'''Saint Silouan''', was born Simeon Ivanovich Antonov in [[1866]], of Russian Orthodox parents who came from the village of Sovsk in [[Russia]]'s [[Tambov]] region. At the age of twenty-seven he left his native Russia and came to the [[monasticism|monastic ]] region of [[Greece]] called [[Mt. Mount Athos]] where he became a [[monk ]] at the [[Philotheou Monastery (Athos)|Monastery of St. Panteleimon]] and was given the name '' 'Silouan' '', (the Russian version of the Biblical name Silvanus.)

An ardent [[ascetic]], he received the grace of unceasing prayer and saw [[Christ]] in a vision. After long years of spiritual trial, he acquired great humility and inner stillness. He prayed and wept for the whole world as for himself, and he put the highest value on love for enemies. Thomas Merton has described Silouan as “the most authentic monk of the twentieth century.” St Silouan died on [[September 24]], 1938. His memory is celebrated on September 24.