How Elder Joseph settled the hieromonk who slandered him!

Elder Joseph of Vatopedi, (1921-2009). The humility, kindness and love that Elder Joseph [of Vatopedi, (1921-2009)] brought to his soul moved God and became the supplication of the brothers, who looked to him.

Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol recounts an event that shows the magnitude of God's pleasure in the Elder's spiritual work, but also the attention required in a place where many people live, in order to avoid misunderstandings.

His Holiness narrates:

"Elder Joseph, as Elder of the Monastery, undertook some initiative of a practical nature, which, however, seems to have fallen within the competence of the ministry of another brother from the monastery brotherhood. Elder Joseph usually acted as the founder and educator of the brotherhood and his every activity was accepted.
However, his specific action was not conveyed correctly to the brother who had the ministry, and as the younger one he was, he began to complain strongly and loudly against the Elder.
The truth is that this brother respected the Elder, but he was carried away by the way he was informed and spoke out against the Elder in the courtyard. He went crazy and said:

– And who is old Joseph in here? Is this how he will do to us now? Is this how it will be now?

Some took care to inform the Elder, who quietly said:

– What are you saying? Did he say that? I'll sort him out. I'll teach him to say such words, now see what I'll do to him.

It was Saturday. At Vespers time I was in the sanctuary, because I went to put on the vestments for the service. And the Elder enters the Holy Prothesis.
It was a small passage and it was square. It was under a dome, a special little room. He calls the brother who was also a monk and says to him:

– Come a little and I want you inside the Sanctuary.

The brother enters, or if I'm not mistaken it was a priest and he found him in the sanctuary. However, the fact is that he asked for him in the Holy Prothesis and I was watching a little further back and I thought there was going to be a commotion or some kind of fight.
And what was the quarrel about? As soon as the brother entered, the Elder fell down. Not just any repentance! Down, down to the ground, and went to kiss his feet.
Of course, his brother didn't leave him.

And the Elder says to him:

– Forgive me, because I made you sad today, I made you sad. Forgive me.

And the priest was saddened by what he had said the previous day. He saw the great humiliation of the Elder and was humbled himself.
The next day I went to Katounakia to see Elder Ephraim. I don't remember why. I probably went to get his blessing, because I had just been ordained.
As soon as I entered Father Ephraim's, as there were no telephones in Katounakia at the time, Father Ephraim told me:

– But what did your Elder do, and he says, I saw in the Spirit an Angel of the Lord with a crown as big as this above the Elder?

For a moment I didn't understand what he meant and I was surprised. I couldn't explain it. Then I realized that that's what happened.

"- Last night, yesterday afternoon, he tells me."

This was Elder Joseph, a man of supernatural peace, humility and love.

From the book by Archimandrite Ephraim of Vatopedi, "Elder Joseph of Vatopedi", published by the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi.