Joseph of Tiberias
Encyclopedia
Joseph of Tiberias was a Christian of Jewish origin.
According to Epiphanius, he was born during the reign of Emperor Constantine. He was a Rabbinical scholar and member of the Sanhedrin
and a disciple of Hillel II
. Following his conversion, was appointed as supervisor of the churches in Palestine and was given permission to build churches in the Galilee
. One of the churches built by him was the church of loaves and fish. Despite his high position, he opposed the Arian
policies of Constantine's successors, and got married after his first wife died in order to evade Arian pressure to become a Bishop for that sect.
The main source about his life is Panarion ch. 30, by Epiphanius
.
His saint day is July 22.
According to Epiphanius, he was born during the reign of Emperor Constantine. He was a Rabbinical scholar and member of the Sanhedrin
Sanhedrin
The Sanhedrin was an assembly of twenty-three judges appointed in every city in the Biblical Land of Israel.The Great Sanhedrin was the supreme court of ancient Israel made of 71 members...
and a disciple of Hillel II
Hillel II
Hillel II, also known simply as Hillel held the office of Nasi of the ancient Jewish Sanhedrin between 320 and 385 CE. He was the son and successor of Judah III. He was a Jewish communal and religious authority, circa 330 - 365 CE...
. Following his conversion, was appointed as supervisor of the churches in Palestine and was given permission to build churches in the Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
. One of the churches built by him was the church of loaves and fish. Despite his high position, he opposed the Arian
Arian
Arian may refer to:* Arius, a Christian presbyter in the 3rd and 4th century* a given name in different cultures: Aria, Aryan or Arian...
policies of Constantine's successors, and got married after his first wife died in order to evade Arian pressure to become a Bishop for that sect.
The main source about his life is Panarion ch. 30, by Epiphanius
Epiphanius
Epiphanius was the name of several early Christian scholars and ecclesiastics:*Epiphanius of Pavia *Epiphanius of Salamis , bishop of Salamis in Cyprus, author of the Panarion, or Medicine Chest against Heresies*Epiphanius of Constantinople, , Patriarch of Constantinople*Epiphanius Scholasticus ,...
.
His saint day is July 22.
For further reading
- Ray Pritz, "Joseph of Tiberias — The Legend of a 4th Century Jewish Christian" Mishkan 2 (1985)