"My dear, sweet Mother!"

 

The Most-Holy Theotokos and Christ sweetly kissing (source)

  
"All the saints wrote many praises to our Panagia. But I, the poor one, have found no words more elegant or sweet to describe her, than to cry out to her at every moment: "My dear Mother! My dear, sweet Mother! When my soul departs may it come into your hands, and through them may it be given to its Creator, your Only-begotten Son."
-Saint Joseph the Hesychast
  
(source)
  

St. Joseph the Hesychast (source)

  

Most-Holy Theotokos, save us!

St. Joseph the Hesychast: "Even though you have fallen again, get up again."

Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior of the world (source)

  
I received your letter, my child, and I saw your anxiety. But don’t be sad, my child. Don’t worry so much. Even though you have fallen again, get up again. You have been called to a heavenly road. It is not surprising for someone running to stumble. It just takes patience and repentance at every moment.
Therefore, always do a metanoia when you are wrong and don’t lose time, because the longer you wait to seek forgiveness, the more you allow the evil one to spread his roots within you. Don’t let him make roots to your detriment.
  
Therefore, don’t despair when you fall, but get up eagerly and do a metanoia saying, “Forgive me, my dear Christ. I am human and weak.” The Lord has not abandoned you. But since you still have a great deal of worldly pride, a great deal of vainglory, our Christ lets you make mistakes and fall, so that you perceive and come to know your weakness every day, so that you become patient with others who make mistakes, and so that you do not judge the brethren when they make mistakes, but rather put up with them.
  
So every time you fall, get up again and at once seek forgiveness. Don’t hide sorrow in your heart, because sorrow and despondency are the joy of the evil one. They fill one’s soul with bitterness and give birth to many evils. Whereas the frame of mind of someone who repents says, “I have sinned! Forgive me Father!” and he expels the sorrow. He says, “Am I not a weak human? So what do I expect?” Truly, my child this is how it is. So take courage.
  
Only when the grace of God comes does a person stand on his feet. Otherwise, without grace, he always changes and always falls. So be a man and don’t be afraid at all.
  
 Do you see how that brother you wrote about endured the temptation? You, too, should do likewise. Acquire a brave spirit against the temptations that come. In any case, they will come. Forget about what your despondency and indolence tell you. Don’t be afraid of them. Just as the previous temptations passed by the grace of God, these, too, will pass once they do their job.
  
Temptations are medicines and healing herbs that heal our visible passions and our invisible wounds. So have patience in order to profit every day, to store up wages, rest, and joy in the heavenly kingdom. For the night of death is coming when no one will be able to work anymore. Therefore, hurry. Time is short.
  
You should know this too: a victorious life lasting only one day with trophies and crowns is better than a negligent life lasting many years. Because one man’s struggle, with knowledge and spiritual perception that lasts one day, has the same value as another man’s struggle, who struggles negligently without knowledge for fifty years.
  
Without a struggle and shedding your blood, don’t expect freedom from the passions. Our earth produces thorns and thistles after the Fall. We have been ordered to clean it, but only with much pain, bloody hands, and many sighs are the thorns and thistles uprooted. So weep, shed streams of tears, and soften the earth of your heart. Once the ground is wet, you can easily uproot the thorns.
— Saint Joseph the Hesychast
(source)
  

St. Joseph the Hesychast (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Selected hymns to the Newly-Canonized Athonite Elders Joseph the Hesychast and Ephraim and Daniel of Katounakia

St. Joseph the Hesychast - Commemorated August 16 / 28th (source)

 

Excerpts from the service to the Saint Joseph the Hesychast, written by his spiritual son, Elder Joseph of Vatopedi (official translations likely to be offered from his spiritual children at a later date)

Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone. O speedily hearken.

The offspring of Athos and the great adornment of Monks, * defender of ascesis, haven of silence and prayer, * our Father you were revealed to be, * through your life you showed us, Grace's ways of salvation, * saving through your entreaties those who faithfully pray to you. * And therefore intercede with the Lord, * O Righteous Father Joseph.

  

Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone. O Champion General.

O Father, through the rivers of your tears were purified, * and through your vigilant prayers to God you were filled with light, * and adorned by your Bridegroom, with the soul's pure raiment, * and you lived life incorruptible while on the earth, * having imitated lives of the Monastic Saints, and with them you pray * for salvation for those hon'ring you.

St. Joseph the Hesychast, depicted with his spiritual sons (source)

   
Oikos

The offspring of Athos you appeared to be, and the boast of Monastics, having shown forth in the latter years, in which faithlessness and carelessness have multiplied, while you in no way were swayed by delusion or laziness. Come, therefore, let us imitate his zeal and God-loving fervor, for he loved God with his whole being, and cleaved to Him alone throughout his life. But, our most-compassionate Father Joseph, we entreat you, together along with the Choir of Venerable Saints with whom you rejoice; intercede for salvation for those honoring you.

  
Synaxarion

On this day (August 16th or 28th), we celebrate the memory of our Venerable and God-bearing Father Joseph, the student of hesychasm throughout his life with martyrical endurance, till he departed to the Lord on August 15th. His feast is translated to this day due to the Feast of the Theotokos.

  

Verses

You hasten from the earth to the vault of heaven,

In which you were previously, through theoria.

