Forefather Forefather Joseph the Beautiful

Righteous Joseph the Beautiful was the eleventh son of the patriarch Jacob by his beloved wife Rachel, living around the 17th century BC. His father's favorite, given a coat of many colors, he provoked his brothers' envy with prophetic dreams foretelling his future greatness; they threw him into a pit and sold him to merchants bound for Egypt.

There he was bought by the courtier Potiphar and, for his wisdom and virtue, set over his household, but after refusing the advances of Potiphar's wife he was falsely accused and imprisoned. In prison he became known for interpreting dreams, and after correctly reading Pharaoh's dreams of seven fat and seven lean cows, he was raised up to become Egypt's chief official, saving the land from famine through wise management of its granaries.

Recognizing the brothers who came seeking grain, he forgave them, seeing in it all the working of divine Providence, and brought his father and whole family to Egypt. Before death he asked that his bones be carried to the Promised Land, fulfilled in the time of the Prophet Moses. The Church sees in Joseph — sold, slandered, unjustly suffering, yet ultimately saving even his persecutors — one of the clearest Old Testament types of Christ. He has no individual fixed date; he is commemorated on the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers, the Sunday of the Holy Fathers, and Great and Holy Monday of Passion Week.