Elder Joseph the Hesychast, Reverend Father Joseph, as time shows, is one of the outstanding people in the spiritual history of the last century. His letters, writings and parting words can only be compared with the messages of the saints. Such a comparison suggests itself. Joseph always led the life of an ascetic, similar to the life of great saints. Elder Joseph the Hesychast published a complete collection of works addressed to the world. The first of his students in his book told about the life of an old man. Another presented a book in which he dedicated a chapter to his teacher, giving it the title "My Life with Elder Joseph the Hesychast"
What's in the books of those distant years
Joseph, being already known and revered among the monks as the Silent One, all his life longed for solitude. The fame that came to him over the years did not disturb him, since he did not even think about such greatness, he did not need it at all. Thanks to wanderings and hermitage, the elder acquired and constantly expanded his knowledge, which he later shared with the monks. ATthroughout the whole time, Joseph did not forget to keep records, which were later published. These books have found their admirers in the world and in monasteries.
Everything that was connected with the quest and the experience gained with such difficulty is set forth in the books of Father Joseph. Here he does not call, but directs all those who suffer to achieve the knowledge that is invested with God's help in these words. Following the instructions of the Monk Joseph, many of his disciples reached that level of enlightenment, which helps them now to bring righteous thoughts to the laity, to teach and instruct people on the true path. They continue to bring these teachings and knowledge to people, helping them in word and deed and guiding them on the true path.
Joseph's early years
Frangiskos Kottis was born in 1899 in a family of simple workers. His homeland is the village of Lefka on the island of Paros, which is one of the Cyclades islands in Greece. A few years later, accustomed by his parents to a righteous life and piety, the young man will appear to the world as the Monk Joseph Hesychast (the Silent One), or the Athonite Elder Joseph Hesychast. He was called a silent man for his exceptional love of taciturnity, which he followed all his life.
Father Georgios and mother Maria raised their six children according to the law of God, instilling virtue, righteousness and obedience from an early age. When her father died, Maria alone carried the heavy burden, which is an integral part of the mother of a large family. Frangiskos dropped out of school and began to help his mother in everything, but the refusal to study had no effect onboy's education.
Once a Revelation was given to Mary that her son, Frangiskos, would have great glory, and that his name was already inscribed in the mysterious list by the Heavenly messenger, and the Heavenly King expressed his will. Mary listened to the words with reverent joy. In a few years, following the dictates of her heart, she will come to the decision to become a nun in a new monastery, where her son will become a mentor.
The future great elder Joseph Hesychast, and now a 15-year-old young man Frangiskos Kottis, went to Piraeus in search of work, and after a while he was drafted into the army. After the service, he decided to go to Athens, where he got a job to be able to help his mother and brothers.
Athos - Holy Mountain
The monasteries of Athos, the life of the righteous, the monastic path began to attract Frangiskos at about 23 years old. Parental upbringing made itself felt, and the young man began to show more and more interest in spiritual life, increasingly turning to spiritual literature.
Taking what he read to heart, seeing his path and destiny in it, the young man began to imitate the monastic way of life, trying to turn to God as often as possible and constantly follow the laws of God. But he needed a teacher who could guide him along the true path, the beginning of which the young man saw before him.
He was lucky, and this will later become a turning point, a fateful set of circumstances that will lead him to world fame, which he did not even think about. In 1921, Frangiskos met an old man,who became his teacher at the initial stage of the journey. The elder gave advice that the young man needed so much, and thanks to them the young man was confirmed in his choice, he followed the call of his heart to the monastic path.
After some time, realizing all the vanity of the mortal world, Kottiis distributes all his savings to the needy, leaves everything to the poor and, like all his teachers, from whom he learned wisdom from books and asked for advice directly, goes to Athos. Preparing for the biggest changes in his life, the young man knew perfectly well what awaited him. Moreover, he consciously sought these changes.
Life on Athos
Joseph the Hesychast remembers his first days on Mount Athos as a time full of disappointments. The young man with an ardent heart and strong faith was expecting a meeting with such ascetics, whom he knows about from the Lives of the Saints. But, alas, the reality turned out to be much sadder. Over time, the true meaning of pilgrimage communities was lost, and the current monks seemed to the young man less moral than he imagined them in books.
