The Elder Joseph's facial expression immediately after his death.
The Elder Joseph's facial expression change 45 minutes after his death. 28 July, 2009
(The author is a well known researcher in the field of Sports Medicine in Germany)
Part 1. The Contemporary Situation
The present contribution describes a miracle that, as far as we know, is almost unheard of in the entire history of Christianity. A dead person (Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi) smiled. Impressive is the fact, that this smile occurred 45 minutes after his death. This is photographically documented. There have been reported a lot of miracles with dead persons (prophets, saints, e.t.c.). But almost never before did there occur a miracle like the one that happened on July 1, 2009 in the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopaidi (Mount Athos, Greece).
For many months, the spiritual family of Elder Joseph (namely the Brotherhood of the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopaidi and especially Abbot Ephraim) has suffered a unique, for our days, persecution. The latter consists of all kinds of lies and slander. Every father is sad when his children are acused. But he is much more sad when the acusations are faulty. Elder Joseph, being the spiritual father of this family, suffered from this persecution as well. But where sin abounded (in this case the unjust and systematic persecution of the Vatopaidi Brotherhood and of Abbot Ephraim by the pathetic watchdogs of the New World Order), grace did much more aboud (in this case the smile from eternity) (Apostle Paul, Romans 5:20).
The smile from eternity, is another actual confirmation of the word of a former persecutor of the Christianity (Saul). He recognized the Truth (Jesus Christ), converted to the True Faith, became an Apostle (Paul) and sacrificed himself – he was martyred for the Truth. The present persecution (of the Vatopaidi Brotherhood) is impressive. But much more impressive is the reply of God, namely the smile from eternity. May this smile strengthen the faith of the believers, and enlighten the mind (nous) both of the persecutors and of those who want to know the truth.
It would be good that every one who would like to find the truth, to ask himself the following:
1) Why did the Mass Media not make any mention of such an impressive miracle?
2) Why did there not take place (in the Mass Media) a rudimentary discussion concerning the facts that the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopaidi was found by the court to be not guilty?
As far as concerns the second question, there are interesting texts:
a) Ξεκινάει η Δικαίωση της Ιεράς Μεγίστης Μονής Βατοπαιδίου (in Greek – "The Justification of the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopaidi Begins") 11 Ιουλίου, 2009.
b) Το δικαστήριο Ξάνθης δικαίωσε την Μονή Βατοπαιδίου (in Greek – "The Court of Xanthi Justified the Monastery of Vatopaidi") 11 Ιουλίου, 2009.
c) Information Bulletin concerning the Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi
d) Open Letter of the Abbot Efraim
Part 2. The Miracle – Biomedical Presentation
From the moment of death, all organs stop their function: the heart, the brain, the lungs, the muscles, e.t.c. As far as the muscles are concerned, it is well known that when someone dies they become rigid (muscular stiffness). For this reason, from the moment of death, no mattter how hard somebody tries, it is very difficult to move (by using normal means), e.g. the arms or other parts of the dead person’s body.
This was the case for Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi as well: when he died, his mouth was open. No matter how hard the monks tried, they could not manage to keep it closed (the relevant pictures document this fact). This phenomenon (from a biomedical viewpoint) is due to the earlier mentioned muscular stiffness.
A person who is alive can smile because the facial muscles can contract. But nobody, due to muscular stiffness, can bring the facial muscles of a dead person in such a position that the dead corpse smiles. Since it is impossible for somebody to close the mouth of a dead (even if he ties it), it is far more inconceivable to bring his facial muscles in such a position, that the face of the dead has a smile. [VatopaidiFriend: But even if there was no muscular stiffness, is a person's face made of plasteline, for a smile to be "moulded"?]
According to contemporary scientific knowledge, nobody by any means can cause a dead person to smile. On the other hand, if this possibility existed (namely to bring a smile to the dead by artificial means), it would have been already applied to other dead people.
This is the great miracle that occurred in the case of Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi. Not only did his mouth close, but he even smiled. Even more impressive is the fact that this smile was documented (photographed) 45 minutes after his death. Moreover, it is surprising that the Elder Ephraim (the Abbot of the Monastery of Vatopaidi) insisted that the monks should reveal the face of Elder Joseph. Did he receive information from God?
About two years ago I had the blessing to meet the ever-memorable Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi. At that time he had exactly the same smile that he had after his death, the smile that comes from eternity.
O death, where is thy sting?
Contemporary science does not have the means to analyze the smile that comes from eternity. By using human means, it can just register it and photograph it.
The Grace of God and miracles cannot be scientifically investigated, but they can be lived.
Eternal be your memory Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi! Pray for us!
A many years pilgrim of Mount Athos (30 years).
See here: Why’s the Smile of Elder Joseph From Eternity? (text and pictures)