[1] He was born into a peasant family on 6 December 1912 in Abelochori (Αμπελοχώρι), a village in Thebes, Boeotia.
In Katounakia, he lived at the hermitage of Saint Ephrem the Syrian and was accompanied by his family acquaintances Ephraim and Nikephoros.
Elder Joseph, in turn, exerted a catalytic influence on the young monk's spirituality.
His nickname on Mount Athos was "the Charismatic Submissive" (Greek: ο χαρισματούχος υποτακτικός, romanized: O Charismatuchos Ypotaktikos) because of the obedience he showed to Elder Nikephoros, who was often very harsh.
Athos, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew announced the canonization of four great 20th-century Athonite elders, including:[6]