The Heretical Icon of the 'Holy Family'

Excerpt from "Dispelling Christmas Myths: The Orthodox Perspective" by Fr. Peter Heers

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[OrthodoxChristianTheology]

Essentially, the icon is wrong because it shows St Joseph as young and implies that there was something about his and the Theotokos' betrothal that was passionate and an actual marriage as opposed to a protective relationship.

[apricot.plum]

Joseph, the husband of The Virgin Mary, was a widower. He was married for 40 years to a woman believed to be named Salome. He was quite old when he wed the Panagia. Their's was a marriage unlike any other. It was never consummated, as the Panagia remained Ever Virgin her whole life. Joseph stepped into the role of protector, not the usual 'husband' at all.

[troyspiller]

My wife and I had been gifted Holy family images from an Orthodox gift shop in Jerusalem. The Orthodox are also distributing these. When we became catechumens she gave them to father to be dealt with.

[river_of_jordan]

Catholics see St. Joseph as the chaste guardian of the virgin, the foster-father of Jesus, the model of purity, the model of workman, the glory of domestic life, the terror of demons, the savior of the savior (helping lead Mary & Jesus out of Israel during Herod’s death reign. He wrapped Jesus in his Holy Cloak and protected Him).

We believe he was older than the Theotokos (with some gray hairs), but not super old. We believe early iconography depicted him so old to rightfully protect the dogmas of Mary’s perpetual virginity but they overshot his age in the iconography. Can an elderly man walk Mary and her newborn to Egypt?

Also, the Catholic Church sees St. Joseph as the Patron & Protector of the Universal Church. It was no coincidence 2021 was declared the Year of St. Joseph, and He offered the faithful many graces of protection when the Herods in our Governments were mandating the snake oil death jabs. Joseph protected us. I’m grateful I consecrated myself and our family to Joseph’s Chaste Heart, Mary’s Immaculate Heart and Jesus Sacred Heart.

We also believe Joseph died when Jesus was 30 in the arms of Jesus and Mary. He is also the Patron of a peaceful death.

[mariakaragianni]

Δυστυχώς ο οικουμενισμός θα φέρει πολλά αιρετικά στην Ορθοδοξία μας. Χρειάζεται πολλή προσοχή!

[tssc]

I understand why but I do wish you would have gone into further detail on the “why” instead of sayings it’s incorrect image and refusing to elaborate

[marinageorgopalis]

I received this type of icon as a wedding gift. My spiritual father told me to leave it outside in direct sunlight until it faded out and after get rid of it.

[JunJimmie-nc]

Love your videos, I’m omnivorous and pension off at 49 now 51 getting $83, 000 biweekly. This video has truly inspired me in so many ways!!!

[Jacbspeaks]

Man, I literally venerated this icon today and this video gets posted 😂

[IonniasDeVito]

The thumbnail was so cringe I almost didn't want to click on the video to watch it...

[dino]

Thank you for the teaching last night Father - fascinating and so enlightening ++

[Fasolislithuan]

So, Saint Joseph never embrace Jesus in his arms. 😂😂 When the man has so much time to think about things there is always something new and stupid that brings of his mind.

[donaldturnbull]

Calling the Holy Family Icon heresy is rather dumb and an insult to Saint Joseph’s role in raising and protecting Jesus as a child.

[petermolloy]

Icons are wonderful and great for teaching the faith but as a Catholic I have to disagree with your position, the canonical Gospels make no reference to Joseph's age so we shouldn't speculate too much

[yukari_katsuragi]

Makes an image of St Joseph where he looks like he might be a working carpenter: Heretic!!!! This is a false depiction of the Holy Family!!

Makes an image of the Christ Child where he has defined musculature and an adult head, also everyone is wearing royal robes: Beautiful and blessed. This teaches the faith, don't be so literal-minded

[ortho-g]

Father, I always watch your podcasts with great interest and pretty much always agree with you as I myself am Orthodox. Regarding this HOLY FAMILY icon, I understand what you are saying in principle certainly.
But, I think that this is perhaps going over the top.
So, are we saying that there was no HOLY FAMILY? I cannot seem to accept this. It is obvious that the Holy Family existed. It is obvious that Christ was an infant at a certain time and he was cared for and nurtured by both a father and a loving mother because that is the way that his heavenly God and Father intended. Our Lord received human love in a Family setting until he reached his majority. Are we saying that the Holy Family never embraced or that our Lord's earthly father had nothing to do with his human formation? As far as the color of St. Joseph's hair, that is a subjective criterion. It's desirable that his hair be depicted as white but it doesn't seem to be absolutely necessary. I myself am over 63 years old and have never dyed my hair and it is only now beginning to get a little gray around the edges. I just don't see why this icon has to be classified as HERETICAL. What's next?
Shall we bring it to Church and have our Spiritual father burn it?? I get what you are saying, I really do, but your assertion then requires us to suppose that perhaps our Lord wasn't fully human or that there was no Holy Family, that it never existed or that tenderness was never a part of our Lord's earthly upbringing and finally that we should almost become ICONOCLASTS in order to allay our FEAR regarding this issue thereby commiting another heresy to combat the heresy of the Holy Family icon. Let us pray first and choose the way of mercy and compassion. Amen.

[dellchica]

The Holy Family to me demonstrates the importance of a 2 parent family, mother and father. That God provided a foster, stand in earthly father to his Son while He was on earth. How could that be wrong? He did not make the Panagia a single mother now, did he?

[tavuzzipust]

The opinion that Joseph was a widower and old comes from the Protoevangelion of James, an extracanonical text.

[FosterDuncan]

Saint Jerome defends the “young Joseph belief” as the traditional belief of the Church and that held by Christians in the Holy Land in the 4th and 5th centuries….

This is coal

[ReformedOrthodoxy-ti]

I learned about this heresy in my Orthodox class this Thursday. Subdeacon George said this is a dangerous Heresy.☦️