St. Joseph the Hesychast (1897 - 1959)

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“Elder Joseph was a poor hermit who lived in caves far from society, yet he became one of the Orthodox Church’s most influential figures of the twentieth century by kindling a revival of the Jesus prayer (also known as the Prayer of the Heart, “Lord Jesus Christ, Have Mercy on Me”). He was an exceptional phenomenon in these contemporary days of spiritual poverty, and his life emits the fragrance of sanctity. The providence of God arranges that there will be such heroes in every generation so that there will always be inspiring examples.” - quote by Archimandrite Ephraim, former Geronta of St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery, and former Abbot of Philotheou Monastery on Mount Athos describing his spiritual father.

Frances (Elder Joseph) was born on November 2, 1897, in the village of Lefkes on the Island of Paros, Greece, to George and Maria Kottis. While an infant, his mother had a vision about him. An angel appeared to her and told her it was written that he was being called to serve the King of Heaven, to the army of His earthly angels, monasticism. A very pious woman, Maria instilled the virtues of modesty, self-reproach, and a sense of one’s own sinfulness in her children. Although Francis was a very lively boy, from a young age he bore the fruit of his mother’s teachings by demonstrating humility in the face of any wrongdoing. He understood the power and worth of Christian humility which would serve him well in his future monastic life. Francis was an excellent student with exceptional intelligence but he would only complete the fourth grade. When he was ten, his father died leaving his mother to raise her six children alone and so he quit school to help her and his siblings survive. But their poverty was so great, that at seventeen, Francis left with a younger brother to find work in Athens to help support his family. Living in Athens and Piraeus, he worked long hours doing many jobs and was very successful maintaining honesty and purity in all of his dealings and interactions. He served his compulsory military duty in the Navy and resumed working, reaping financial success.

But God had other plans for him. One night he had a dream of a richly endowed and beautiful palace where he was clothed in priceless white garments. He was told, “From now on you will serve here,” and he was taken to pay homage before the King. The dream enlightened and opened his mind. Francis started thinking of his soul, rushed to confess to a priest, gave away monies and material goods he had accumulated, and abandoned his business to, instead, seek the “Pearl of Great Price,” Christ. After two years living alone in self-imposed ascetical struggles, he realized he was ready to answer the call for monasticism and left for Mount Athos in 1921.

In his early years on Mount Athos, young Frances immersed himself in feats of ascesis, with all-night vigils, absorption in the Jesus prayer, extreme fasting and reading holy books. He experienced visitations of the grace of God which encouraged him to higher levels of he ascetic struggle and to the eventual defeat of his passions. During those years, he traveled throughout the Holy Mountain seeking spiritual guidance from the many elders and ascetical hermits who lived there. His travels eventually led him to meet the monk who would become his life-long co-struggler in the monastic life, Elder Arsenios.

At the age of 27, Frances was tonsured “Joseph” and, even though Father Arsenios surpassed him in monastic and chronological years, Saint Joseph became the spiritual leader of the two, as he had attained greater noetic heights. There was a short period when the two of them left the Holy Mountain and, during that time, they visited family to whom they were very devoted and encouraged them in the monastic life. Saint Joseph’s mother, as well as Father Arsenios’ sister and other relatives, became monks and nuns. During this period, Saint Joseph also formed a Sisterhood to whom he served as their Geronta. Under obedience to Saint Joseph, they too, attained tremendous spiritual heights. Through Saint Joseph’s correspondence with the Sisters and with his many spiritual children, priceless counsels were given which help many of us today who are seeking our salvation.

When Saint Joseph and Father Arsenios returned to the Holy Mountain, Saint Joseph’s reputation as a great ascetic began to spread. Many monks and lay people came to him, wishing to stay and reap the fruits of his spiritual guidance. This led to Saint Joseph’s first Brotherhood. Among the first monks was his brother, Nicholas, tonsured Father Athanasios and later Father Joseph, the Cypriot who would become the Geronta of the Monastery Vatopedi. The youngest member of the Brotherhood came in 1947, Ioannis (John) Moraitis, who would later become the Abbot Geronta Ephraim of Philotheou Monastery and who would come to North America and establish 15 monasteries in the U.S. and 2 in Canada. Seasoned and highly self-disciplined in the life of mental prayer, Saint Joseph taught and instilled this in all his disciples. He taught to cut off one’s will to heal the passions of egotism and pride; to have blind and genuine obedience to one’s Elder (as Christ showed perfect obedience to God) in order to find one’s salvation and to have humility and self-denial in all things in order to receive grace from God. This is the legacy that Saint Joseph left to his disciples, and spiritual children. Indeed, he changed “prayer”on Mount Athos making it “Christ-centered” through the unceasing prayer of the heart, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”.

His disciple Elder Joseph, Abbot of Vatopedi said of him, “It is largely due to Geronta that there is a spiritual renewal on Mount Athos. Back then Mount Athos was decaying and the inner spiritual work of monasticism was neglected. The flourishing of this spiritual work is primarily due to Elder Joseph, whose immense impetus brought back to the Anthonite environment the true meaning and continuation of the theology of St. Gregory Palamas.” The Saint extended his noetic prayer to the entire world as he would intercede with his prayers for the deliverance of mankind. He was able to experience and communicate with mankind’s pain; his prayers would present people before the face of the Lord, so that every afflicted person would find salvation.

