opened the door of the sepulchre and laid his body in it beside the body of his father Jacob. Now when he fell asleep he had completed one hundred and eleven years. Never did any tooth ache in his mouth, nor did the sight of his eyes grow dim, nor did his form bend, nor his strength fail; but he applied himself to his carpenter's trade, even to the last day of his life, and that day was the 26th of the month Abib.
CHAPTER XXX.
Now we apostles, when we heard this from our Saviour, joyfully arose, and with prostrate body rendered honour to him, saying, our Saviour, display to us thy grace; for now we have heard the word of life. Yet we wonder, our Saviour, at the fate of Enoch and Elijah, that they were not exposed to any death. For they dwell in the place of the just unto the present day, and their bodies have not seen corruption. But that old man Joseph, the carpenter, was still thy father after the flesh. Now thou hast commanded that we should go through all the world and preach the holy Gospel, and thou hast said. Tell them also the death of my father Joseph, and celebrate a festal and sacred day to him in an annual solemnity.[1] But whoever shall diminish aught from
- ↑ The importance attached to the commemoration of Joseph savours of no early date. The day mentioned, Abib 26th, is said in the
