Blog No. 26 Joseph of Arimathea
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA The Legend The great uncle of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea was a "noble decurion" in charge of mines and metal-trading who traded for metal around the known world. He owned several ships and following the stoning of Stephen he brought together a small band of his friends which included Martha, the three Mary's, Salome, Lazarus, Zachaeus, the twelve disciples and his family and servants. It was agreed that the time had come to leave Judea. They made their preparations and cast off from shore, sailing along the coast of the Mediterranean until they came to Marseilles. Here Lazarus chose to remain and was its first missionary and later, Bishop; his name is perpetuated in one of the churches there. Mary said that she wanted to go onto the land of her mother with Joseph and so the party moved on towards Brittany Their journey took them along the Rhone valley, the trade route familiar to Joseph, his party dwindling as one and then another chose a t