My Elder Joseph the Hesychast by Elder Ephraim of St Anthony's Monastery in Florence, AZ

My Elder Joseph the Hesychast
by Elder Ephraim

The book is beautifully bound and delicious to read. I was
particularly moved by the fact that many great elders
were living at the same time in the Holy Mountain of Athos,
and they knew about each other!

In pages 133 to 134, Elder Ephraim writes,

"While they were wandering around the Holy Mountain in search of

holy ascetics, they heard about an exceptional ascetic at the Russian

monastery of St. Panteleimon, Fr. Silouan (known to us today as

Saint Silouan the Athonite). Elder Joseph asked Fr. Arsenios:

'What do you say! Should we go and see this ascetic?'

Fr. Arsenios, however, declined politely. The reason was because he

spoke Russian fluently (since he had grown up in Russia) whereas

Elder Joseph did not. Fr. Arsenios did not feel comfortable with the

idea of talking while his elder listened, so they did not go. What an
amazing genuine worker of obedience!

Nevertheless, St. Silouan's disciple, Elder Sophrony, heard about

Elder Joseph and found him on his own. Elder Sophrony visited

him frequently because he had great reverence for him. He later

said that Elder Joseph was one of the greatest ascetics of the

Holy Mountain he had ever met. In a letter of his, Elder Sophrony

wrote the following about their meeting;

'I wanted to hear the words of this bearer of great grace. He

spoke to me primarily about the hesychastic life of a hermit and

that he himself had seen the Uncreated Light several times. My

discussion with Geronda left a deep impression on me...I had

the impression that I had in front of me a spiritual general.' "

Please read below the description of the book from the

St Anthony's Monastery Bookstore website;

This is the most complete biography of Elder Joseph the Hesychast.
The book contains the very personal account of Elder Ephraim telling
the life of his Elder Joseph the Hesychast, whose holiness made him
one of the most influential monks on the Holy Mountain in the
twentieth century. Many of these fascinating stories have never been
published before, including delightful anecdotes about Elder Joseph’s
brotherhood, moving accounts of his spiritual struggles, insightful
spiritual counsels from his deep wisdom, and amazing miracles.

The book includes dozens of black&white and color photos


English. Hardcover. 706 pp. Size 5.75 x 8.75 in.
ISBN 0-9667000-8-2.
Published by St. Anthony's Monastery.
The book is available from St Anthony's Monastery Bookstore