Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi by Elder Moses the Hagiorite (Tribute)

 

Early in the morning of the 1^st July 2009 monk Joseph of Vatopaidi reposed to the Lord. This is of course not an important announcement. He was not an actor, a singer or a footballer. (Twelve young people committed suicide recently at the announcement of the death of a singer. I pray that I have heard wrong.) For the genuine monk death is something which he anticipates with joy. His entire life is a preparation for this moment, with the incessant remembrance of death and the steadfast faith in eternal life- the endless joy in the Heavens.

Joseph monk was born in Cyprus in 1920. While still very young he decided to become a monk at the historic monastery Stavrovouni. Later on he came to the Holy Mountain and placed himself under the obedience of Elder Joseph the Hesychast (+1959), who was an ascetic at the caves of Little St Anne along with a tiny brotherhood. 

Afterwards he came down to the New Skete. After the blessed death of his elder he compiled his own brotherhood. Throughout his monastic life he lived for some years in Cyprus, then at the monastery of Koutloumousi at the Holy Mountain, at the Cell of the Annunciation belonging to the Simonopetra monastery and finally at Vatopaidi.

He was an energetic, strong, sweet talking monk with a fighting spirit and a scholarly mind. He wrote books which were educational and soul saving. According to the Abbot of Simonopetras ‘he was God inspired’ and was always speaking passionately about the Lord’s love. Along with his brothers, Charalambos Dionysiatis and Efrem Filotheitis, he created large and useful brotherhoods, reviving Athonite monasticism. Some people may be sceptical about the result… but they cannot write off a long history, the struggles, the tears and prayers of so many people devoted to the Lord. In our opinion they may criticise the mistakes but they cannot condemn or totally reject a humble life-long struggle.

Elder Joseph’s repose closed a chapter and opened a new one. He reposed to the Lord after an infection, crossing himself. His funeral service was held at the Katholicon after the vespers, in the presence of four bishops- led by his spiritual child the Metropolitan of Limassol Athanasios- ten abbots and dozens of hiernmonks, hierdeacons, monks and laity. It was truly touching. He was put to rest in the yard of the monastery, at sunset. More than hundred and ten members of the brotherhood bid him farewell in an emotional setting.

Elder Joseph and his brotherhood has been accused, slandered, ridiculed, exposed and vilified a great deal. He takes all this in his stride on his way to Heaven. His joyful face looked like he had forgiven everyone. Let his memory live forever. Let us pray that we may also have a blessed ending.

Moses Monk, the Hagiorite.

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