The Elder Joseph the Hesychast (1897-1959)

The life of the Elder Joseph the Hesychast is a shining contemporary example of heroism and self-denial, struggle against the passions of the old man and the demons, and resurrection ‘of the new nature created after the likeness of God’. The Blessed Elder, having himself arrived at the longed for dispassion, which in the language of the Fathers is called ‘Love’, gave a new thrust to Athonite Monasticism towards the acquisition of the virtues, mental prayer and the retaining of the mind, the nous. With his persistence in the rigour of turning the mind inward and in the labour of the intellect the Elder revived the Palamite Theology and brought it back to the forefront. Six great monasteries of the Holy Mountain have been repopulated by his spiritual children, and a multitude of other monastics and laymen follow his spiritual teaching and his radiant example. His Life is simple; he did not finish even his primary studies; by his life, however, he has put to shame the ‘wise’ of the world. Through his life and prayers may we all arrive at least to some measure at this divine simplicity. (From the Prologue of the book)