+ELDER ARSENIOS THE CAVE-DWELLER (1886-1983): Fellow ascetic of Saint Joseph the Hesychast (Part 1)

Elder Arsenios the Cave-Dweller is a biography and spiritual handbook about the co-struggler of Elder (Saint) Joseph the Hesychast of the Holy Mountain. The book is written by Monk Joseph Dionysaitis of the Holy Mountain. "I must confess that for Elder Arsenios, the Gospel words, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no guile!" are relevant. He was naturally straight-forward, simple, offenseless, meek, obedient; a rare struggler, who possessed nothing. For Elder Arsenios, his yes was always yes, and his no, no. He never harboured resentment, no matter how he was wronged. He never got angry; he never hurt anyone. He lived obedience with precision. That is why, through obedience and his unwavering faith in his Elder, he lived in a way that surpassed the laws of nature. During vigils, he began the night labouring excessively by kneeling thousands of times and then remained standing until morning." (Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi)