The Virgin Nativity Cathedral
Section of Central Lengthwise Nave. North View

Forefathers Joseph and Benjamin

Dionisy's frescoes. Forefathers Joseph and Benjamin

Joseph
(left)
The eleventh son of the Biblical patriarch Jacob by Rachel. Being his father’s favourite he was hated by his elder brothers who sold him for 20 pieces of silver to Midianites merchant men (Genesis 37:26-28). The merchant took Judah to Egypt and after strenuous ordeals he became the second most important ruler after Pharaoh (Genesis 39:41). When Jacob’s sons arrived in Egypt in search for bread, Judah revealed his identity to them and moved his clan together with its head, Jacob, to Egypt (Genesis 45-47). He died at the age of 110 and left behind two sons and grandsons and great grandsons. Feast day: during the week of holy fathers and week of holy forefathers and on Passion Monday.

Benjamin
The youngest son of the Biblical patriarch Jacob, “son of fortune”, called Benomi (“son of sorrow”) as his birth caused fatal outcome for Benjamin’s mother Rachel, favourite wife of Jacob (Genesis 35:16-20). Feast day: during the week of holy forefathers.