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St. Joseph the Carpenter

A Man Led by God

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.”

(Psalm 32:8)
Icon of St. Joseph at SMSJ

The Story In Summary

St. Joseph’s Life Before St. Mary

Born in Bethlehem of Judea, St. Joseph came from the royal lineage of King David. Both St. Luke and St. Matthew mark his descent from David, the greatest king of Israel (Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38). The Scriptures do not tell us why or when originally St. Joseph left Bethlehem and chose Nazareth to be his place of residence, but it tells us that he was a carpenter (Matthew 13:55).

The Chosen One

When the Lord saw Joseph’s godliness and holiness, He chose him to be betrothed to the virgin St. Mary. According to tradition, when St. Mary, who was dedicated to the temple, completed twelve years in the sanctuary and could not stay there any longer, the priests announced through Judea that they wished to find in the tribe of Judah a respectable man to espouse her.

When the priests had gathered twelve righteous men from the tribe of Judah, they took their staffs inside the sanctuary. A dove flew up and stood upon the staff belonging to St. Joseph. They immediately knew that this was God's will. The righteous St. Joseph took St. Mary to his house where Archangel Gabriel came and told her:

“You will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus."

(Luke 1:31)

St. Joseph- The Obedient Servant

Being a man led by God, St. Joseph always sought after God's guidance, which was offered to him through four dreams.

The First Dream: the Birth of Jesus

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about this these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying: 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.' So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

(Matthew 1:19-25)

Joseph obeyed the angel, so the prophecy that was mentioned in the old testament by Isaiah the prophet was fulfilled. “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

The Second Dream: the Flight to Egypt

After the visit of the wise men, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying:

Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him. When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt

(Matthew 2:13-14)

St. Joseph endured many hardships during this difficult journey. However, what comforted him was that he was beholding the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, and receiving the blessing of the Virgin St. Mary. The Holy Family lived in Egypt for three years and eleven months. This fulfills the Old Testament prophecy of Hosea the prophet: “And out of Egypt I called My son” (Hosea 11:1).

The Third Dream: Return to Israel

"Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 'Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.' Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel."

(Matthew 2:19-21)

The Fourth Dream: Going to Nazareth

"But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, 'He shall be called a Nazarene.' "

(Matthew 2:22-23)

His Departure

Having lived a life led by unwavering trust in the Lord's words,

"I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go."

(Isaiah 48:17)

the righteous St. Joseph departed in the sixteenth year of the advent of the Lord Christ, Who was present at his departure. The Lord Christ laid His hand upon Saint Joseph's eyes, extended his arms, and delivered up his soul. Saint Joseph was buried in the tomb of his father Jacob. All the days of his life were one hundred and eleven years.

His Feast

The church celebrates the commemoration of the Upright St. Joseph on August 2nd every year - the 26th day of the Coptic month of Abib.

Learn more about St. Joseph's story by Clicking Here!

Hear the Story

Praises and Hymns

"Why Did You Choose Me?" (Arabic Spiritual Song) - By the SMSJ Holy Family Choir

References

Synaxarium- Coptic Reader App

St. Takla .Org

Orthodox Sermons .org

Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States

St. Mary and St. Joseph Coptic Orthodox Church