The smile of Blessed Elder Joseph

The smile, from eternity, of Blessed Elder Joseph of the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi on Mount Athos .

The first photograph on the left was taken after the death of blessed Elder Joseph before he was sewed inside his monastic mantle according to the monastic custom. After the monks cut off the cloth around the area of his face -- according to the order -- they noticed that the elder's facial expression had changed to that of a smile. The difference in facial expression is distinctly noticeable in the juxtaposition of the two photographs.

More pictures of the occurrence can be viewed here


Blessed elder Joseph (with dark beard) standing behind Elder Joseph the Hesychast and Cave-Dweller.