Elder Joseph the Caveman fought fiercely with demons while he lived in the

desert of Mount Athos For 8 years it is said I had a war with

the passions of the flesh Every night I was tortured by battalions of helmsmen with chicory sticks and

everything

else Another pulled my beard others my hair legs legs and hands, and all

of them were shouting, Smother the slaughter They rushed with swords pitchforks with

spades and axes all shouting at him Preach, my Virgin Mary! I shouted

and I grabbed one of them and threw it at the others I smashed

my hands on the curtains and only with the name of Christ and the Virgin Mary it became

invisible One day we were visited in Agios Vasilios where we were staying at the time, by

layman we knew At night I made him sleep in

my cell. Demons used to attack they rushed at

him and started him on the wood The man screamed

I understood and ran immediately I asked him, what did you see demons

killed me on the wood They almost drowned me Don't be afraid. They were mine and

by accident tonight you ate them Then I told him some feathers

calm him down but he stood still He looked terrified and begged

"Let me go." In the middle of the night I led him to Agia

Anna returned. With such war and struggle

The 80 years passed. From the wood I gave every day to my body for the

carnal war, as well as from the fasting, the vigil and the other struggles,

I became a corpse and fell sick. I despaired that I would not

overcome the passions and the demons.

I turned to look I thought

Father Arsenius had opened But suddenly I feel a hand below me

teasing me for pleasure I look and what do I see The demon of

fornication all alive I rush at him like a dog and

seize him! I had such fury I felt

his hair in my hand like a hand The demon disappeared but the

place filled with stench From the moment she left with him and the carnal war

I became as apathetic as a baby That night God showed me the

wickedness of satan

I was high up in a beautiful place Below it was like a square and close by the

sea The demons had set fatal traps and as the

monks passed by they fell into them Another was caught by the head, another by the foot, and another by the hand

the clothes The ancient dragon had

his head out of the sea and he breathed fire out of his mouth eyes and

nose He rejoiced to see the monks fall Drown dragons I cried so

you deceive us and trap us When I came to, I felt joy

because I saw the devil's snares but also sorrow for

our pitfalls and falls Since then I had great peace within me but

he is not at peace He turned people against me This life needs a fight If you

want to win,

you will fight. No jokes You fight the raw spirits

that don't throw you sweets and treats They throw bullets that kill not the

body but the soul am