  

Saint Joseph the Hesychast and Cave-dweller (source)  

Brief biography of St. Joseph the Hesychast from the website of St. Anthony's Monastery in Arizona

Francis Kottis (Saint Joseph’s name before his monastic tonsure) was born in Paros¹ on February 12, 1897, the fourth of seven children to the simple but pious couple George and Maria Kottis. Because of their extreme poverty, Francis left home at the age of seventeen to work in Piraeus² as a merchant to support his large family. When he was twenty-three years old he was engaged to a pious girl and lived in exemplary chastity, never touching his fiancee for fear of coming to the point of kissing her.

One day he beheld a wondrous vision of two angels in the form of palace guards, leading him to serve the heavenly king. After this vision, he became pensive and lost all interest in worldly things; he spent his time reading the lives of saints, especially those of the great ascetic Fathers, which ignited in his heart the desire to become a monk. He then called off his engagement, and in preparation for his life on the Holy Mountain,³ he started conditioning himself to ascetic struggles by fasting and praying in the countryside of Athens. In 1921, after two years of living ascetically in the world, he finally made his way to the Holy Mountain, his heart longing for a God-bearing spiritual guide to teach him the art of noetic prayer, and he began traversing the crags and caves in search of one. After searching for sometime without success, he decided to join the brotherhood of Saint Daniel of Katounakia.⁴ Renowned for his discernment and exalted spiritual life, Saint Daniel chose a moderate ascetical program for his brotherhood. Francis, however, was inclined to a more austere spiritual life and total dedication to unceasing prayer of the heart, which requires great silence and humility, and thus he stood out from the rest of the brotherhood. Saint Daniel knew he could not stay with his brotherhood, but he also knew that Francis needed a companion, a fellow ascetic, in order to avoid delusion. So he told him that until a co-struggler could be found for him, he should cultivate the Jesus Prayer alone in some remote cave, coming to him occasionally for spiritual guidance. One day, after suffering many temptations, he was granted a vision of the uncreated light, and he received the gift of ceaseless prayer. From that point on until his death, the prayer was said in his heart unceasingly, granting him exalted spiritual states and divine visions. Eventually, a suitable co-struggler, Father Arsenios, was sent to him by Saint Daniel. These two spiritual warriors would be inseparable companions for the rest of their lives, leading an austere ascetical life together. In the beginning Father Arsenios regarded Francis as his geronda,⁵ even though Father Arsenios had already been tonsured a monk and Francis was still a layman. However, on the Holy Mountain, to be a geronda, you have to be obedient to a geronda until his death. Therefore, following Saint Daniel’s advice they became disciples of two humble old gerondas in Katounakia named Joseph and Ephraim. It was not long before one of them, Saint Joseph, reposed in the Lord. Geronda Ephraim, now their sole geronda, was soon convinced by the exceptional lifestyle of young Francis that this spiritual warrior should be officially enrolled in the angelic monastic order. Thus, the day of his monastic tonsure was set for Sunday, August 31, 1925, the commemoration day of the deposition of the precious sash of the Theotokos. His tonsure took place in the cave of Saint Athanasios the Athonite,⁶ and he received the name Joseph, after his reposed geronda. After some years, Geronda Ephraim also fell asleep in the Lord, and the young Father Joseph became a proper geronda. Soon he began attracting monastic aspirants, but few of them were able to endure his severe ascetic program. Eventually, the nucleus of his brotherhood would consist of five disciples: his co-ascetic Father Arsenios; Father Athanasios, his brother in the flesh; Father Joseph the Cypriot, who would later become the geronda of the Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi;⁷ Father Ephraim, later abbot of the Holy Monastery of Philotheou⁸ and future geronda of thirty-three monasteries in Greece, the US, and Canada, including Saint Anthony’s Monastery in Arizona; and Father Haralambos, later abbot of the Holy Monastery of Dionysiou.⁹ Also, it is noteworthy to mention Saint Ephraim of Katounakia;¹⁰ although he belonged to a different brotherhood, he was guided spiritually by Saint Joseph, and thus is also considered one of his disciples. In 1938, seeking greater solitude, Saint Joseph and his community moved from Saint Basil’s Skete to a cave at Little Saint Anne’s,¹¹ but after 15 years of living in the harsh conditions of Little Saint Anne’s, the fathers’ health started to deteriorate, and so in 1953, Saint Joseph decided to move the community farther down the mountain, near the sea, to New Skete,¹² where he would spend the last six years of his life. A few months before his death, he was visited by the Virgin Mary, whom he held in special reverence, and was promised by her, that she would take him on her feast day. Thus the saint fell asleep in the Lord, on August 15, 1959, the day the Orthodox Church celebrates the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God. Saint Joseph’s legacy has been carried on by his disciples, who have reestablished the practice of noetic prayer and watchfulness on the Holy Mountain, brought Athonite monasticism to the United States and Canada, and encouraged many Orthodox faithful through the publishing of his life and letters. Today the spiritual grandchildren of Saint Joseph, who endearingly refer to him as “Pappou Iosif” (Grandfather Joseph in Greek), call upon him to help them in their spiritual life, and he in turn stands before the throne of God and intercedes for his spiritual children and grandchildren, and all those who call upon him.