After 41 years of ascetical struggles and depriving himself of all human comfort, Saint Joseph reposed in the Lord on August 15th, the day he asked Panagia to take him, the day of Panagia’s Koimisis (Dormition). Saint Joseph’s holy kara (skull) can be venerated at St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery in Florence, Arizona.

Saint Joseph was canonized on March 9, 2020, by the Synod of the Patriarchate of the Greek Orthodox Church in Constantinople.

Frances (Elder Joseph) was born on November 2, 1897, in the village of Lefkes on the Island of Paros, Greece, to George and Maria Kottis. While an infant, his mother had a vision about him. An angel appeared to her and told her it was written that he was being called to serve the King of Heaven, to the army of His earthly angels, monasticism. A very pious woman, Maria instilled the virtues of modesty, self-reproach, and a sense of one’s own sinfulness in her children. Although Francis was a very lively boy, from a young age he bore the fruit of his mother’s teachings by demonstrating humility in the face of any wrongdoing. He understood the power and worth of Christian humility which would serve him well in his future monastic life. Francis was an excellent student with exceptional intelligence but he would only complete the fourth grade. When he was ten, his father died leaving his mother to raise her six children alone and so he quit school to help her and his siblings survive. But their poverty was so great, that at seventeen, Francis left with a younger brother to find work in Athens to help support his family. Living in Athens and Piraeus, he worked long hours doing many jobs and was very successful maintaining honesty and purity in all of his dealings and interactions. He served his compulsory military duty in the Navy and resumed working, reaping financial success. But God had other plans for him. One night he had a dream of a richly endowed and beautiful palace where he was clothed in priceless white garments. He was told, “From now on you will serve here,” and he was taken to pay homage before the King. The dream enlightened and opened his mind. Francis started thinking of his soul, rushed to confess to a priest, gave away monies and material goods he had accumulated, and abandoned his business to, instead, seek the “Pearl of Great Price,” Christ. After two years living alone in self-imposed ascetical struggles, he realized he was ready to answer the call for monasticism and left for Mount Athos in 1921. In his early years on Mount Athos, young Frances immersed himself in feats of ascesis, with all-night vigils, absorption in the Jesus prayer, extreme fasting and reading holy books. He experienced visitations of the grace of God which encouraged him to higher levels of he ascetic struggle and to the eventual defeat of his passions. During those years, he traveled throughout the Holy Mountain seeking spiritual guidance from the many elders and ascetical hermits who lived there. His travels eventually led him to meet the monk who would become his life-long co-struggler in the monastic life, Elder Arsenios. At the age of 27, Frances was tonsured “Joseph” and, even though Father Arsenios surpassed him in monastic and chronological years, Elder Joseph became the spiritual leader of the two, as he had attained greater noetic heights. There was a short period when the two of them left the Holy Mountain and, during that time, they visited family to whom they were very devoted and encouraged them in the monastic life. Elder Joseph’s mother, as well as Father Arsenios’ sister and other relatives, became monks and nuns. During this period, Elder Joseph also formed a Sisterhood to whom he served as their Geronta. Under obedience to Elder Joseph, they too, attained tremendous spiritual heights. Through Elder Joseph’s correspondence with the Sisters and with his many spiritual children, priceless counsels were given which help many of us today who are seeking our salvation. When Elder Joseph and Father Arsenios returned to the Holy Mountain, Elder Joseph’s reputation as a great ascetic began to spread. Many monks and lay people came to him, wishing to stay and reap the fruits of his spiritual guidance. This led to Elder Joseph’s first Brotherhood. Among the first monks was his brother, Nicholas, tonsured Father Athanasios and later Father Joseph, the Cypriot who would become the Geronta of the Monastery Vatopedi. The youngest member of the Brotherhood came in 1947, Ioannis (John) Moraitis, who would later become the Abbot Geronta Ephraim of Philotheou Monastery and who would come to North America and establish 15 monasteries in the U.S. and 2 in Canada. Seasoned and highly self-disciplined in the life of mental prayer, Elder Joseph taught and instilled this in all his disciples. He taught to cut off one’s will to heal the passions of egotism and pride; to have blind and genuine obedience to one’s Elder (as Christ showed perfect obedience to God) in order to find one’s salvation and to have humility and self-denial in all things in order to receive grace from God. This is the legacy that Elder Joseph left to his disciples, and spiritual children. Indeed, he changed “prayer”on Mount Athos making it “Christ-centered” through the unceasing prayer of the heart, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”. His disciple Elder Joseph, Abbot of Vatopedi said of him, “It is largely due to Geronta that there is a spiritual renewal on Mount Athos. Back then Mount Athos was decaying and the inner spiritual work of monasticism was neglected. The flourishing of this spiritual work is primarily due to Elder Joseph, whose immense impetus brought back to the Anthonite environment the true meaning and continuation of the theology of St. Gregory Palamas.” The Elder extended his noetic prayer to the entire world as he would intercede with his prayers for the deliverance of mankind. He was able to experience and communicate with mankind’s pain; his prayers would present people before the face of the Lord, so that every afflicted person would find salvation. After 41 years of ascetical struggles and depriving himself of all human comfort, Elder Joseph reposed in the Lord on August 15th, the day he asked Panagia to take him, the day of Panagia’s Koimises (Dormition). Elder Joseph’s holy kara (skull) can be venerated at St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery in Florence, Arizona, where the last disciple of his brotherhood lives, Geronta Ephraim.