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Back to the OP....
He was 80, she was 15 (when Christ was born)
From the same book....
At that time, in September, the feast was approaching when many of the principal persons of Jerusalem and the neighboring areas would meet at the temple. The priest resolved to seek their advice how he might best proceed in such a difficult case.
Then, when they met in council, the other priests said, “Behold, Mary is of age; what shall we do with her?; for fear lest the holy place of the Lord our God be defiled.” Then the priests replied unanimously that the Lord’s counsel should be sought concerning the matter, and they said to Zacharias, “Do thou stand before the altar of the Lord and enter into the holy place. Petition the Lord concerning her and whatsoever the Lord shall make manifest to thee, that thou must perform.”
Saint Germanos (c.635-733), Patriarch of Constantinople, confirms this story, writing, that “through the inspiration of God and the will of the priests, lots were cast for her....”
While they were all engaged in prayer, the high priest entered into the holy place. Wearing the breastplate of judgment that was used in determining God’s will [Ex. 28:15- 29], he made prayers concerning Mary. Then, behold, an angel of the Lord stood by Zacharias, and said unto him, “Zacharias, Zacharias, go forth and call together all the widowers among the people and have each man bring his rod. And he by whom the Lord shall show a sign, shall be the husband of Mary. For the matter concerning to whom the Virgin should be given and be betrothed would be resolved in accordance with the prophecy of Isaias, where he says, ‘there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a blossom shall come up from his root’ [Is. 11:1]. The spirit of the God shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and piety shall fill Him, and the Spirit of the fear of God shall fill Him [Is. 1 1:2]. Therefore, God put it into the mind of Zacharias to betroth the Virgin, that the devil might overlook her as the possible virgin of Isaias’ prophecy.
Then Abiathar, one of the priests, stood up and said, “Hear me, 0 sons of Israel, and receive my words into your ears. Since the time when this temple was built by Solomon, there have been in it virgins, the daughters of kings and the daughters of prophets, and of high priests and priests. They were great and worthy of admiration. But when the maidens came to the proper age they were given in marriage and followed the path that their mothers had before them; and they were pleasing to God. However, Mary has found a new order of life, for she has vowed to remain a virgin to God. Wherefore, it seems to me, that by the answer we received as a result of our inquiry, we should try to ascertain to whom Mary should be entrusted.”
These words found favor with all the synagogue. The lot was then cast by the priests upon the twelve tribes, and the lot fell upon the tribe of Judah. Then the priest announced that all eligible widowers of Judah be summoned, saying: “Let every man who has no wife come and bring his rod in his hand.” Thus the criers went out through all of Israel and when the trumpet of the Lord sounded, all the people ran and met together.
There was at that time, the aged Joseph of Nazareth, then eighty years old, of the tribe of Judah and of the royal house of David. After forty years of marriage, he was a recent widower of about one year. Not wishing to slight the order of the high priest, he put down his axe, for he was a carpenter by profession and lived honorably by the labor of his hands. He came forward bearing his rod in his hand with the other widowers of his tribe.
His first wife, a pious and God- fearing woman, Salome, had borne him seven children: James, Jude, Simon and Joses; and three daughters. The names of the daughters are Salome (she being the future mother of the Apostles James and John the Theologian), Esther, and a third girl whose name has been recorded with several appellations.
Supporting the apocryphal account, as did other Eastern Fathers, St. Epiphanios of Cyprus (c.315-403) gave the opinion that Joseph had been formerly married and had children, both sons and daughters.2° Saint Cyril of Alexandria (+444) considered the “brothers of the Lord” to be children of an earlier marriage of the elder Joseph. In the West, St. Hilary of Poitiers (c.315-367) defended the opinion of Joseph being formerly married.
The rods were then handed over to the high priest who offered a sacrifice to the Lord God, and inquired of the Lord. The angel of the Lord then revealed to the high priest that all the rods were to be placed into the Holy of Holies of God. They were to remain there and, the following day, the men were to return to receive back their rods. The sign that was to be shown was that out of whomever’s rod a flower should bud forth...he was the man to whom the Virgin would be given and betrothed.
This incident of Zacharias praying before the rods is illustrated in a mosaic at the Kariye Djami (Monastery of Chora, in Constantinople).
Mary is standing in prayer behind the altar in the Holy of Holies. Neatly arrayed on the altar before her are the rods. Before the gate, the high priest Zacharias is depicted kneeling as he prays that a sign might be given by the Lord in designation of Mary’s future husband. In the following icon, Joseph’s rod is seen to have sprouted three small leaves from the knob at the upper end of his walking stick.
The analogy of the budding of Aaron’s rod [Num. 17:8] and the blossoming of Joseph’s rod is explicitly brought out in the mosaic at Kariye Djami. In the icon we may see the high priest holding the rod in one hand and firmly placing his other hand upon the head of the Virgin. The “budding rod” is also associated with the prophecy that “...there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a blossom shall come up from his root: and the Spirit of God shall rest upon Him...” [Is. 11:1-2], which has been universally interpreted as a prefiguration of the advent of Christ.
Returning to the apocryphal account, the following day all assembled early. The high priest went into the Holy of Holies and brought forth their rods. However, when the rods had been distributed, no sign had appeared. The priest then put on the twelve bells and the sacerdotal robe. Having entered the Holy of Holies, he made a burnt offering and poured forth prayers. The angel of the Lord then appeared to him, saying, “There is here the shortest rod, of which thou hast made no account. Thou didst bring it in with the rest, but neglected to take it out with the others. When thou hast taken it Out and hast given it to him whose it is, then the sign will appear of which I had spoken to thee.” Indeed, the rod in question was Joseph’s. The elderly widower, acknowledging his great age and feeling that he presented a pitiful appearance, did not volunteer to request his rod back, lest perchance he might be enjoined to receive the young maiden.
When he was standing last of all, the high priest cried out to him with a great voice, “Joseph, come and receive thy rod; for we are waiting for thee.” Trembling, because the high priest had called him with a very loud voice, Joseph came forward. As soon as he laid hold of his rod, straightway, from the top of it there blossomed forth a bud and it flowered.
Saint Romanos speaks of this, chanting, Zacharias submitted to lot the choice of bridegroom for her; and Joseph was betrothed to her from God. For she was given to him when it was revealed in the rod from the Holy Spirit.
Then all the people congratulated the elderly man, remarking, “Thou hast been made blessed in thine old age, 0 father Joseph, seeing that God hath shown thee worthy to receive Mary.” The priests then said, “Take her, because of all the tribe of Judah thou alone hast been chosen by God. Take the Virgin of the Lord and keep her for Him.” But Joseph began bashfully to address them, saying, “I am an old man and have children. Why do ye hand over to me this infant, who is younger than my grandsons? She is quite young, and I fear lest I should appear ridiculous in Israel.”
Then Abiathar said to him, “Remember, Joseph, how Dathan, Abiram and Korah perished when the earth opened and swallowed them up, because they contradicted and despised the will of God [Num. 16:25_33].28 So will it happen to thee and thy family, if thou choose to despise this which is commanded of thee by God.” Joseph, fearing, answered him, “I do not despise the will of God. I shall be her guardian until I can ascertain the will of God as to which of my Sons can have her to wife. Therefore, let some virgins, her companions, with whom she might spend her time, be given as a solace to her.” Abiathar then answered and said, “Five virgins indeed shall be given to her for consolation, until the appointed day shall come when thou may receive her; for to none other may she be married.”
Forgive me...
He was 80, she was 15 (when Christ was born)
From the same book....
THE RESOLUTION OF MARY’S CASE
Then, when they met in council, the other priests said, “Behold, Mary is of age; what shall we do with her?; for fear lest the holy place of the Lord our God be defiled.” Then the priests replied unanimously that the Lord’s counsel should be sought concerning the matter, and they said to Zacharias, “Do thou stand before the altar of the Lord and enter into the holy place. Petition the Lord concerning her and whatsoever the Lord shall make manifest to thee, that thou must perform.”
Saint Germanos (c.635-733), Patriarch of Constantinople, confirms this story, writing, that “through the inspiration of God and the will of the priests, lots were cast for her....”
While they were all engaged in prayer, the high priest entered into the holy place. Wearing the breastplate of judgment that was used in determining God’s will [Ex. 28:15- 29], he made prayers concerning Mary. Then, behold, an angel of the Lord stood by Zacharias, and said unto him, “Zacharias, Zacharias, go forth and call together all the widowers among the people and have each man bring his rod. And he by whom the Lord shall show a sign, shall be the husband of Mary. For the matter concerning to whom the Virgin should be given and be betrothed would be resolved in accordance with the prophecy of Isaias, where he says, ‘there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a blossom shall come up from his root’ [Is. 11:1]. The spirit of the God shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and piety shall fill Him, and the Spirit of the fear of God shall fill Him [Is. 1 1:2]. Therefore, God put it into the mind of Zacharias to betroth the Virgin, that the devil might overlook her as the possible virgin of Isaias’ prophecy.
Then Abiathar, one of the priests, stood up and said, “Hear me, 0 sons of Israel, and receive my words into your ears. Since the time when this temple was built by Solomon, there have been in it virgins, the daughters of kings and the daughters of prophets, and of high priests and priests. They were great and worthy of admiration. But when the maidens came to the proper age they were given in marriage and followed the path that their mothers had before them; and they were pleasing to God. However, Mary has found a new order of life, for she has vowed to remain a virgin to God. Wherefore, it seems to me, that by the answer we received as a result of our inquiry, we should try to ascertain to whom Mary should be entrusted.”
These words found favor with all the synagogue. The lot was then cast by the priests upon the twelve tribes, and the lot fell upon the tribe of Judah. Then the priest announced that all eligible widowers of Judah be summoned, saying: “Let every man who has no wife come and bring his rod in his hand.” Thus the criers went out through all of Israel and when the trumpet of the Lord sounded, all the people ran and met together.
