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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Saint Joseph Barsabas, pray for us!
St. Joseph Barsabas, pray for all Missionaries.
Saint Joseph Barsabas, pray for us. Protect our holy sacred spaces and all Catholics globally from persecution and ignorance and violence against the one true Faith. Amen.
Saint Joseph Barsabas help us to to be as zealous as you were.
Saint Joseph Barsabas, pray for us, that we may know and accept the Will of God in every situation and remain faithful to Our Lord till the end, preferably a holy end. Pray that we become zealous bishops of humble villages in our hearts, proclaiming Christ as King, and valiantly withstand the heinous tyranny of the world. Amen.