Fishing for the Grace of God (Instructions on Vigilance from Saint Joseph the Hesychast to Elder Ephraim of Arizona)

I would go at night, and when he came out of his hut, I would approach him and tell him that sleep was fighting against me.

"Stay strong! Hold your weapon and do not be afraid," he replied.

In the summer the boats came and fished with the light, with the lamps.

The Temptations and Troubles That Come Against Us During Great Lent (Saint Joseph the Hesychast)

By St. Joseph the Hesychast

The more time passes and as his end draws near, the more the devil fights against us with an extremely violent mania to damn us.

Especially now with Great Lent which is coming upon us, many temptations and many troubles come against us by the malicious demons.

Official Announcement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Regarding the Canonization of the Three New Athonite Saints

On Monday, 9 March 2020, there gathered, under the presidency of His Most Divine All-Holiness, the Holy and Sacred Synod in their programmed three-day working session.

After the reading of the Minutes of the preceding session, the endorsement of the order was signed.

More precisely, the Holy and Sacred Synod, accepting the recommendation of the Regular Committee, included in the List of Saints of the Orthodox Church the blessed Hagiorite Elders who in many ways are full of grace by God and are recognized for their venerable life and conduct:

Three Athonite Fathers - Joseph the Hesychast, Ephraim of Katounakia and Daniel of Katounakia - Officially Canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate

Today, Monday 9 March 2020, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate officially numbered among the Saints of the Orthodox Church a beloved and very influential Athonite Father of the 20th century - Elder Joseph the Hesychast.

We are also informed that the Holy Synod is moving forward with officially including Elders Ephraim of Katounakia and Daniel of Katounakia among the Saints as well.

When the news was brought to the attention of Vatopaidi Monastery on Mount Athos after the completion of Compline, they began to joyfully ring their bells and chanted a dismissal hymn (apolytikion) to each of the three new Saints of the Orthodox Church, which can be heard below (first is to Elder Joseph, then Elder Daniel, then Elder Ephraim).

This is in fulfillment of a promise made by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Athonite Fathers upon his visit to Mount Athos on 20 October of 2019. He has already fulfilled his promised of canonizing Saint Sophrony of Essex.

The Vision of Monk Elias After the Repose of Elder Ephraim of Arizona

On Friday morning the 13th of December the Great Schema Monk Elias reposed in the Lord at Saint Anthony's Monastery in Arizona, six days after the repose of Elder Ephraim. On the night Elder Ephraim reposed, he saw in his sleep Elder Joseph the Hesychast with Elder Ephraim in a bright light, and Elder Ephraim said to him: "Don't worry, shortly you will be with us." Indeed, six days later Monk Elias departed to the Lord.

Ecumenical Patriarch Announces the Canonization of Four 20th Century Athonite Elders

This morning, 20 October 2019, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew announced during his sermon at the Protaton Church in Karyes of Mount Athos, the canonization of four Athonite Elders beloved throughout the Orthodox world: Hieronymos of Simonopetra (+ 1957), Daniel of Katounakia (+ 1929), Joseph the Hesychast (+ 1959) and Ephraim of Katounakia (+ 1998).

Some Teachings of Elder Joseph the Hesychast about the Mother of God

By Elder Joseph the Hesychast

- Our Panagia hastens everywhere. She bestows her grace abundantly upon anyone who fervently cries out to her. She is a mediatress to Christ for everyone, because she was deemed worthy to give birth to the Lord and to become the Mother of God. She carries Him in her arms and continuously entreats Him. Since we sinners do not have the boldness to run directly to God from the start, we cry out to His Mother. She regenerates us; she intercedes; she anticipates all our afflictions. She is our protectress and helper, more honorable than all the angels, beyond compare more glorious than the Cherubim and Seraphim, second in rank only to the Holy Trinity. Oh, but she is so good, so sweet, that you want to embrace her at every moment and obtain consoling grace. The more you love, the more you are loved.

A Letter of Elder Joseph the Hesychast to a Seminarian of Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline

To John,

Student of the Holy Cross Theological School,
Brookline of Boston

Mount Athos, on 06/05/1959.

To my beloved John,

I pray you have long health and illumination from God, that your mind may be opened by His good Spirit, just as He sent to His holy disciples.

Well, good son, fear God and do His commandments and all will be accomplished.

I received your letter today and saw what you enclosed, and I rejoiced greatly that you asked for nourishment for your soul. Hasten therefore, my good child, and first of all say the Prayer. Remember the name of God, that God may also remember you in times of temptation.

Whatever you do in your mind and thoughts, say at every moment: "John, be careful for God sees you; He is present, He is next to you. He sees everything and beyond; do not allow yourself to entirely forget Him in anything. You are a worm next to Him, an ant."

For God is a God of many eyes, from which He sees everything. Before your mind moves to form a thought, God knows it. Why, therefore, do you not see it? The vision of God is the knowledge of God.

Therefore, when you don't sin, don't deceive, don't condemn, don't scheme against your neighbor, then you have fear of God. Then you are wise and understand God, and so as not to sadden Him you do not sin. This also is the vision of God, and God, Who sees all things, will cover you from the traps of Satan.

Behold the way in which you should protect yourself, my beloved son, from the traps of Satan. This suffices for the moment. I pray for you.

The humble Fr. Joseph

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.