1st century
Saint Joseph of Arimathea
Member of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem and secret disciple of Christ who, according to the Gospels, buried the body of the Lord together with Nicodemus.
Biography
Joseph came from Arimathea, a small town northwest of Jerusalem, and was a member of the Sanhedrin, a secret disciple of Jesus. According to the Gospels, after the Crucifixion he asked Pilate for permission to bury Christ's body.
Together with Nicodemus he took the body down from the cross, wrapped it in linen with spices, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb, sealing the entrance with a large stone. Joseph died in peace; according to tradition, in England, where medieval legends later also linked him to the Holy Grail.