With the death of the aged Father Procopius, as Father Ephraim told us, his sorrows increased, because Father Job was intemperate because of his age and loneliness. In addition, he could not get along with Father Nikifor. Father Ephraim became the object of jealousy of the two elders. Father Nikephoros protested when Father Job demanded that he be served and served. The ever-memorable Elder Ephraim told us about this, so that we would avoid taking relatives to us and caring for them.

His mother also became a nun in her old age and showed amazing patience. As the elder told us, in her life the Lord revealed various signs of the intercession of grace, and these signs proved her holiness. Here the saying of the Scriptures is appropriate: "This is the kind of those who seek the Lord, who seek the face of the God of Jacob" (Psalm 23:6). The blessed elder was always joyful when he told about his virtuous parents, who took on the angelic image before their departure from this world. Remembering his mother, he was especially inspired, because he felt that she had reached the measure of Elder Joseph and other modern saints.

Many times Elder Ephraim saved his brothers and sisters from the great dangers to which they were exposed by the Lord's Providence.

Chapter Two

Discipleship with Elder Joseph the Hesychast

Elder Joseph lived in the skete of St. Basil,34 the highest skete, above Katounak, on the same level as the skete of Kerasia. The kyriarchal monastery35 of these places was the Great Lavra. It was in these desolate places that our Elder was silent.36 There the ever-memorable Elder Ephraim met him.

For the first time they visited Elder Joseph together with Elder Nicephorus, who had a special respect for him. As Father Ephraim himself told us, he was touched by the question of Elder Joseph to his elder at their first meeting: it was not the novice's abilities for needlework and various work on the kaliva that interested him.

The elder asked:

– Father Nikifor, does Ephraim obey?

Father Ephraim, recalling this, told us:

Elder Joseph the Hesychast "That shocked me. I felt that life and grace dwelt in this Elder, because I had never heard such a question from anyone. Fortunately, Father Nikifor did not prevent me from visiting the Elder and learning from him the patristic tradition.

Now all of Fr Ephraim's questions, generated in part by his inexperience, found an answer and an explanation. This came true thanks to his acquaintance and communication with Elder Joseph. Very soon he comprehended the meaning of the spiritual law and how to properly conduct the invisible battle. This knowledge became his lifelong possession and reward for his zeal and piety.

Father Ephraim told us that he had thoughts of leaving Elder Nikifor, since he did not find spiritual guidance from him. Elder Joseph advised him not to leave, but to remain with humble thoughts, and he himself promised to help spiritually.