(source)

 

Megalynarion

The boast of Mount Athos did you become, * and the famed pinnacle of the perfect hesychasts, * O rejoice, O Joseph, and mystic like Palamas, * of the uncreated grace, which shines upon us all.

(source)

  

The New Choir of Athonite Fathers: Saints Joseph the Hesychast, Ephraim of Katounakia, Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia and Paisios the Athonite (source)

 

Selected hymns from the service to St. Ephraim of Katounakia (Commemorated February 27th), written by Dr. Charalampos Bousias, Hymnographer of the Patriarchate of Alexandria

 

Apolytikion in the Plagal of the First Tone. Let us worship the Word.

O newly-shining lamp-lighter of noetic prayer, as a dweller of Katounakia and a light of the Holy Mountain, who illumined all with the light of your virtues, O most-divine Ephraim, who proceeded to the heights of theosis, dispassion and nepsis: Do not cease to entreat Christ for us.

 

Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone.

Let us praise the hard-working, prayerful and neptic ascetic of Katounakia, who was lifted up from every baseness of the nous towards the virtues through purification, as one equal to the Angels, let us mortals praise him with psalms and divine hymns, crying out: Rejoice, O most-divine Father.

 

Oikos

The Angels were astonished, beholding your feats in Katounakia, O Ephraim, and the chaste citizens of Athos beheld the grace that dwelt in you through your monastic way of life, and they cry out these things with compunction in soul:

Rejoice, bodiless one bearing flesh,

Rejoice, inheritor of Heaven.

Rejoice, defender of dispassion and nepsis,

Rejoice, fellow-dweller with non-possessiveness and grace.

Rejoice, unassailable foundation of prayer of the heart,

Rejoice, greatly-varied stream of perfect obedience.

Rejoice, you who were a disciple at the feet of Joseph,

Rejoice, you who showed to all the virtue of your heart.

Rejoice, godly offspring of Thebes,

Rejoice, goodness by canon and knowledge.

Rejoice, dweller of Katounakia,

Rejoice, protector of those who approach you.

Rejoice, O all-venerable Father.

 

Synaxarion

On this day (February 27th), the memory of our Venerable and God-bearing Father Ephraim, who lately lived in asceticism in Katounakia.

 

Verses

Obedience, prayer and a harsh way of life

You lived, O Ephraim, in Katounakia.

   

Sts. Joseph the Hesychast and Ephraim of Katounakia (source)

  

Brief life of Saint Ephraim of Katounakia

Our Venerable and God-bearing Father Ephraim, who lived in asceticism in Katounakia of Athos in a God-pleasing manner, was born on December 6th, 1912 in Ampelochorio of Thebes. A child of parents with four children, John and Victoria Papanikita, he received in holy baptism the name Evangelos. From childhood, he loved Christ and was raised beside monks and nuns, desiring to imitate their way of life equal to the Angels. In Thebes he came to know his later spiritual fathers Ephraim and Nikephoros, and he became their grace-filled novice in the cell of the Venerable Ephraim the Syrian in Katounakia. He struggled from childhood spiritually with ceaseless prayer of the heart, the bending of the knees, fasting and utter obedience, towards the perfection of virtue and theosis. On September 14th 1933, the youth Evangelos left the world and proceeded to the holy Mount Athos to life the angelic way of life besides his spiritual fathers Nikephoros and Ephraim. After six months he was tonsured a monk of the little schema with the name Longinos. In 1935 he was tonsured a great-schema monk with the name Ephraim, and was later ordained a Priest of the Most-high God. Through divine grace and the blessing of his Elder, he was spiritually united with the Venerable Joseph the Hesychast, who helped him on his ascetical path. After the repose of Elder Nikephoros in 1973, who was truly harsh in his training, while the Venerable Ephraim was obedient to him willingly and without grumbling, he continued in his synodeia. This teaches us that, all things come from utter and true obedience to spiritual guides out of love for Christ, and is the only way to escape the assaults of Belial. He was made worthy of revelations of God in ecstasy during the Divine Liturgy, beholding unspeakable states. He richly received from God the grace of discernment, and was shown to be a preserver of the traditions of the Fathers, having a true Orthodox mindset, and having fled the honors and glory of men. Venerable Ephraim, from youth had the thorn in his flesh of vision problems, and needed stronger corrective lenses over time. After a stroke in 1996, he remained bed-bound until his repose on February 14/27th 1998, and he was buried in the cemetery of his cell. His precious and myrrh-streaming Relics were uncovered and are treasured in his cell named after the Venerable Ephraim the Syrian, and have been shown to be a spring of healings.

 

Megalynarion.

Rejoice, you who lived the life surpassing nature in asceticism in Katounakia, and approached Heaven through your vigils, prayers and nepsis, O spirit-bearing Ephraim, the pride of Athos.

(source)

  

Icon depicting Deisis with Christ, the Theotokos, and Sts. Panteleimon, Athanasios and Peter of Athos above. Below are depicted Saints Nektarios the Wonderworker, Arsenios of Paros and Daniel of Katounakia (source)

 

Selected hymns from the service to St. Daniel of Katounakia (Commemorated the Monday after the Sunday of the Athonite Fathers, or the Second Sunday of Matthew after Pentecost), written by Dr. Charalampos Bousias, Hymnographer of the Patriarchate of Alexandria

 

Apolytikion in the Plagal of the First Tone. Let us worship the Word.

