian john of glastonbury, who traces the lineage of arthur through his mother, ygerna, to her father and grandfather, lambord, to manuel, castellors, aminadab, josue, and finally back to helaiosthe nepos of joseph. Was he a fictional literary mechanism used by the gospel writers to achieve certain ends. Joseph of arimathea from the legend of king arthur, see joseph of arimathea according to the talmud, he was the younger brother of joachim the father of the virgin mary, that is, he was. Joseph of arimathea, the man who buried jesus christ. Joseph of arimathea appears in all four canonical gospels, described with differing details sanhedrin member or not, open or covert follower of jesus but consistently as a man who donated his own prepared tomb for the burial of jesus. Originally published in 1922, it chronicles the historical myths surrounding st. Joseph was a tin merchant and the uncle or perhaps cousin of the virgin mary. Whatever happened to nicodemus and joseph of arimathea.
Apocryphal legend tells us that joseph of arimathea was the virgin marys paternal uncle. As a member of the sanhedrin, joseph was undoubtedly a resident of jerusalem at this time, but he was born and had lived previously in the judean village of arimathea. Joseph and the disciples built a chapel, an unsightly construction no doubt but one adorned by god with many miracles crawford 87. The local legend is that joseph of arimathea visited glastonbury. Joseph of arimathea, according to all four gospels of the new testament, a rich jew of arimathea, probably a member of the sanhedrin, the ancient jewish court in jerusalem, who after the crucifixion of jesus christ, requested the body from the roman procurator pontius pilate and placed it in his own tomb. The holy house at the head of the moors adventurous. Some purport that joseph of arimathea was the uncle of jesus mother, mary. The myth purports that joseph decided upon glastonbury because when he put his staff into the ground on wearyall hill, it took root and flowered. For 800 years, glastonbury has been associated with the romance of king arthur, the holy grail and joseph of arimathea. However, in his mortal form, beli was said to have been the husband of anna, the daughter of st. This video examines the evidence that joseph of arimathea brought jesus as a small boy to the west country of britain when he traded for tin. Joseph of arimathea and the soul poetry of glastonbury paul. Is there any truth behind the legend that joseph of arimathea brought the holy thorn, and even the holy grail, to glastonbury.
He claimed christs body from pontius pilate after the crucifixion and attended to its burial. Today march 17th, as well as being the famous feast of st patrick, is also one of the feast days of joseph of arimathea and it is a date on which i always pause to contemplate him. Posted on april 28, 2016 february 19, 2019 by alastairswinnerton previously i talked about josephs journey to glastonbury on his first arrival in england, but now i want to pose the question, was he buried there as the legend says, or in fact somewhere else completely. Some traditions even have joseph and jesus with second homes in glastonbury, england see did our lord visit britain as they say in cornwall and somerset. According to the bbc, joseph of arimathea was a wealthy man who came from arimathea in judea, and a member of the sanhedrin. Joseph of arimathea the alternative journey to glastonbury posted on april 21, 2016 february 19, 2019 by alastairswinnerton most people with an interest in mythology know of the legend that joseph of arimathea came to britain after the crucifixion and built the countrys first church at glastonbury, but not so many know the alternative.
Both men had power, wealth, and influence, but they were willing to lose that for the purpose of receiving eternal life and being born again. We know enough about joseph of arimathea to start to draw some conclusions. The area is dominated by the steep, conical tor, a prominent landmark rising islandlike from the surrounding level landscape. None the less, the monks are indisputably culpable of distorting the truth and guilty of polemicism by trying to reestablish a link to joseph that is not evidenced except by. There are many legends about him, including one that he visited britain with the young jesus. The holy and righteous joseph of arimathea was a wealthy member of the jewish sanhedrin and a secret follower of christ matt. Joseph of arimathea brings the holy grail to glastonbury. Joseph of arimathea a glastonbury legend the town of glastonbury stands on a peninsula in the somerset levels, an area of wetlands, 31 miles south of bristol in southwest england. Glastonbury thus became the birthplace of english christianity, with joseph of arimathea gradually rising to the forefront. Hij is overleden op 27 juli 1982 in abbey of glais,glastonbury,wales.
Apr 06, 2010 joseph and the disciples built a chapel, an unsightly construction no doubt but one adorned by god with many miracles crawford 87. This is a video about the historicity of joseph of arimathea. The area is dominated by the steep, conical tor, a prominent landmark. Medieval legends further claimed joseph was not only a relative of jesus some said his great uncle but that he brought the holy grail to glastonbury, the very cup that jesus had used with his disciples at the last supper. The tapestry reminds us too of the legend that when st. In addition, joseph supposedly made many trips to britain for trade and is said to have eventually brought the gospel to that country.