Saint Joseph of Arimathea

A life of faith

Joseph was a wealthy man and a disciple of Christ. After the Crucifixion, he asked Pilate for Jesus’s body. With Nicodemus, he took the body down, wrapped it in a clean shroud, and placed it in the new rock-cut tomb Joseph had prepared for himself. The calendar remembers this concrete act of care at a moment when many followers had withdrawn.

The Eastern Orthodox Church remembers saints in prayer and commemoration. Their lives offer examples for Christians learning to live their faith.

A reflection

Joseph’s example invites you to offer practical care when grief and fear make action difficult.

Read the Orthodox source

Orthodox Church in America: life and commemoration

Feast dates follow the linked source. Local calendars and commemorations may vary. Themes describe a saint’s life; quiz suggestions do not assign a baptismal patron. Discuss choosing a patron saint with your priest.