Feast Day: Sunday of the Holy Forefathers of Christ, (Sunday between 11th-17th of December)
& Sunday after the Nativity
The Life of Saint Joseph: He lived in Egypt with the Virgin Mary and the Divine Child, working as a carpenter…
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Prayers
Troparion: Proclaim the Wonder, O Joseph, to David, the Ancestor of God: You saw a Virgin Great with Child, you gave Glory with the Shepherds, you Worshipped with the Magi, you received the news from the Angel. Pray to Christ God to save our Souls!
Kontakion: Today Godly David is filled with joy; Joseph and James offer praise. The Glorious crown of their kinship with Christ fills them with great joy. They sing praises to the One ineffably Born on Earth, and they cry out: “O Compassionate One, save those who honour You!”
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Sunday after the Nativity Apolytikion: O Joseph, proclaim the wonders to David, the ancestor of God. Thou hast seen a Virgin great with Child; thou hast given Glory with the Shepherds; thou hast worshipped with the Magi; and thou hast been instructed through an Angel. Entreat Christ God to save our souls.
Sunday after the Nativity Kontakion: Godly David on this day is filled with gladness of spirit; Joseph also joineth James in offering Glory and praises. They rejoice, for as Christ’s kinsmen, they have received Crowns: and they praise the One ineffably born upon the Earth as they cry out with a great voice: O Lord of mercy, save them that honour Thy Name.
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When Saint Joseph was Betrothed to Our Most Holy Mother of God, he was around 80 years old and had been a widower for many years, living a chaste and righteous life. Saint Joseph was earlier married to Salome and had children together, they are Saint Iakovos the Brother of the Lord (October 23rd), Saint Salome the Holy Myrrh-Bearer (August 3rd) and mother of Saint James and Saint John the Beloved, Saint Justus the Apostle of the 70 (October 30th), Saint Jude Apostle of the 12 (June 19th), Esther and Martha. Saint Joseph was also the older brother of Saint Cleopas Apostle of the 70 (October 30th).
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