There was at that time, the aged Joseph of Nazareth, then eighty years old, of the tribe of Judah and of the royal house of David. After forty years of marriage, he was a recent widower of about one year. Not wishing to slight the order of the high priest, he put down his axe, for he was a carpenter by profession and lived honorably by the labor of his hands. He came forward bearing his rod in his hand with the other widowers of his tribe.
His first wife, a pious and God- fearing woman, Salome, had borne him seven children: James, Jude, Simon and Joses; and three daughters. The names of the daughters are Salome (she being the future mother of the Apostles James and John the Theologian), Esther, and a third girl whose name has been recorded with several appellations.
Supporting the apocryphal account, as did other Eastern Fathers, St. Epiphanios of Cyprus (c.315-403) gave the opinion that Joseph had been formerly married and had children, both sons and daughters.2° Saint Cyril of Alexandria (+444) considered the “brothers of the Lord” to be children of an earlier marriage of the elder Joseph. In the West, St. Hilary of Poitiers (c.315-367) defended the opinion of Joseph being formerly married.
The rods were then handed over to the high priest who offered a sacrifice to the Lord God, and inquired of the Lord. The angel of the Lord then revealed to the high priest that all the rods were to be placed into the Holy of Holies of God. They were to remain there and, the following day, the men were to return to receive back their rods. The sign that was to be shown was that out of whomever’s rod a flower should bud forth...he was the man to whom the Virgin would be given and betrothed.
This incident of Zacharias praying before the rods is illustrated in a mosaic at the Kariye Djami (Monastery of Chora, in Constantinople).
Mary is standing in prayer behind the altar in the Holy of Holies. Neatly arrayed on the altar before her are the rods. Before the gate, the high priest Zacharias is depicted kneeling as he prays that a sign might be given by the Lord in designation of Mary’s future husband. In the following icon, Joseph’s rod is seen to have sprouted three small leaves from the knob at the upper end of his walking stick.
The analogy of the budding of Aaron’s rod [Num. 17:8] and the blossoming of Joseph’s rod is explicitly brought out in the mosaic at Kariye Djami. In the icon we may see the high priest holding the rod in one hand and firmly placing his other hand upon the head of the Virgin. The “budding rod” is also associated with the prophecy that “...there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a blossom shall come up from his root: and the Spirit of God shall rest upon Him...” [Is. 11:1-2], which has been universally interpreted as a prefiguration of the advent of Christ.
Returning to the apocryphal account, the following day all assembled early. The high priest went into the Holy of Holies and brought forth their rods. However, when the rods had been distributed, no sign had appeared. The priest then put on the twelve bells and the sacerdotal robe. Having entered the Holy of Holies, he made a burnt offering and poured forth prayers. The angel of the Lord then appeared to him, saying, “There is here the shortest rod, of which thou hast made no account. Thou didst bring it in with the rest, but neglected to take it out with the others. When thou hast taken it Out and hast given it to him whose it is, then the sign will appear of which I had spoken to thee.” Indeed, the rod in question was Joseph’s. The elderly widower, acknowledging his great age and feeling that he presented a pitiful appearance, did not volunteer to request his rod back, lest perchance he might be enjoined to receive the young maiden.
When he was standing last of all, the high priest cried out to him with a great voice, “Joseph, come and receive thy rod; for we are waiting for thee.” Trembling, because the high priest had called him with a very loud voice, Joseph came forward. As soon as he laid hold of his rod, straightway, from the top of it there blossomed forth a bud and it flowered.
Saint Romanos speaks of this, chanting, Zacharias submitted to lot the choice of bridegroom for her; and Joseph was betrothed to her from God. For she was given to him when it was revealed in the rod from the Holy Spirit.
Then all the people congratulated the elderly man, remarking, “Thou hast been made blessed in thine old age, 0 father Joseph, seeing that God hath shown thee worthy to receive Mary.” The priests then said, “Take her, because of all the tribe of Judah thou alone hast been chosen by God. Take the Virgin of the Lord and keep her for Him.” But Joseph began bashfully to address them, saying, “I am an old man and have children. Why do ye hand over to me this infant, who is younger than my grandsons? She is quite young, and I fear lest I should appear ridiculous in Israel.”
Then Abiathar said to him, “Remember, Joseph, how Dathan, Abiram and Korah perished when the earth opened and swallowed them up, because they contradicted and despised the will of God [Num. 16:25_33].28 So will it happen to thee and thy family, if thou choose to despise this which is commanded of thee by God.” Joseph, fearing, answered him, “I do not despise the will of God. I shall be her guardian until I can ascertain the will of God as to which of my Sons can have her to wife. Therefore, let some virgins, her companions, with whom she might spend her time, be given as a solace to her.” Abiathar then answered and said, “Five virgins indeed shall be given to her for consolation, until the appointed day shall come when thou may receive her; for to none other may she be married.”
Forgive me...
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