"I was in a state of mournful crying," - so Elder Joseph the Hesychast would later write in his book.
Nevertheless, Frangiskos enters the brotherhood of Elder Daniel of Katunaki and for some time follows the prescribed rules of obedience. But, increasingly feeling the need for solitude, not finding enough food and knowledge for his mind, the newly-minted monk leaves the brotherhood and goes in search of a more suitable spiritual mentor.
Searching
The young man for a long time tried to find someone who could share his experience with him, who would point the way to the truth and who would be close in spirit. Having made many attempts, the young man decided that everything was the will of God, and decided to become a hermit. He chose local caves for housing, where he spent long nights in seclusion, and during the day he went to sell his brooms, the production of which he earned his bread.
Wandering the lands of Athos, learning to overcome worldly difficulties and finding more and more God in his soul, Frangiskos finally meets a like-minded person in the person of the monk Arseniy, with whom a strong friendship subsequently develops. Friends have a difficult path to go and achieve enlightenment, but for now they wander the Holy Mountain in search of a spiritual mentor.
Some time passed, and friends, on the parting words of Daniel of Katounaki, who reminded that monastic work is primarily cutting off the will, and also once again conveyed to the young men the role of obedience, came to Elder Ephraim of Katounaki. The elder was a wise Albanian and could teach his novices a lot. The young man owes his first spiritual mentor the basics of monastic life, its rules and an ascetic view of the world.
Monastic feat
Frangiskos was 26 at that time. At this age, he found his refuge, which he had been looking for for so long. In 1925, after all the worldly trials, Frangiskos was tonsured into the great schema and given a new name - Joseph. So a boy brought up in a righteous family embarks on a path that will lead him along a good road and give him the strength to lead him.people.
Elder Ephraim, meanwhile, was gradually fading away, and his last days were spent in the skete of Basil the Great, where he reposed. Joseph, as the successor, was given leadership and control over the activities of the community. Friends and brothers in Christ, Joseph and Arseniy, did not stop their wanderings around the Holy Mountain, but in winter they spent time in the kaliva. In the future, they will consider it a place of permanent residence.
Temptations
At this stage, the life of Elder Joseph the Hesychast began to be tempted by fallen spirits. The struggle of the old man with the dark forces lasted for eight years. Subsequently, Elder Joseph the Hesychast in the complete collection of creations will mention this period of his life. He will tell how one day, being already the head of the community, he saw in a vision a line of monks. The warriors of Christ were preparing to repel the invasion of demonic hordes.
Standing at the suggestion of the leader of the monks in the ranks, in his first ranks, Joseph successfully repelled enemy attacks. All the intrigues of the devil, all his tricks and networks, Joseph bypassed with the help of God, avoiding the temptations and ambushes of demons. It took Joseph eight long years to break the resistance of the dark forces and, avoiding temptations, to take the right path.
Successful struggle with the temptations of worldly life led Joseph to meet a new mentor who was able to give what he so needed. Silent Daniel, that was the name of the mentor, humble and wise, labored not far from the Great Lavra, in the cell of St. Peter the Athos. Daniel adhered to asceticism and led an extremely strict mannerlife. Imitating the new mentor, Joseph switched to bread and water, sometimes allowing himself a few vegetables, ate once a day and fought against the laziness that tempted him. Many of Daniel's positive traits were adopted by Joseph.
Road to destiny
Growing up, Joseph became more and more famous among the monastic brotherhoods, and eventually a new brotherhood was formed around him, where the monks who had heard about Joseph and agreed with his sayings sought to get into. Athanasius, Joseph's blood brother, also joined the brotherhood.
Elder Joseph the Hesychast conveyed his expression of monastic experience to all who needed it. Many went to him from distant places for help and advice. He shared his experience and knowledge willingly, but his life as a hermit ceased to be so secluded more and more. Increasingly, thoughts began to come to find a new place for solitude in order to continue to receive knowledge, which Elder Joseph the Hesychast and his brotherhood were increasingly thirsting for.
Some events required frequent absences from Joseph from Athos. His own mother was ready to take the tonsure, which she informed her son about. In 1929-30, during these events, a nunnery was founded in the Drama region. The nuns from this monastery found in the person of Joseph a wise teacher and mentor. The regular letters of Elder Joseph the Hesychast after his return to Athos contributed to the continued education and guidance of the nuns.