You lived a chaste way of life on Athos, O adornment of Katounakia, and Daniel, who became like God, as you tirelessly gathered sweet honey from the crags like a bee, O wise one. Therefore, we who have all been nourished by your graces partake of your favor.

 

Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone. O Champion General.

The follower of the virtue and discernment of the Venerable Athonite Fathers let us praise, who shown forth with wisdom and self-control, as an unerring guide to the faithful in mind, who became all things to everyone. Let us cry out to Daniel, who is beloved of Christ: Rejoice, O venerable one.

St. Joseph the Hesychast, depicted with his spiritual sons (source)

 

Oikos

Desiring the things of Heaven, O Daniel, you wisely lived your life, and therefore, you despised all things that pass away, and in Katounakia, inclined your nous towards the Lord, rousing the choirs of ascetics to cry out to you:

Rejoice, pearl of Athos,

Rejoice, director towards wisdom.

Rejoice, sweetly-singing swallow of self-control,

Rejoice, fellow dweller with the noetic armies [of the Angels].

Rejoice, precious offspring of Smyrna, who was deified through asceticism,

Rejoice, sweet and refreshing drink from the divine spring.

Rejoice, radiance of those who live in asceticism on Athos,

Rejoice, joy of the sacred Fathers of the desert.

Rejoice, ever-radiant light-house of purity,

Rejoice, golden tower of estrangement [from the world].

Rejoice, friend of the sacred Nektarios,

Rejoice, lamp of the choir of ascetics.

Rejoice, O venerable Daniel.

 

Synaxarion

On this day, the memory of our Venerable and God-bearing Father Daniel, who lately lived in the desert of Katounakia on Athos.

 

Verses.

Christ, Whom you hymned in asceticism on Athos,

You now hymn with your lips, O Daniel, in Heaven.

St. Daniel of Katounakia (source)

  

Brief life of St. Daniel of Katounakia

The founder of the monastic brotherhood of the Danielaioi, in Katounakia of Athos, our Venerable Father Daniel lately shown forth with the rays of the ascetical way of life, and illumined all the people bearing the name of Christ through his unerring guidance, and wise teachings. He was from Smyrna, from a large family, and from childhood desired to please Christ and to offer his life to Him.  To this end, and through the blessing of St. Arsenios of Paros and of his mother, he left for Athos. He lived in asceticism in obedience and humility in the Monasteries of St. Panteleimon and Vatopedi, and later in the desert of Katounakia, as desert-loving sparrow. There, he lived a way of life equal to the Angels, and through his written teachings, he guided towards theosis a multitude of piously-minded people and monastics, including the nuns of Kehrovouniou Monastery of Tinos, and the Monastery of the Holy Trinity [and St. Nektarios] on Aegina. He was united with a close friendship with the Venerable Nektarios, and greatly gave rest to the friend of Greek letters, Alexandros Moraitis. He was discerned by his ceaseless prayer and his estrangement from all things of this life, and was numbered together with the ranks of the Angels. In the cell of the Holy Athonite Fathers in Katounakia, he founded his synodeia, which is known for its hospitality like its Elder and Founder, and is also known for its musical education and beautiful chanting, and there is treasured the Saint's precious and grace-flowing Relics.

 

Megalynarion

Rejoice, the canon of discernment, O Daniel, the newly-shining adornment of the Fathers. Rejoice, you who ceaselessly lived the monastic life, and guided to the life to come, O Athonite of godly mind.

(source)

  

Saint Joseph the Hesychast (source)

  

See here for a video of the Athonite Fathers of Vatopedi chanting the apolytikia of these newly-canonized Fathers for the first time. May we have their blessing!

 

The Newly-canonized Athonite Fathers: Saints Joseph the Hesychast, Ephraim and Daniel of Katounakia (source)

 

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

The Canonization of Elders Joseph the Hesychast and Ephraim and Daniel of Katounakia

Icon of Elder Joseph the Hesychast (source)

Today, the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate moved to officially canonize the Athonite Elders Joseph the Hesychast and Ephraim and Daniel of Katounakia. May we have their blessing!

(Source)

   

Sts. Joseph the Hesychast and Ephraim of Katounakia (source)

  

St. Daniel of Katounakia (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

A Reflection of Joy-making Sorrow at the Repose of Elder Ephraim of Arizona

The blessed synodeia of Elder Joseph the Hesychast (seated), surrounded by Elders (right to left) Ephraim, Athanasios, Joseph of Vatopedi, Arsenios and Charalampos of Dionysiou (source)

  
A Pious Reflection of Joy-making Sorrow at the Repose of Elder Ephraim of Arizona
by Stelios Koukos
At moments like these, we feel that we should both be crying and joyous! With tears of contrition!
That the only thing proper to these spiritual individuals is contrition and being moved. And, most likely this is the only way for us to feel. But this is also the way to meet them.
That, knowing the bodily and spiritual struggles--many times surpassing nature--struggles, but also "intoxication" and eros to come to know Christ, one becomes inept and inebriated from such a great struggle and violence for the One Beloved [Christ].
And this violence and struggle and frenzied love cannot and should not be properly described, nor neglected due to the wondrous experiences that have occurred nor the blessings and graces that have been received. That their philotimo is great and awesome, and this gives birth to the Spirit.
Their love of struggles cannot be described, and the graces that they received are also incomparable and indescribable, and surpass space and time!
However, "where God wills, the laws of nature are overcome"!
  

