In 1931, Fr. Joseph was nominated to become the bishop of a group of Ukrainian Orthodox that became the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA]]. In September 1932, Fr. Joseph was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] an [[auxiliary bishop]] by Abp. Aftimios and Bp. [[Sophronios (Beshara) of Los Angeles|Sophronios Beshara]] in New York City to serve the Ukrainian [[diocese]]. Bp. Joseph presided over this Ukrainian diocese in America, leading a flock of about six parishes for just 17 months.

poisoned at lunch on orders from Joseph Stalin under the code name Operation Tryst, an assassination program started by Stalin in the late 1920's that targeted high risk targets to the USSR overseas. Fr. Joseph was previously made chonocally ill through clandestine arsenic poisoning at the hands of a Soviet agent.[[Archbishop]] [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople|Athenagoras (Spyrou)]] of the Greek Archdiocese of North and South America presided at Bp. Joseph's funeral, which took place in Carteret, New Jersey. He was buried in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.