Another eight years passed in wanderings, until Elder Joseph and monk Arseny found an abandoned kaliva in caves under a mountain cliff. Here, in the Small Skete of St. Anna, they stopped for the next ascetic feats. Many of the monastic exploits of the elder would then be described in his books by his students. One of these books, "My Elder Joseph the Hesychast and the Caveman," will be read in monasteries at meals.
Reclusion
First of all, the brethren built themselves a small hut. They collected quite a lot of material at hand, and a modest dwelling came out of wood, branches and clay, in which there were three rooms. The brethren took two of them for their cells, one was left for the hieromonk, who from time to time visited their place of solitude. Having discovered the destroyed church of St. John the Baptist nearby, Joseph and Arseny restored it on their own.
For the next 30 years, kaliva in mountain caves became a place of refuge for like-minded people from worldly fuss. Together, despite the fact that there was a catastrophic lack of space for living quarters, and the position of the dwelling was chosen very poorly, Joseph and Arseny spent their days in prayers and labors. Despite the hunger, lack of facilities and the small area of the premises, the brethren felt comfortable. All conditions were created here to lead a secluded life, without frills and temptations.
Soon, other ascetics began to come to the kaliva. These were mostly young monks who aspired to enter the path of monasticism and were looking for a mentor in the person of Elder Joseph the Hesychast. And again, Joseph and his brother in Christ change their place of residence. This time they just move closer to the shore. Here, in the Kaliva of the Holy Unmercenaries, in the New Skete,they continue to lead a secluded life.
Father Joseph felt the approach of the disease when he was 59 years old. A serious illness did not frighten and did not break the old man, but his strength left him every day. It all started with a serious sore on the neck, which caused fear for Joseph's he alth. For a while, the elder refused medical care outside the kaliva, not wanting to deviate from the path of monastic exploits, but nevertheless, heeding the persuasion of his spiritual disciples, he finally agreed.
Legacy
Being a highly spiritual man, Elder Joseph Hesychast of Athos, whose life and teachings will be an example for many righteous people, prepared for the inevitable death, which he already felt. He complained that the people he was trying to help could not heed him, mocked and laughed. But still, the elder found those who are one with him in deeds and thoughts. On the Day of the Assumption of the Mother of God, he took communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Elder Joseph the Hesychast passed away on August 15, 1959, at the age of 60.
In addition to warmth and righteous speeches, Elder Joseph the Hesychast left letters to monastics and laity. Here, the elder addresses instructions and righteous speeches to everyone who wants to become closer to God. One of the best parting words of Elder Joseph the Hesychast was the complete collection of creations, which is considered the book of life, opening the way to knowledge. It is this book that is chosen as a guide on the path to monastic life by those who feel the vocation to escape from worldly fuss.
In his books, Elder Joseph the Hesychast preachessoul-body prayer, which must be lived, passed through oneself. He said that prayer is a smart act, and it will be different for everyone. The Divine Liturgy is one of the elder's favorite pastimes, because it can become an important condition for a monk's spiritual growth.
In his fraternity, Father Joseph constantly turned to the Liturgy. Performing it daily, taking communion, the monks felt the divine light that they aspired to. Some, however, grumbled that too frequent communion becomes too painful. To which Joseph reminded those who condemned that many saints followed this path, that it was in this deed that many revelations were given.
In 2008, one of St. Joseph's disciples, Elder Ephraim of Philotheus, published a book - "My Elder Joseph the Hesychast and the Caveman", where he outlined his memories of his life and, in particular, of life under the guidance of Joseph. In Russian translation, the book has the title: "My life with Elder Joseph." This book was even read during the meal in the monasteries, it is so full of wisdom.
Monk Joseph of Vatopedi, Elder Joseph the Hesychast, to whom he became a spiritual father and mentor, also published a book in 1982. He dedicated his creation to life and the ascetic teachings of his teacher. The book is titled “Elder Joseph the Hesychast. Life and Teaching". It was written at the request of a large number of people who revere Elder Joseph. Then another chapter was added to this book. It was a teaching about the practice of life insilence - "The ten-vowel spirit-moving trumpet", written at one time by the elder Joseph the Hesychast.