Elder Ephraim as a young monk (source)

  
The dormition of Elder Ephraim, the memory of the Venerable Joseph the Hesychast!
The memory of their whole venerable synodeia: Fr. Arsenios, Fr. Athanasios, Fr. Theophylaktos, Fr. Joseph of Vatopedi, Papa-Charalampos of Dionysiou, and the Venerable Ephraim of Katounakia.
One further venerable prayer rope is perfected, as befitting monastics, disciples and Elders that have most importantly been worked during the course of their lives, in caves, makeshift dwelling-places, huts and kalyves of Athos.
There they wrote with an uncreated ink of their spiritual feats in deserts, dens and Athonite crags.
They shown forth as novices, disciples, monks and Elders, with a robe shining with light, and an offering of uncreated gifts!
And thus, they themselves shine throughout the world amidst the world's vanity!
It is worth experiencing where they lived!
Yes, they have been justified, and our life is unjustifiable!
  

Elder Ephraim as Abbot of Philotheou Monastery on Mount Athos (source)

  
And finally, one can see, somewhat, from within their struggle to know a little, even the smallest amount, of course, of their divine grace which they were made worthy of!
And this little empathy serves as another gift and participation in a mystery!
This gives you the ability to commune and to touch their blessed and venerable giving, which they were granted as the fruit of grace!
Their ascesis, obedience, ceaseless prayer, fasting, prostrations, vigils--were corresponding with doxology! And looking forward to the Resurrection!
We are speaking of the Blessed Father Ephraim, and we are greeting his Venerable Elder Joseph, together with his synodeia. And this resembles his dormition, or to be proper, we should speak of his end as a "journey". A journey, but where?
To Paradise, and to the bosom of his Fathers. A journey of return, as young children of Adam.
"Journeying towards eternity", as St. Seraphim of Sarov says!
Because of this, the Venerable Joseph, with his fellow ascetic Fr. Arsenios lived a ravenous and ragged existence, seeking their corresponding necessities according to their measure. And did relent, even of the clothes they wore, but were arrayed with light as their garment and eternal raiment.
It was sufficient for them to cover their every human weakness and nakedness and to communicate everywhere the light of Christ! Him they were worthy of!
And that "the Light of Christ illumines all!"
And He fulfilled their every weakness, abandonment and pain with Himself eternally, in a manner which we could not bear or hide upon the earth.
  

Elder Ephraim of Arizona (source)

  
Children of Paradise, our Elders, in the caves and sands of their blessed and ascetical toil and the Divine grace of Athos! There where are our taxi cabs towards eternity and the return to their homes, did not meet the terrible "Nobody", but an Elder of the same nature as ourselves, a citizen of the radiant dwellings a Paradise. In other words, a leader partly of earth and partly in heaven!
A sure guide and teacher and intercessor, but also an unmercenary standing as an intercessor for the sick homes and dwelling-places of their homelands and country. A taxi cab of return which for them was the unending personal and communal journey.
This seems like it has just ended! But it has just begun!
And behold, suddenly we are together for the first time after 60 years and four months. Since the repose of the Venerable Joseph the Hesychast on August 15/28th, 1959.
Let us remember the impatience of the Venerable one when he appeared to his fellow ascetic Fr. Arsenios and asked him: "For how long will we live apart?"
And the simple Elder Arsenios responded: "Do you think it's in my hands?"
The synodeia is complete. A venerable synodeia, full and wholly shining.
And the beloved Johnny, Fr. Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizona, the newest of the synodeia of the remaining beloved ones, having received the message of the canonization of his Venerable Elder, hastens to travel to him!
  

Elder Ephraim of Arizona (source)

  
He came to know this of course, how the heavens are rejoicing together, they are spiritually fragrant and rejoicing!
As were the caves of Athos where Joseph the Hesychast lived through asceticism his blessed hesychia, he has made the Heavens like these.
In the mean time, he did not neglect to honor his children, and to open the door of Divine mercy for them and to make them extraordinary communicants of Divine experiences...
Elder Ephraim has reposed in the Lord.
And our mind goes to the reception of 19-year old Johnny by the Venerable Joseph the Hesychast on Athos. The last little lamb of his fold, who however, would later play a leading role throughout the territory of the Garden of the Most-Holy Theotokos. This, the Venerable Joseph saw, as he said: "from these little huts will come Abbots".
And his words were not idle talk, but were a work of divine illumination.
And this John from Volos, Johnny, the monk and Hieromonk, Father Ephraim would gather around him by his feet a multitude of monks, as the Elder of a cell at first, which became a larger cell, and then an Abbot--through the mouth of the Venerable One, of the Monastery of Philotheou, the lover of God.
And he did not neglect, as a new Abraham, to sacrifice of his flock--and not only optionally--and showed forth new Abbots, new Elders and Athonite monasteries! Repopulating the Monasteries of Karakallou, Konstamonitou and Xeropotamou.
And these monasteries were not captured stubbornly, but were inhabited by request in order to renew them and show forth their ancient beauty, and to make them spiritual workshops. The center of their art and way of life, and of the cenobia in general, was the ascesis of noetic prayer.
The small and single-phrased prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me."
  

