Silouan the Athonite

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St Silouan the Athonite
Icon of St Silouan the Athonite

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 monastic region of Greece called Mount Athos where he became a monk at the 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.

Though barely literate, he was sought out by pilgrims for his wise counsel. His writings were edited by his disciple and pupil, Archimandrite Sophrony. Father Sophrony has written the life of the saint along with a record of St. Silouan's teachings in the book Saint Silouan the Athonite.

References

Saint Silouan the Athonite by Archimandrite Sophrony Publisher: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press ISBN-10: 0881411957

External links