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After being freed he returned to Constantinople where he founded a monastery dedicated to Saint Gregory Dekapolite, who was no longer living by this time. He also dedicated a [[church]] in the name of [[Apostle Bartholomew]], whom he honored greatly. While in strict fasting before the Feast of the Apostle Bartholomew, the [[apostle]] appeared to him in a dream and encouraged him to write hymns for the church. After writing his first hymn in honor of Apostle Bartholomew, Saint Joseph dedicated other hymns to Saint Nicholas, who freed him from prison, the [[Theotokos]], and other saints. He is credited with composing about 1,000 hymns.
When the heresy of iconoclasm returned, he again stood steadfast against the movement and was sent to exile in Cherson for eleven years. Upon his return in 842, during the reign of Empress Theodora, he was appointed keeper of the Sacred Vessels at the Cathedral of the [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Holy Wisdom]]. But, again he was exiled after denouncing Bardas, brother of the the empress, for illicit cohabitation. Joseph returned again to Constantinople in 867 after Bardas' death.
When he was at a very old age and ill, the saint was told by the Lord that his life would soon be coming to an end. In response, Saint Joseph prayed intensively until his death, praying for peace for the Church and for mercy on his soul. He fell asleep in the Lord around 883. His legacy carries on as many canons in the [[Menaion]] and hymns in the Parakletike were composed by Saint Joseph the Hymnographer.