Elder Ephraim of Arizona (source)

  
Thus, this small and simultaneously incomparable workshop of noetic prayer which was founded with the personal struggle and pain by the Elder, and the Venerable Joseph the Hesychast, will bear fruit! They will transform these into large gardens of the Holy Mountain and of the Orthodox Church. And these little huts became monasteries, and were transformed into cenobia from being idiorhythmic!
And this occurred with their brethren as well, with Papa-Charalampos of Dionysiou and Joseph of Vatopedi, who were requested to take on the Monasteries of Dionysiou and Vatopedi!
And what will we say of this "Johnny", Hieromonk Father Ephraim, the Elder of Abbots and Elders of Athos, but beyond this, a new Apostolic Mission seems like it was totally unforeseen (We do not know if the Venerable Joseph the Hesychast foresaw this. It is a worthy question!)
Perhaps, however, it was not some mission but more so a state and grace-filled essence? Otherwise, how could he have become a fisher of men, in other words, an Apostle, if his presence were not one Apostolic, Missionary!
Thus, when he found himself in America, he would fish for men there, not only from Orthodox peoples, but from unchurched, hungry and thirsty people--if not starving and desperate spiritually--people from other nations. That they might be one flock and one shepherd, in the larger and greatest flock with One Shepherd [Christ], "that they might be one!"
We remember, however, that his children on Athos began to feel like orphans as Elder Ephraim was gone for long stretches of time in the USA and Canada. They could not be consoled, not even when St. Paisios the Athonite praised the work of their Elder in America! And even the number alone, of 19 monasteries (17 in the USA and 2 in Canada) serves as a spiritual feat!
But also the Venerable Porphyrios allegedly expressed favor for the Blessed Elder in America, and his potential to attract Americans to the Orthodox Church.
  

Elder Ephraim of Arizona (source)

  
A peaceful, spiritual conqueror of America, and even a Christ-bearer, a new Christopher* Columbus, Elder Ephraim of Arizona. Thus he began the "annexation" of America to Orthodoxy. And yes, once again the Hellenism of the mighty Romiosine will once again conquer its conquerors! At a time when American civilization has conquered the world. Even our land [Greece]. But this vacuousness does not give rest, does not console, does not embrace...
It covers the inner emptiness of men by placing garbage below the rug, if not showing trying to show the garbage as treasure!
How beautiful is the video that I had seen before, which showed Elder Ephraim loading food to hasten to feed the poor, homeless and drenched people, to offer to them from the overflowing of his heart.
And behold, once again, the unity of Hesychasm with action. Our Elders and Hesychasts have a burning heart for all of creation, and thus find the way to benefit and multiply for their fellow men even material gifts, not just those spiritual!
And the little Johnny from Volos, the Athonite Elder, Hieromonk Father Ephraim of Arizona and all America, and the former Abbot of the Monastery of Philotheou, he appears to spread out and unfolded Orthodox spirituality in the epicenter of the modern world in the USA. And thus, the Athonite huts have "conquered" the world, offering indelibly the Light of Christ, Who shines upon all!
May we have his blessing!
(source)
  
*Note: The name "Christopher" is translated as "Christ-bearer".
  

The Body of Blessed Elder Ephraim of Arizona (source)

 

Please note that the Funeral for Elder Ephraim will be broadcast live at 1PM Mountain Standard Time and 3PM Eastern Standard Time from the Greek site TV4e. May the Lord grant Elder Ephraim of Blessed Paradise, and may we have his blessing!

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

A joyous reflection on the Newly-canonized Saints

Icon of our Venerable Father Sophrony of Essex (source)

  
Note: This is a pious reflection by a layman on the joy being experienced at the newly-announced upcoming canonization of new Saints of our Church. In a world with so much pain, sorrow, suffering and hatred (along with painful divisions among Orthodox Christians), we are thankful for these tokens of joy given by our Lord. We pray that these new Saints will entreat Him that peace be granted to the whole world, and especially that all hatred, divisions and animosity be dissolved between Orthodox Christians, and that we all might be granted love, humility, peace and unity in the Holy Trinity!
  
A joyous reflection on the Newly-canonized Saints
It feels like this is a festival without end--the joy of Pascha--which was given to us as a"mouth" and "voice" and expression of the Church by our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew!
These announcements allow us to see a bit of heaven through the pure eyes and sweet hearts of our new Saints!
And this vision full of fruit is not from an individual!
It is in common, it is of the Church!
Many years to you, All-holiness! Fervent thanks!
Another spiritual father of ours, another radiant and true seeker of the truth, a delicate and gracious character, a cultivator of the spiritual life, a poet of the Divine Spirit, a universal and ecumenical rector of the teaching of Orthodox spirituality, the Athonite (cenobite, ascetic, confessor and spiritual father), the Russian, the Patron of Essex as the founder of the Holy Monastery of the Precious Forerunner, the Hieromonk, the Archimandrite Father Sophrony (Sakharov) is "consecrated" formally as a Saint of our Church!
We confess that we are experiencing unique moments!
"It is good for us to be here!"
Within this resurrectional atmosphere and joy!
The Saints show us and reveal to us how death was conquered!
They lived the Resurrection, during this life! Not [only] after their dormitions!
We are truly experiencing a Pascha--more properly, many together--in the face of every Saint of ours, as a victor over death!
And of course, this is occurring before the Autumn Pascha, the feast of St. Demetrios, which his hometown of Thessaloniki celebrates together with the Most-holy Theotokos!
Thus, with those eternal Children--"those to whom belongs the Kingdom of Heaven", our new Saints, from the Garden of Panagia, will shine especially this year within this Pascha and festal atmosphere. (We sense that our new Saints will stand beside us at the procession of the Holy Relics and the Icon of the Great Martyr and Myrrhstreamer St. Demetrios, throughout the radiant streets of Thessaloniki, together with those who are celebrating together, this year along the Panagia Soumela of Pontos.)
Because of this, amidst the autumn we could say:
"Today it smells of springtime, and new creation dances!"
The heaves are rejoicing together with us!
The heavens and the earth are united through our new Saints!
It seems like everything is occurring easily and speedily, beautifully, very spacious and beautiful!
And let beauty save the world! Our Saints!
The stars that illumine our darkness--internally and externally--with the Uncreated Light, which they experienced, tasted, lived!
They are our neighbors, who approach and stand in heaven!
Our fathers, our inspirers, and our guides!
Our mediators and intercessors!
And we don't know if they are gifts from Heaven to the earth, or from earth to Heaven! They may be both!
Once again, let us remember the names of our new Saints, mentioned previously, and how even this serves as a guide of noetic prayer:
The Venerable Daniel of Katounakia, Monk
The Venerable Joseph the Hesychast, Monk
The Venerable Ieronymos of Simonopetra, Hieromonk,
The Venerable Ephraim of Katounakia, Hieromonk,
The Venerable Sophrony of Essex, Hieromonk!

A beautiful icon depicting the five Athonote Fathers that were canonized together at the same time by the Ecumenical Patriarchate: (left to right) Sts. Ieronymos of Simonopetra, Daniel of Katounakia, Joseph the Hesychast, Ephraim of Katounakia, and Sophrony of Essex (source)

And we will not shy away at this time from remembering those other newly-canonized Saints:
The Venerable Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia, Hieromonk
The Venerable Paisios, Monk!
In reality, we sense that we are partaking of a surpassingly radiant Athonite festival, with all of the polyeleoi of the Monasteries, Sketes, Kathismas, Cells, Kalyves encircling with joy and illumines, while the Fathers, full of rejoicing, chanting together and harmoniously:
"It is meet and right", "It is meet and right", "It is meet and right!"
And of course, they are celebrating full of light and with heavenly thoughts and good works lightning with grace even the Athonite dens and caves,  the makeshift, temporary and insignificant dwelling-places and adornments of ascetics and hermits...
And this occur with the unseen ranks of naked hermits, adorned, extraordinarily, with raiment shining with light!
The Light of Christ illumines all!
New Saints of the Church!
Fathers, teachers, and preservers of the World!
We owe them very much!
Our lives!
Intercede for us!
Or, another way: Stand besides us!
And note:
The dark and inhumane and criminal 20th century seems to become more humane from the light of so many auspicious Saints of the Orthodox Church!
Most likely, all of these Saints of the 20th Century serve as confirmation that: "where sin abounds, grace super abounds!"
And we live this fullness of grace through our Saints in our days!
Christ is risen!
-by Stelios Koukos
(source)
  

Icon of the New Choir of Venerable Athonite Fathers: Joseph the Hesychast, Ephraim of Katounakia, Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia and Paisios the Athonite (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Four New Athonite Saints (and likely a fifth) soon to be Canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate

Four New Athonite Saints Canonized (source)

 
The numbering very soon among the Saints of the Church of the Athonite Fathers Daniel of Katounakia, Ieronymos of Simonopetra, Joseph the Hesychast and Ephraim of Katounakia was officially announced today on October 20th, 2019 by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on his trip to Mount Athos. The Athonite Fathers in attendance received this news with tears in their eyes, and received this as a great blessing from the Patriarch.
(source)
  
And as a "final surprise" from Patriarch Bartholomew was the likely upcoming canonization of Elder Sophrony of Essex, though this was only reported by one source.
   Two of these Saints have biographies previously posted on this site and linked to above. For the other two I include brief biographies below:
   

Elder Ieronymos of Simonopetra (source)

   
Elder Ieronymos of Simonopetra was born John Diakogiorgis in 1871 in Reis-Dere of Asia Minor (near Cesme). He entered the Holy Monastery of Simonopetra on Mount Athos on October 28th, 1888 and was tonsured a monk on March 21st, 1893, on Palm Sunday. On April 11th, 1920 he was ordained a deacon, and on April 12th the same year a priest. On April 20th, 1920, the Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearers, he was enthroned as the Abbot of the Monastery of his repentance (Simonopetra). On June 15th 1931 he was exiled to the Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou and in three months he was sent to the "Metochion" ("Dependency") of Simonopetra in Athens named after the Holy Ascension of Christ. In 1937 he was re-elected Abbot of Simonopetra, but he declined this, and he remained at Holy Ascension for twenty more years, until he reposed on January 7th 1957 (the feast of Christmas on the Old Calendar). Therefore, he lived 17 years in his homeland of Asia Minor, 43 years in the Monastery of Simonopetra and 26 years at Holy Ascension in Athens.
(source)
   
A more extensive biography of Elder Ieronymos in Greek is available here.
  

