Saint Joseph of Arimathea — July 31 / August 13 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, July 31 according to the Julian Calendar (August 13 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Joseph of Arimathea.

Saint Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple of Jesus Christ. Though a member of the Sanhedrin, he took no part in the counsel and design of the Jews which ended in the sentence of crucifixion pronounced upon the Savior. After the death of Jesus Christ, this “noble counselor” boldly went to Pilate and asked for the holy body of the Lord. Together with Nicodemus, another secret disciple of the Savior, he took down the most pure body from the tree, wrapped it in clean linen, bore it into the garden, and laid it in the new tomb he had prepared for himself, in the presence of the Theotokos and the myrrh-bearing women.