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==Biography==
===Early life===
Francis Kottis was born in the island of Paros to George and Maria on February 12, 1897<ref>[http://www.pemptousia.com/2011/12/elder-joseph-the-hesychast-as-a-person-an-account-of-his-deeds/ Pemptousia: Elder Joseph, the Hesychast, as a person: An account of his deeds]</ref> (in other sources: in 1898). In his teens, he went to work in Piraeus. At twenty-three he began to read the lives of the Fathers, a spiritual turning point for him. These lives, particularly those of the strict ascetics, and a dream he had, gave him the desire to enter into [[monasticism]]. He responded to this desire by fasting and praying in the nearby countryside, which was uninhabited, and then going to Mount Athos.
===AthoniteMount Athos===
The future Elder yearned to pray unceasingly, but had great troubles - he could not find a spiritual father, and the indifference of many [[monk]]s towards unceasing prayer.
Elder Joseph reposed on [[August 15]], 1959.
===Canonization===
In October 2019, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople officially recognized Elder Joseph and four other holy monks, Elder Hieronymus of Simonopetra, Elder Daniel and Ephraim of Katounakia, and Elder Sophrony of Essex, as saints of the Holy Orthodox Church.
== Relics ==
Elder Joseph has been 'locally' canonized was already glorified as a saint in several places, including the Holy Mountain, Greece and Romania. However, this is not the official canonization of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This 'local' recognition of being a Saint is a prelude to the full canonization. [[Archimandrite Sophrony]] (+1993) knew Elder Joseph well and in his book about [[Silouan the Athonite|Saint Silouan the Athonite]], Elder Joseph is one of the monks mentioned who was granted the gift of the 'Uncreated Light'.
The relic of the Elder's head is kept in St. Anthony's monastery, in Arizona (USA), while the rest or his relics are kept in the [[Vatopedi Monastery (Athos)|Vatopedi]] monastery. Many visitors to Athos report that his relics give off a divine fragrance. The abbot of Vatopedi monastery, Fr. Ephraim, spoke publicly in Athens about miracles performed through the intercession of Elder Joseph the Hesychast, and even about miraculous appearances of him.
*''Monastic Wisdom: The Letters of Elder Joseph the Hesychast'', by Elder Joseph the Hesychast, 1998. Published by St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery, Arizona. ISBN 0-9667000-0-7 (HB), ISBN 0-9667000-1-5 (PB)
*''Elder Joseph the Hesychast: Struggles, Experiences, Teachings'', by Elder Joseph, 1999. Published by the Holy [[Vatopedi Monastery (Athos)|Monastery of Vatopaidi]], [[Mount Athos]]. ISBN 960-7735-12-9 (SB).
*[http://www.stanthonysmonastery.org/ccp7/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=3MYELDERJOSEPHENG My Elder Joseph the Hesychast], by Elder Ephraim, 2013. Published by St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery, Arizona.
==Other sources==
*Elder Arsenios the Cave-Dweller, by Monk Joseph Dionysiatis.
*Modern Orthodox Saints Vol. 14 (Blesser Elder Iakovos of Epiros, Elder Joseph the Hesychast, and Mother Stavritsa the Missionary), by Constantine Cavarnos
==Reference==
* [https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2019/10/ecumenical-patriarch-announces.html?m=1]
* [https://pemptousia.com/2019/10/the-church-celebrates-the-holy-mountain-rejoices-and-the-orthodox-commonwealth-glorifies/]
* [https://pemptousia.com/2017/02/elder-joseph-the-hesychast-as-a-person-an-account-of-his-deeds/]
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