Elder Daniel of Katounakia (source)

   
Elder Daniel of Katounakia, known in the world as Dimitrios Dimitriadis, was a monk, the founder of Danielaioi brotherhood at Mount Athos.

Born in 1846 in a family of a armourer in Smyrna, he was the youngest child in the family and was characterized by outstanding abilities. In his teenage years Dimitrios knew by heart almost all Philokalia. At the island of Paros, he met Saint Arsenius of Paros who blessed Dimitrios to go to St. Panteleimon monastery at Mt. Athos. 

In St. Panteleimon monastery, he was tonsured a monk with the name of Daniel. Later he lived in Vatopaidi monastery. For 10 years he suffered with nephritis and on August 31, when the Vatopaidi monastery celebrated the feast of Holy Belt of the Mother of God, he was suddenly healed. After 5 years in Vatopaidi he moved to Katounakia where lived alone for 3.5 years. Starting from 1883, other monks started to settle there, so that Danielaioi brotherhood was formed. Elder Daniel was offered to be a bishop but considered himself to be unworthy of it.

Elder Daniel had a gift of spiritual counsel and consolation in sorrows. He guarded or cured many monks and lay persons. He was in spiritual friendship with St. Nectarios of Pentapolis. Also he was in correspondence with Philotheos (Zervakos) of Paros and other monks from the monastery of Longovarda at the island of Paros. Elder Daniel guarded them from the heresy of theologian A. Makrakis. About 200 letters to the abbess Theodosia from the monastery at the island of Tinos and 70 other writings of elder Daniel are available until now.

Kostis Marmaras, a lay person, was interested in spiritualism. He wanted to know whether it comes from the electric forces of from the spiritual forces. Then he found out that it was from the spirit and in his opinion, from the Holy Spirit. So Kostis practiced spiritualism for 30 years, reading thoughts, speaking with "saints", "spirits of reposed people" etc. After that he found a book of elder Daniel against spiritualism and started to doubt about holiness of the participating spirit. He started to write letters to the elder asking about it. The elder succeeded in convincing Kostis that spiritualism was a delusion. But it took a very long time for Kostis to be healed completely. When Kostis started to read the prayers of exorcism of St. Basil the Great, the demons beat him unmercifully in the night. Then he started to see demonic visions and thought that it comes from grace. In the end, Kostis managed to get out of the net of demonic tricks, but that happened only with help of Divinely wise elder Daniel. 

Fr. Callistratus in the end of his life fell into prelest. During the Divine service, he started trembling and was thinking that this is an action of grace. But he was not absolutely certain and decided to write to elder Daniel. The elder replied with an extensive letter "On noetic prayer. Letter of elder Daniel to Callistratus" (1916, In: "Angelic Living"). Elder Daniel analyses in detail the actions of grace and the trembling that comes from God and the one that comes from the evil side. He writes that no one of the Saints was trembling as Fr. Callistratus. He also tells about another similar case of trembling that was coming from the evil forces with monk Alipius who did not notice that was praying with unnoticeable vainglory. And the elder showed with convincing arguments that the trembling for Fr. Callistratus was coming from the same force. In a reply, Fr. Callistratus is amazed at the action of the elder Daniel's letter, the meekness of the elder and the way how he showed the delusion.

In a letter "Reply of monk Daniel to Markianus, a monk of Iveron skete, about rejection of dreams" (1918, In: "Angelic Living"), elder Daniel writes about a man of great learning by the name of Nicolaus who thought of himself that he had received a gift of unceasing heart prayer from the icon of the Mother of God and then started to see visions. He asked God to receive the same visions as the Prophets of the Old Testament. Then the Devil offered him many other heretic superstitions: at the feast day of St. Spyridon, this "saint" appeared in front of Nicolaus and told him to "sacrifice" his hand to Christ and to burn it with candle; the man even took baptism for the second time from the protestants because the demons told him that only protestants keep proper baptism from the times of Apostles. When elder Daniel asked whether this man confessed everything, he replied that "Christ" told him that it is not necessary and there are no true confessors now. After listening for 6 hours about different delusions, it took elder Daniel 2 hours to bring that person to reason based on many places in the Divine Scriptures and reasonable arguments. The man was convinced and started to resist the visions, though the traces of delusion were seen to the end of his life.

In September of 1929, the elder fell ill with a cold. He was foreboding his death and asked to take the Holy Communion. On September 8 (21), 1929, on the day of the Nativity of the Mother of God, after the Divine Liturgy and the Sacrament of Anointment of the Sick, elder Daniel reposed.

(source)

The New Choir of Athonite Fathers, including left to right: Saints Joseph the Hesychast, Ephraim of Katounakia, Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia and Paisios the Athonite (source)

   

Apolytikion of the Holy Fathers in the Fourth Tone

O God of our Fathers, always act with kindness towards us; take not Your mercy from us, but guide our lives in peace through their prayers.

   

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!