Joseph the Anchorite

Venerable Joseph the Anchorite, also called Joseph of Panephysis, was an Egyptian monk of the desert of Lower Egypt, one of the Desert Fathers, in the fourth and fifth centuries. He was a contemporary of Abba Poemen and Abba Lot, who sometimes consulted him. He was born in Thmuis in Egypt and lived as an anchorite at Panephysis in eastern Egypt, where he was visited by John Cassian, who mentions him in the Conferences.

Venerable Joseph was famous for his temperance and humility. To avoid the praise of the world, he withdrew with his disciples and prayed and sang. In such a spirit of virtue he fell asleep in peace. The Evergetinos writes of him. He is venerated as a saint in the Orthodox Church and in the Coptic Orthodox tradition, and is commemorated on 17 June (new style).