Mount Athos, Elder Joseph the Hesychast (1897-1959)
Role & Narration by Jonathan Jackson
«In this docudrama, saint monks evoke their spiritual Father... saint Joseph, hesychast, who relighted the flame that Jesus Christ had brought on Earth. This story is also dedicated to Mount Athos, golds and colors, chants of Byzantium after Byzantium... the omnipresent sea that pushes a new wave again and again, human heroism through its quest of Eternity beside God. Sweet music, splendid sceneries, philocalic work out of love about the beauty of Christ and His creature whenever day and night Heart's Prayer transfigures it! Tears, mourning, penitence inside the rocks. Beggar of divine Grace...»
Synopsis: The isle of Paros, in Cyclades. Francis Cottis, orphan. Miner at the age of 17. Military service in the Greek Royal Navy, then a promising career in sales and marketing. However, his fiancée died of tuberculosis. An astonishing dream: God calls him to the monastic life. Arrival on Mount Athos. Meeting with saint Daniel of Katounakia, the confessor of the "Man of God", saint Nectarius of Aegina. Vain attempts to reach advanced in contemplative life spirituals Fathers. Meeting at the summit of Mount Athos with his comrade in spiritual struggles, Elder Arsenius, and allegiance to the Elder Ephraim-the-Cooper; tonsure. Period of itinerant life in the Holy Mountain. Period of strong temptations and meeting with the Elder Daniel-the-Hesychast. Last devil's attack and acquisition of impassivity. First (bad) disciples but vision of Jesus Christ. His disciple, saint Ephraim of Katounakia. Last (and good) disciples. Vision of Virgin Mary, slanders, spiritual lineage. Death.
Title: “Mount Athos, Elder Joseph the Hesychast (1897-1959)”.
Director: Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi, Mount Athos.
Length: 1 hour and 4 minutes.
Production: Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi, Mount Athos.
Year of production: Original Greek Version ©2019. English Version ©2019.
Category: Docudrama.
Narrator: Jonathan Jackson.
Leading Role: Jonathan Jackson.
Extra monks in this film are true monks of Mount Athos.
Original Music: Andreas Katsigiannis.
Contributors: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Metropolitan Athanasius of Limassol, Cyprus, saint Ephraim of Katounakia, Elder Joseph of Vatopedi, Abbot Ephraim of Vatopedi.
In May 2020, the English version won three "Odysseus Awards" in the "London Greek Film Festival" for Best Actor, Best Docudrama and the spiritual contribution of Vatopedi’s monks.