Letters by Elder Joseph of Vatopedi, No 1

« Ι remain with you in spirit”

Nea  Skete 28 /2/1985

My much longed for child; I send you my fatherly kisses!

I am pleased because you seem to sense my spiritual affection and love, so that you feel some comfort.  I remain with you in spirit and I watch all your actions. I was so moved with the manifestation of your own affection that if I could, I would personally come to see you even for a short while. But this affection is not the result of my own doing since I am unworthy and insignificant, but both of your own faith and purity and that of my much longed for son, who silently meets all the conditions and rules of respect and obedience.

My daughter, my delightful child, please do not be shaken by the events which happen around us and are called peirasmoi (trials, temptations), since there is no practical Christianity without them. You must learn that our lives are like a sphere which continuously turns round. In its path we find all the contradictions, and we, like the pupils during exams, are called to the struggle. The sphere turns round and therefore, we are waiting to see which will be the first warning and what the next one will be. If we are prepared for this game, just this discipline will open the way for the triumph or at least it will minimize the impact of the crash. This is what our fathers said: “Do you want to take your brother’s mistake on you, be ready to face temptation until your last breath”.

Nothing more and nothing less is going to happen except for that which our Christ orders for each one of us for our discipline and our benefit. We only increase our burden if we grumble. The person who believes in God must continuously struggle when various temptations strike, in order to convince both the right and the left world that: “He honestly loves God and that rightly detests the devil”. The only difference is that one day he will finally succeed.

However, the struggle will last for the rest of our lives. The fact that the struggle continues, is not a defeat, my darling, but an indication of one’s hard work. God’s Grace does not take away the struggle and the war, in order to glorify and reveal the hard working person to everyone. Don’t you see how harshly our fathers have been tempted, beyond causes and reasons, even though they had been most pure in their intentions and their minds?

Every member of the Church is obliged to live for others whether they are present or coming. Therefore, his conduct gives a motive to future generations and he becomes an example to them about our Church: that it is possible to practice Christianity, and that our Jesus is not someone Who was true those days, but He is the same today and always.

As for us, our adventures have increased but unfortunately our commitments are never ending. In almost a month we will be having Fr Thomas’ ordination at our Skete, and we must also complete the restoration of our buildings etc. However, we are used to showing patience.  Nevertheless, we have also realized that we are now more economically sufficient, thanks to God.

So, even though you may accept me as crazy, yourselves being sensible, allow me to express my affection and love to my true children, whom I love with the Grace of God.

Humble , Elder Joseph