The Mystery of Joseph of Arimathea's Tomb in Glastonbury

The 1928 Discovery of Joseph's Tomb

• 💡 In 1928, Reverend Lionel Smith Lewis discovered a sarcophagus in a Glastonbury churchyard, pushed up by frost.
• 🔑 This discovery was identified as the stone tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, which had been hidden for 266 years to protect it from religious fanatics.

Historical Evidence and Royal Excavations

• 📜 The earliest written record, from Malwin of Avalon around 450 AD, documented Joseph's body buried at the WLE Church of St. Mary in Glastonbury.
• 👑 In 1345, King Edward III granted a license for John Bloom to excavate, leading to the discovery of Joseph's remains and the creation of a magnificent shrine with a silver casket.
• 🛡️ The tomb survived the Reformation but was hidden in 1662 during the Commonwealth period to protect it from Puritan zealots, who had already destroyed the Holy Thorn.

The Holy Cruets and Grail Connection

• ✨ Historical records persistently refer to the Holy Cruets, two sacred vessels allegedly brought by Joseph from the Holy Land, containing the blood and sweat of Jesus.
• ⚔️ These cruets were incorporated into Joseph's coat of arms and are connected to the legend of the Holy Grail, with