Saint Joseph Barsabas, one of the seventy-two original disciples of Christ, was considered to replace Judas, the infamous apostle who betrayed the Lord. Yet, when St. Matthias was chosen instead, St. Joseph remained undeterred and joyous in the Lord’s presence.
This anecdote comes from the teachings of St. Chrysostom, who admired St. Joseph’s acceptance and resilience.
Following the scattering of the disciples, St. Joseph embarked on an evangelical mission, spreading the teachings of the gospel to diverse nations. His miracles are plentiful and, perhaps, the most striking among them was his ability to ingest poison without suffering any harm, as recorded by Papias and Eusebius.
Due to his extraordinary piety and unwavering devotion to faith, St. Joseph was fondly known as ‘the Just.’ As tradition unfolds, St. Joseph continued his journey, eventually ascending to the position of Bishop of Eleutheropolis.
However, this revelation carries an intriguing historical context, for Eleutheropolis, in the 1st century, was nothing more than a humble village. Its unfortunate inhabitants, along with many others, were massacred and enslaved by Vespasian in AD 68.
Eventually, St. Joseph met a heroic end, becoming a martyr in the very place he served as Bishop. Today, he is venerated as Saint Justus of Eleutheropolis, a symbol of his remarkable piety and enduring faith.
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