"Saint Joseph the Hesychast: the Continuator of the Hesychast and Patristic Tradition"

After the end of the Great Solemn Vespers of the feast of Saint Joseph the Hesychast, whose memory the Church honors for the first time after his inscription in the hagiological Deltas of the Church, the Abbot of the Vatopedi Monastery Elder Ephraim spoke at the Monastery's Table, addressing the fathers and pilgrims regarding the life and teaching of the Saint being celebrated.
Elder Ephraim referred to the ascetic path of Saint Joseph, emphasizing in particular his ascetic struggles as well as the obedience which he himself demonstrated as a submissive and subsequently cultivated in his company.
Saint Joseph the Hesychast, noted Elder Ephraim of Vatopedi, was the great renewer of the patristic tradition on Mount Athos in difficult times for the Athonite State, as well as a continuer of the hesychast and philokalic tradition.
Finally, Elder Ephraim noted the great blessing for the Vatopedi Brotherhood to come from the root of Saint Joseph the Hesychast, as the blessed Elder Joseph of Vatopedi, as well as Saint Ephraim of Katounakiotis and the blessed Elders Ephraim Philotheitis and Charalambos Dionysios, was a member of the holy Father's entourage and, together with other holy Athonite figures, manned Monasteries inside and outside Mount Athos.